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Historically Inaccurate

9/27/2020

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Title: Historically Inaccurate
Author: Shay Bravo
Publisher: Wattpad Books
Distributor: Macmillan
Release Date: September 29, 2020
Genre: Teens & YA
Age Range: 12+
Grade Level: 7-9
ISBN Paperback: 978-1989365373
Price: $10.99
 
Synopsis:
It only takes one moment to change your life forever . . .
After her mother’s deportation last year, all Soledad “Sol” Gutierrez wants is for her life to go back to normal. Everything’s changed―new apartment, new school, new family dynamic―and Sol desperately wants to fit in. When she joins her community college’s history club, it comes with an odd initiation process: break into Westray’s oldest house and steal . . . a fork?
There’s just one problem: while the owners of the house aren’t home, their grandson Ethan is, and when he catches Sol with her hand in the kitchen drawer, she barely escapes with the fork intact. This one chance encounter irrevocably alters her life, and Sol soon learns that sometimes fitting in isn’t as important as being yourself―even if that’s the hardest thing she’s ever had to do.


​Review: 
Soledad Gutierrez is joining her community college's History Club, mostly to please her parents and get a social life after a car crash the previous year that resulted in her mother being deported back to Mexico.  However, in order to join the Westray Community College History Club, Sol must go through a strange initiation; her task is to steal a fork from Westray's oldest house. The task doesn't go quite as planned when the grandson of the owners, Ethan, shows up.  Sol escapes the house and suddenly realizes just how tenuous her situation is and how easily she could have been arrested.  Sol's incident follows her around however, as Ethan joins the History Club.  This makes things way more complicated, but also opens Sol up to everything she can be. 

Historically Inaccurate is a contemporary tale of overcoming adversity, family and friendship.  Sol's character goes on a journey of self-acceptance throughout the story.  At first Sol seems to just be going through the motions of life until she is old enough to start the process of getting her mother back into the USA.  While the concept of how the history club functioned is a little far-fetched, I really enjoyed Sol's participation and the diverse range of members.  I appreciated Sol's point of view as the daughter of Mexican immigrants; some of her hardships were expected, and some unexpected.  Sol and Ethan's relationship was sweet and slower paced.  Ethan's personality is a great match for Sol's needs, pushing her just a little bit, but not changing who she is.  The pacing of the story was a bit bumpy at times, going on some unnecessary tangents; however the ending brought it all together with some great unexpected turns. 

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


Author Bio:
Shay Bravo is a Mexican born author who has now lived half of her life in the USA. She began sharing her work online through Wattpad when she was fifteen years old and has connected with over 114,000 followers. Historically Inaccurate won the 2019 Watty Awards and is her first novel. Shay currently resides in Houston, Texas.
 
About Wattpad Books:
Wattpad Books, a division of Wattpad, is the leader in data-backed publishing. Leveraging billions of daily insights from Wattpad’s global community of 70 million book lovers, Wattpad Books combines the best of art and science, using human expertise and Story DNA Machine Learning technology to identify the trends, voices, and stories that are the future of publishing. By elevating the stories of diverse communities around the world, Wattpad Books is creating new space for writers and fans of every genre.
Visit books.wattpad.com for more information

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The Ancestor

9/22/2020

1 Comment

 



About The Ancestor



• Paperback: 348 pages

• Publisher: All Due Respect (August 20, 2020)

A man wakes up in present-day Alaskan wilderness with no idea who he is, nothing on him save an empty journal with the date 1898 and a mirror. He sees another man hunting nearby, astounded that they look exactly alike except for his own beard. After following this other man home, he witnesses a wife and child that brings forth a rush of memories of his own wife and child, except he’s certain they do not exist in modern times—but from his life in the late 1800s.

After recalling his name is Wyatt, he worms his way into his doppelganger Travis Barlow’s life. Memories become unearthed the more time he spends, making him believe that he’d been frozen after coming to Alaska during the Gold Rush and that Travis is his great-great grandson. Wyatt is certain gold still exists in the area and finding it with Travis will ingratiate himself to the family, especially with Travis’s wife Callie, once Wyatt falls in love. This turns into a dangerous obsession affecting the Barlows and everyone in their small town, since Wyatt can’t be tamed until he also discovers the meaning of why he was able to be preserved on ice for over a century.

A meditation on love lost and unfulfilled dreams, The Ancestor is a thrilling page-turner in present day Alaska and a historical adventure about the perilous Gold Rush expeditions where prospectors left behind their lives for the promise of hope and a better future.

The question remains whether it was all worth the sacrifice…

Social Media #theancestor, and tag @tlcbooktours and @leematthewgoldberg.



Review



In present day Laner, Alaska Travis Barstow and his best friend are out hunting caribou.  At the same moment, a man wakes up out of an icy tomb not far away from where Travis shoots.  The man does not remember much, but a mirror in his pocket and a journal dated 1898 will help him fill in the gaps.  The man's first instinct is survival.  Interestingly, Travis Barstow looks like the frozen man's mirror image.  The man watches Travis from a distance and as the memories come back, he knows they are connected.  The man remembers who he is-Wyatt Barstow, and what he was here for- gold.  Wyatt engrains himself in Travis' life and makes his obsession Travis' own.  Together, they hunt for the gold that Wyatt was so close to over 100 years ago.  However, every day that Wyatt remembers more about his past, he envies Travis' present and feels the need to fulfill the life he left behind.

The Ancestor is a unique thriller blending past and present, family drama and psychological suspense.  I was hooked from the very beginning as Wyatt thawed from the ice with no knowledge of who he was.  The characters are completely created and each adds a separate element to the story.  I was engrossed in Wyatt's unfolding memories and how it changed him as a person as well as my perception of his character.  I definitely enjoyed Wyatt's journal entries from 1898 as well as the chapters written from his point of view while exploring Alaska in that time period with the descriptions of a beautiful and wild unsettled Alaska, small villages and Native settlements.   I was amazed at how adaptable Wyatt was reentering a strange world more than 100 years after he froze as well as how careful he was with the truth of who he was.  The mystery of Wyatt's condition and why he awoke when he did carried the suspense throughout the story as well as his intentions with Travis and his family.  The plot slowly but thoughtfully layers as more details are revealed about Travis' life, Wyatt's history and the daily life of the residents of Laner.  While I knew where the story was headed, I was still surprised by the ending and would love if the story continued.  

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

Purchase Links



Amazon | Down & Out Books



About Lee Matthew Goldberg

Lee Matthew Goldberg is the author of THE DESIRE CARD, SLOW DOWN and THE MENTOR from St. Martin’s Press. He has been published in multiple languages and nominated for the 2018 Prix du Polar. The second novel in The Desire Card series, PREY NO MORE, is forthcoming. THE ANCESTOR will be out from All Due Respect books in 2020 along with a reissue of his debut novel. His pilots and screenplays have been finalists in Script Pipeline, Book Pipeline, Stage 32, We Screenplay, the New York Screenplay, Screencraft, and the Hollywood Screenplay contests. After graduating with an MFA from the New School, his writing has also appeared in the anthology DIRTY BOULEVARD, The Millions, The Montreal Review, The Adirondack Review, Essays & Fictions, The New Plains Review, and others. He is the co-curator of The Guerrilla Lit Reading Series (guerrillalit.wordpress.com). He lives in New York City. Follow him at leematthewgoldberg.com and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Remember Me

9/18/2020

1 Comment

 

Remember Me: A Spanish Civil War Novel by Mario Escobar

Publication Date: September 15, 2020
Thomas Nelson


Paperback & eBook; 384 pages


Genre: Historical Fiction




Amid the shadows of war, one family faces an impossible choice that will change their lives forever.

Madrid, 1934. Though the Spanish Civil War has not yet begun, the streets of Madrid have become dangerous for thirteen-year-old Marco Alcalde and his younger sisters, Isabel and Ana. When Marco’s parents align themselves against General Franco and his fascist regime, they have no inkling that their ideals will endanger them and everyone they love—nor do they predict the violence that is to come.

When the Mexican government promises protection to the imperiled children of Spain, the Alcaldes do what they believe is best: send their children, unaccompanied, across the ocean to the city of Morelia—a place they’ve never seen or imagined. Marco promises to look after his sisters in Mexico until their family can be reunited in Spain, but what ensues is a harrowing journey and a series of heartbreaking events. As the growing children work to care for themselves and each other, they feel their sense of home, family, and identity slipping further and further away. And as their memories of Spain fade and the news from abroad grows more grim, they begin to wonder if they will ever see their parents again or the glittering streets of the home they once loved.

Based upon the true stories of the Children of Morelia, Mario Escobar’s Remember Me—now available for the first time in English—explores the agony of war and paints a poignant portrait of one family’s sacrificial love and endurance.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound



Review



Marco, Ana and Isabel Alcande are all children as the Spanish Civil War infiltrates Madrid in 1937.  Their father fights tirelessly against the fascist regime in an attempt to save lives, their culture and freedom.  Their mother, an actress, helps the fighters when she can, but places her family's safety first.  When the fighting gets too close. their mother makes the heartbreaking decision to send Marco, Ana and Isabel to Mexico.  Known as the Children of Morelia, the siblings join a transport of other young refugees to venture to the unknown land of Mexico.  The children are placed in desperate situations, away from the dangers of war, but exploited in other ways.  Through it all, Marco keeps his promise to his mother to keep his sisters safe and remember his homeland and parents. 

With heartfelt compassion, Remember Me, tells the very important story of the Children of Morelia.  I did not really know anything about the Spanish Civil War before reading this and especially did not realize how the outcome bled into allegiances for Spain during World War II. The story is told from Marco's point of view and quickly drew me into the scene with the dangers in Spain and the uncertainty of Mexico.  Escobar deftly recreates the stories from many actual survivors of the Spanish Civil War and Children of Morelia into one smooth storyline.  Most of all, Marco's story conveyed the emotional toll on the families and children at this time.  From attempting to understand the world at war around them, to their parents decision to send them away, to the uncertainty on the ship and in Mexico, to the gradual understanding of the way of the world around them and the joy of reunion, each moment was captured with an amazing and expressive style.  Overall, a sincere story about a very difficult time in history and the people who survived it.  This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

About the Author



Mario Escobar Golderos has a degree in History, with an advanced studies diploma in Modern History. He has written numerous books and articles about the Inquisition, the Protestant Reformation, and religious sects. He is the executive director of an NGO and directs the magazine Nueva historia para el debate, in addition to being a contributing columnist in various publications. Passionate about history and its mysteries, Escobar has delved into the depths of church history, the different sectarian groups that have struggled therein, and the discovery and colonization of the Americas. He specializes in the lives of unorthodox Spaniards and Americans.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads



Blog Tour Schedule



Tuesday, September 15 Review at Nursebookie Review at WTF Are You Reading? Wednesday, September 16 Review at Amy's Booket List Feature at Let Them Read Books Friday, September 18 Review at 100 Pages a Day Saturday, September 19 Feature at The Green Mockingbird Monday, September 21 Feature at The Lit Bitch Feature at I'm All About Books Wednesday, September 23 Review at Passages to the Past Friday, September 25 Review at View from the Birdhouse Saturday, September 26 Feature at Bookworlder Sunday, September 27 Review at Reading is My Remedy Monday, September 28 Review at Hallie Reads Tuesday, September 29 Feature at What Is That Book About

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away 5 copies of Remember Me by Mario Escobar! To enter, please use the Gleam form below. The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on September 29th. You must be 18 or older to enter. Remember Me
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Hope City

9/14/2020

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HOPE CITY: THE ALASKAN ADVENTURES OF PERCY HOPE

BY NEIL PERRY GORDON
Publication Date: May 31, 2020
Paperback & eBook; 324 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction



Two teenage boys from San Francisco set off in the summer of 1898 into the goldfields of the Alaskan wilderness.
Warned by his father to conceal his Jewish heritage from the ruffians he may encounter, Samuel Rothman changes his name to the less conspicuous Percy Hope. This fateful decision gives a yet-unnamed mining village a new identity and catapults Percy into a world where the good and the righteous must face greedy and ruthless adversaries.
Along a waterway known as Turnagain Arm, the newly named Hope City and the more established Sunrise are like opposite sisters. The good and virtuous Hope, with a Catholic church led by the influential Reverend O’Hara, admonishes residents against committing the seven deadly sins. In Sunrise, villainous saloon owner Magnus Vega tempts prospectors with whiskey, gambling, and women.
Hope City weaves the tale of a young man falling down a rabbit hole of unexpected hardships and struggling to find his way out, amid a wild and unforgiving environment where ambitious men and women seek their fortunes.
This fast-paced adventure is full of unforeseen twists and will delight all readers looking for a rich and dramatic page-turner with a shocking twist.

AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | INDIEBOUND


Praise for Hope City

“… Gordon’s beautifully imagined prose has clarity and dimension, and he keeps the pacing relatively quick and does justice to the impressive array of characters. Samuel’s emergence from a typical teenage self-doubt is beautifully imagined. Ripe on unforeseen twists and shocking turns, this fast-paced adventure will delight action-adventure fans as well as lovers of nuanced coming-of-age tales. This is a complete entertainment package.” -The Prairies Book Review
“The hunt for gold was a time of discovery and excitement for many people. Neil Gordon Perry has crafted a story that takes this time period and allows readers to connect with two friends on their journey in Alaska. Hope City is the type of story that will remind people of the beloved stories like Call of the Wild that bring the adventures of the past to a present audience in an engaging way…” -The Nerdy Girl Express
“…But the real treasure in Hope City is to be found in its character development with Gordon once again demonstrating a gift for nuance that vividly brings his characters to life. A rich and dramatic page-turner with a shocking twist, Hope City proves a must-read and is highly recommended.” -Book Viral

​Review: 
Sam Rothman and Liam Kampen are headed for the wilds of Alaska in an attempt to strike it rich and have some adventure.  After a stirring speech by Jack London at their high school graduation, Sam and Liam leave their hometown of San Francisco to venture to the Turnagain Arm region.  Before departure, Sam's father warns him that his Jewish name may not be the best to use in Alaska and Sam decides on the name of Percy Hope.  Upon the boy's arrival, Magnus Vega, a local saloon owner, declares that he will name the neighboring town after the first person off the boat.  Percy becomes the talk of the town before even striking gold.  As Percy and Liam get settled and learn the ways of the land, they see that Hope follows the rules of the Catholic church and Reverend O'Hara while the neighboring town of Sunrise is ruled over by Magnus and his devious ways.  Percy and Liam find out what they are made of as they are captured in the rivalries between towns, enemies and religious groups.


As Jack London tells Sam, every good story needs conflict, danger, a battle between good and evil, a relatable hero as well as twists and turns.  This is exactly what Hope City delivers in a fast-paced and exciting read.  I loved the setting of wild Alaska during the gold rush and the many different settings that Sam and Liam's adventures took them through from the rivers of the Turnagain Arm, to the new towns, the native villages and the open waters.  Both Liam and Sam were great characters who took different paths while in Alaska offering two different views.  The point of view switched between Sam/Percy and Magnus which confused me a little at first, but became clear after the first few chapters.  Through these two different points of view the fight between good and evil was evident; however, what makes a person good or bad was more difficult to tell. The inclusion of the Asatru religion made for many more interesting twists and turns as well.  With a very exciting and unexpected ending, Hope City makes for a wonderful historical adventure. 


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

About the AuthorBeginning with his debut novel in 2018–A Cobbler’s Tale, followed by Moon Flower, The Righteous One, The Bomb Squad and Hope City, Neil Perry Gordon has established himself as a well-respected and prolific historical fiction novelist. His story telling ability has earned him high editorial praise from the likes of Kirkus, Midwest Book Review and others, including hundreds of four and five star reader reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.
Neil attributes his love of the writing process from his formative education at the Green Meadow Waldorf School, where he learned that subjects such as music, dance and theater, writing, literature, legends and myths, were not simply things to be read about and tested, but lessons to be experienced.
His creative writing methods and inspiration have been described as organic; meaning that he begins his work with a general storyline for his characters, rather than working with a formal, detailed outline. This encourages his writing to offer surprising twists and unexpected outcomes, which readers have celebrated. His novels have the attributes of being driven by an equal balance between character development and face-paced action, which moves his stories along at a swift page-turning pace.
Readers can learn more about Neil Perry Gordon, by visiting his website and blog at: NeilPerryGordon.com. You can also follow Neil on Facebook and Goodreads.


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The River Jewel

9/13/2020

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The River Jewel: A Letter Series Novella by Kathleen Shoop





Publication Date: December 3, 2019

eBook & Paperback; 172 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction



   

For everyone who hopes to find the perfect match…

1875 Des Moines, Iowa

The novella, The River Jewel, takes readers of the bestselling Letter Series novels back in time, before there was a last letter, before the Arthurs lost everything, before they knew a girl named Pearl.

Meet Tilly Rabel, a proud oyster-woman, and Landon Lockwood, the troubled son of one of the wealthiest men in America. The two could not be less suited for love. But when an old legend draws Landon to a hidden river cove, Tilly and he find each other, are lured by growing attraction, and repelled by competing desires to control Tilly’s waters. The hidden pool is replete with valuable mussel beds and the source of everything that makes Tilly who she is. Landon sees the illustrious treasure as the path to proving to his parents he is worth their love and worthy of the Lockwood name. Can Tilly trust Landon with her heart, with her beloved mussel beds? Can Landon trust that he has truly changed and doesn’t need his parents approval to live the life he wants?

Heartbreak, triumph, and a very special baby weave a tale sure to please readers who’ve read the entire Letter Series and those who are just starting the journey.

Review:



Tilly Rabel proudly tends to the mussel beds in her family's cove in 1875 Des Moines.  Tilly lives by herself since her parents death and lives off of her commissions from the one of a kind mother of pearl pieces she creates.  Landon Lockwood has something to prove to his father.  Landon wants to earn his father's approval by building his own business and Landon has his sights on mother of pearl buttons.   When Landon comes crashing into Tilly's cove, he doesn't expect to find someone strong, smart and capable.  Tilly can not be bought, she is proud of her heritage, upbringing and ability to live off the land. This is an unforeseen issue for Landon, money has always solved the problems in his life; however, as he spends time with Tilly, Landon realizes that there is more to life than his father's approval.  Landon soon finds himself defending the cove that he wanted to seize and falling in love with the woman that he tried to buy it from.

The River Jewel is the fifth book in The Letter series and serves as a prequel; so it is a great place to start.  Landon and Tilly's story is an unlikely, sweeping historical romance.  Told from alternating points of view between Tilly and Landon, The River Jewel is fast paced and engaging.  I fell in love with Tilly's character from the beginning.  Her tenacious and caring nature was a perfect balance with Landon's need for affection and hard working attitude.  The romance in the story was perfect with many sweet moments, ups and downs and tension created after Landon's father shows up.  I enjoyed the description of the land that Tilly tended and the care and procedures for tending her muscles and making special items with the mother of pearl.  Overall, a wonderful beginning to The Letter series. 

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

Available on Amazon



About the Author





Bestselling author, Kathleen Shoop, holds a PhD in reading education and has more than 20 years of experience in the classroom. She writes historical fiction, women’s fiction and romance. Shoop’s novels have garnered various awards in the Independent Publisher Book Awards, Eric Hoffer Book Awards, Indie Excellence Awards, Next Generation Indie Book Awards and the San Francisco Book Festival. Kathleen has been featured in USA Today and the Writer’s Guide to 2013. Her work has appeared in The Tribune-Review, four Chicken Soup for the Soul books and Pittsburgh Parent magazine. She lives in Oakmont, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule

Wednesday, August 26 Review at Passages to the Past Feature at I'm All About Books Friday, August 28 Review & Excerpt at Bookworlder Monday, August 31 Review at Books, Writings, and More Wednesday, September 2 Review at Book Bustle Monday, September 7 Review at Jorie Loves A Story Friday, September 11 Review at Books, Cooks, Looks Saturday, September 12 Review at 100 Pages a Day Monday, September 14 Review at YA, It's Lit

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a prize pack including a copy of the book, a bracelet, a journal, and a $50 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky winner! To enter, please use the Gleam form below. The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on September 14th. You must be 18 or older to enter. The River Jewel
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The Nature of Nature

9/10/2020

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About The Nature of Nature



• Hardcover : 256 pages • Publisher : National Geographic (August 25, 2020) In this inspiring manifesto, an internationally renowned ecologist makes a clear case for why protecting nature is our best health insurance, and why it makes economic sense. Enric Sala wants to change the world–and in this compelling book, he shows us how. Once we appreciate how nature works, he asserts, we will understand why conservation is economically wise and essential to our survival. Here Sala, director of National Geographic’s Pristine Seas project (which has succeeded in protecting more than 5 million sq km of ocean), tells the story of his scientific awakening and his transition from academia to activism–as he puts it, he was tired of writing the obituary of the ocean. His revelations are surprising, sometimes counterintuitive: More sharks signal a healthier ocean; crop diversity, not intensive monoculture farming, is the key to feeding the planet. Using fascinating examples from his expeditions and those of other scientists, Sala shows the economic wisdom of making room for nature, even as the population becomes more urbanized. In a sober epilogue, he shows how saving nature can save us all, by reversing conditions that led to the coronavirus pandemic and preventing other global catastrophes. With a foreword from Prince Charles and an introduction from E. O. Wilson, this powerful book will change the way you think about our world–and our future. Social Media #thenatureofnature, and tag @tlcbooktours and @enricsala.

Purchase Links

Penguin Random House | Amazon | Barnes & Noble



Review

Enric Sala studied algae in his academic career.  While completing his field research, Enric noticed that he was writing about their demise.  To help save the ecosystems he loves, Enric became a National Geographic Explorer in residence working with the Pristine Seas Project.  In The Nature of Nature: Why We Need the Wild Enric Sala presents clear reasoning about the need and benefits of preserving and restoring nature.  

Written in a way that any reader can understand and making analogies to the world we know, Sala highlights our connections to nature and how much we rely on and attempt to control nature without fully understanding the systems that control it.  Beginning with the basics of biology combined with observations from fieldwork, Sala presents the harsh truths about the consequences of our actions for the planet.  The chapters naturally flow through the importance of a good foundation for a healthy ecosystems, studying nature as a method to help understand ourselves, the impact of keystone and foundation species, and trophic cascades.  This underscores the interconnectedness that we may never fully understand, but feel that we must change and control.  Sala calls attention to the importance of systems that we can not see and the fact that our actions are long reaching and can more negative impacts than we can ever imagine.  Most of all, Sala has made a case that simple changes, such as leaving an ecosystem alone can have bountiful positive impacts on biodiversity along with monetary gains for humans.  The Nature of Nature gives us a solid reason why we should care about the environment and all the evidence for sustaining and preserving natural areas.  It is simply up to us to decide what to do about it.

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

About Enric Sala

ENRIC SALA is a marine ecologist and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence dedicated to restoring the health and productivity of the ocean. He is widely recognized for his worldwide conservation efforts, based on solid observational and experimental research, combined with strategic communications and policy discussions. Previously a professor at the prestigious Scripps Institution of Oceanography in California, he founded National Geographic Pristine Seas, a global project that combines exploration, research, and storytelling to inspire leaders and communities to protect the last wild places in the ocean. To date, Pristine Seas has helped to create 22 marine reserves encompassing almost 6 million square kilometers of ocean, more than half the area of all 50 United States. Find out more about Enric at his website, and connect with him on Instagram and Twitter.
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Copy Boy

9/7/2020

1 Comment

 
Join Us For This Tour from August 24 to September 18, 2020

BOOK DETAILS:
Series Title:  COPY BOY by Shelley Blanton-Stroud
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+)
Genre:  Noir, Historical Mystery, Literary
Publisher:  She Writes Press
Release dates:   June 23, 2020
Content Rating:
PG-13 + M. The book includes: the F-word 7 times, the word "g--dammit" 4 times, and one violent fight in the beginning.

Book Description:

Jane’s a very brave boy. And a very difficult girl. She’ll become a remarkable woman, an icon of her century, but that’s a long way off. Not my fault, she thinks, dropping a bloody crowbar in the irrigation ditch after Daddy. She steals Momma’s Ford and escapes to Depression-era San Francisco, where she fakes her way into work as a newspaper copy boy. Everything’s looking up. She’s climbing the ladder at the paper, winning validation, skill, and connections with the artists and thinkers of her day. But then Daddy reappears on the paper’s front page, his arm around a girl who’s just been beaten into a coma one block from Jane’s newspaper―hit in the head with a crowbar. Jane’s got to find Daddy before he finds her, and before everyone else finds her out. She’s got to protect her invented identity. This is what she thinks she wants. It’s definitely what her dead brother wants.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Bookshop.org
Audible ~ Libro ~ Kobo
GooglePlay ~ Scribd ~ Chirp
Walmart Audio
Add to Goodreads
 
Review:
 
Jane Hopper has had a rough start to life, born into the Depression era and living in a tent camp with her abusive father and strong willed mother.  Jane has always felt like she owed her mother after the death of her twin brother, Benny.  At seventeen Jane has the chance to make something of herself when she takes a crowbar to her father, leaves him in a ditch and drives to San Francisco.  Jane quickly figures out that in order to make money she will have to change, so Jane changes into Benny Hopper and quickly gets a job as a Copy Boy at The Prospect.  As Benny, Jane receives the opportunity to work on the stories that have always interested her.  However, the hot story is connected to Jane and her Daddy that she left in a ditch along with a picture of a man that carries a large resemblance to Benny Hopper.
An intriguing historical mystery set during the Depression Era, Copy Boy shows the fortitude of the different people who lived during that time.  Through Jane I experienced the drive, ambition and heart of the people barely surviving in the encampments along with those who would do anything to get ahead in San Francisco.  I was intrigued by the vast difference in circumstances between the people suffering in the midwest and those thriving in San Francisco.  Jane's character was hard to get to know as she changed and evolved constantly through the story.  I understood the reasons behind becoming Benny as well as all of her waffling between what is good and bad in her life.  At the heart of the story is coming to understand a sense of self and realizing that your past does not have to define you.  The mystery was well crafted and kept me intrigued.  The interactions of the many players made the mystery layered and complex, turning a simple whodunit into a why did they do it.  I was glad how things turned out for Jane in the end, but did feel that everything wrapped up rather quickly.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 
Meet the Author:

Shelley Blanton-Stroud grew up in California’s Central Valley, the daughter of Dust Bowl immigrants who made good on their ambition to get out of the field. She teaches college writing in Northern California and consults with writers in the energy industry. She co-directs Stories on Stage Sacramento, where actors perform the stories of established and emerging authors, and serves on the advisory board of 916 Ink, an arts-based creative writing nonprofit for children. She has also served on the Writers’ Advisory Board for the Belize Writers’ Conference. Copy Boy is her first novel, and she’s currently working on her second. She also writes and publishes flash fiction and non-fiction, which you can find at such journals as Brevity and Cleaver. She and her husband live in Sacramento with an aging beagle and many photos of their out-of-state sons.

Connect with the author:   website  ~  twitter  ~  facebook  ~ instagram ~ bookbub


Tour Schedule:

Aug 24 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Aug 25 - Locks, Hooks and Books – audiobook review / giveaway
Aug 25 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
Aug 26 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Aug 27 – I'm Into Books – book spotlight / giveaway
Aug 28 –Reading Authors Network – book review / giveaway
Aug 28 - PuzzlePaws Blog - audiobook review / giveaway
Aug 31 – Sefina Hawke's Books – book spotlight
Sep 1 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / giveaway
Sep 2 – T's Stuff – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Sep 2 - Literary Flits – book review / giveaway
Sep 3 – She Just Loves Books – audiobook review / giveaway
Sep 4 –Pick a Good Book - book spotlight / giveaway
Sep 7 – Svetlanas reads and views – book review
Sep 8 – 100 Pages A Day – book review / giveaway
Sep 9 – Olio by Marilyn – book spotlight / author interview
Sep 9 - Olio by Marilyn – book review / giveaway
Sep 10 – Books for Books – audiobook review
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Into the Unbounded Night

9/5/2020

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INTO THE UNBOUNDED NIGHT

BY MITCHELL JAMES KAPLAN
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Regal House Publishing
Paperback & eBook; 231 Pages
Genre: Literary/Historical


When her village in Albion is sacked by the Roman general Vespasian, young Aislin is left without home and family. Determined to exact revenge, she travels to Rome, a sprawling city of wealth, decadence, and power. A “barbarian” in a “civilized” world, Aislin struggles to comprehend Roman ways. From a precarious hand-to-mouth existence on the streets, she becomes the mistress of a wealthy senator, but their child Faolan is born with a disability that renders him unworthy of life in the eyes of his father and other Romans.

Imprisoned for her efforts to topple the Roman regime, Aislin learns of an alternate philosophy from her cellmate, the Judean known today as the Apostle St. Paul. As the capital burns in the Great Fire of 64 AD, he bequeaths to her a mission that will take her to Jerusalem. There, Yohanan, son of Zakkai, has been striving to preserve the tradition of Hillel against the Zealots who advocate for a war of independence. Responding to the Judeans’ revolt, the Romans—again under the leadership of Vespasian—besiege Jerusalem, destroying the Second Temple and with it, the brand of Judean monotheism it represents. Yohanan takes on the mission of preserving what can be preserved, and of re-inventing what must be reinvented.

Throughout Into the Unbounded Night, Aislin’s, Faolan’s, Vespasian’s, and Yohanan’s lives intertwine in unexpected ways that shed light on colonization and its discontents, the relative values of dominant and tyrannized cultures, and the holiness of life itself—even the weakest of lives.
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REGAL HOUSE PUBLISHING | AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | INDIEBOUND



Praise for Into the Unbounded Night
“In Into the Unbounded Night, Mitchell Kaplan offers a rich rendering of war and humanity in first century Rome — of tradition and loss, and the transformative power of healing and collective memory to find one’s way home.” – Nichole Bernier, Boston Globe Bestselling author of The Unfinished Work Of Elizabeth D

“Mitchell James Kaplan is the gloriously talented writer of this dramatic, intense story of conflicting emperors, slaves, priests and exiles in a first century world whose roots and traditions are increasingly torn apart by the brutal rule of Rome. Men and women search for belief and reason, out of which will emerge a new Judaism after the destruction of Jerusalem’s Temple as well as the early beginnings of Christianity. A writer of enormous scope, compassion and poetry, Kaplan has written several of the most compelling characters you will meet in the pages of a book. Into the Unbounded Night sweeps over you like a succession of huge waves. It is truly a major novel.” – Stephanie Cowell, American Book Award recipient, author of Claude And Camille: A Novel Of Monet

“Kaplan’s prose is so rich and agile I felt I was breathing the air of these ancient places, and his evocation of character is no less palpable. Fully embodied and driven by ambition, grief, the clear-eyed desire for truth, and fierce maternal love, these characters plunge, march, and stumble toward their fascinating and entangled destinies.” – Marisa de los Santos, New York Times bestselling novelist of I’ll Be Your Blue Sky and award-winning poet

“I’m a big fan of historical fiction when it’s as good as Mitchell Kaplan’s Into the Unbounded Night. Vividly imagined, Into the Unbounded Night pulls the reader along with beautiful prose, strong characters and a wonderfully realized story.” – Heidi W. Durrow, New York Times best-selling author of The Girl Who Fell From The Sky, winner of the PEN/Bellwether Prize

“A beautiful, informative book. It was gripping throughout, the research never overwhelms the story, but is always part of it. [The] writing is lyrical and evocative of time and place. All the characters are real and interesting. Loved it!” – Martin Fletcher, National Jewish Book Award winner, author of Promised Land

“From the mystical lore of Albion to the Roman siege and destruction of Jerusalem, Kaplan’s meticulous research and evocative writing meld seamlessly to create a vivid, textured, and richly imagined story.” —Beth Hoffman, New York Times and International bestselling author of Saving Ceecee Honeycutt and Looking for Me

“Set in Rome and Judea after the crucifixion of Jesus, Mitchell James Kaplan’s finely crafted and intense second novel delves into the minds and hearts of truly captivating characters. An excellent read.” – Eva Stachniak, winner of the Canadian First Novel Award, author of The Chosen Maiden

“Sensually provocative, verbally sharp and critically witted, Mitchell James Kaplan’s Into the Unbounded Night brings to life the tumultuous birth of Judeo-Christian monotheism in this intimately woven narrative brimming with righteous and riotous characters striving for survival and transcendence across the ravished landscapes of Judea, the Roman Empire, and Britannia.”
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– Jessica Maria Tuccelli, an Okra Pick winner of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance for her debut novel, Glow
“Kaplan weaves an intricate literary tapestry to create a poetic exploration of early Judeo-Christian and Roman history. He builds a diverse yet connected cast of characters whose encounters inspire timeless self-examination and advance the course of history. An engrossing work not easily forgotten.” – Therese Walsh, critically acclaimed author of The Last Will Of Moira Leahy and The Moon Sisters, founder of the literary blog, Writer Unboxed

Review: 
In the year 40 C.E. Aislin lives a hardworking but honest life with her aunt Muirgheal.  They live in Albion on what is known as Britannia.  When Albion is conquered by the Roman General Vespasian, Aislin is taken hostage and her aunt dies for her village.  Used by Vespasian and discarded, Aislin vows vengeance.  While wandering, Aislin meets disgraced Roman soldier Septimus.  They become travelling companions and Septimus introduces Aislin to the city of Rome.  Aislin's introduction is brief as she is thrown on the streets and picked up by Pallas, a wealthy patrician who uses Aislin to beget a son.  Aislin delivers a boy, Faolan, who is disabled.  Rather than kill her son, Aislin flees with Faolan.  While raising Faolan on the streets of Rome, Aislin learns of the best and worst of humanity while finding a true partner in Yohanan.

Into the Unbounded Night is a beautifully told story of the lives of several people during the precarious time period of the formation of monotheistic belief systems in the Roman Empire.  I haven't read a lot about this period of time and was very impressed by the historical detail that managed to not derail the storyline and characters.  The story follows six very different characters through this time. I was most drawn to Aislin's story and found it a little difficult to keep all of the characters in line at points.  Aislin was easy for me to relate to despite living so long ago and her life managed to tie together many of the important elements on her own. I was constantly amazed by the ups and downs of her journey, her ability to survive and how she managed to prevail over all those who sought to destroy who she is and the people she came from.  I did enjoy the inclusion of Azazel and wish that story would have been expanded upon. 

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


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About the Author

Mitchell James Kaplan graduated with honors from Yale University, where he won the Paine Memorial Prize for Best Long-Form Senior Essay submitted to the English Department. His first mentor was the author William Styron.
After college, Kaplan lived in Paris, France, where he worked as a translator, then in Southern California, where he worked as a screenwriter and in film production.

He lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with his family and two cats.
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WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

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Unbounded Night
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    Hi there! I'm Stephanie and I obviously love reading.  As, the title suggests, I read at least one hundred pages a day.  I enjoy most book genres; however, my favorites are historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, thriller, horror and YA.  I also read a lot of non-fiction science and gardening books for my occupation.  I enjoy reviewing books and as always, any book that I receive for free is read in return for my honest review.  

    ​https://share.simonandschuster.com/stephanierhildreth

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