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Dangerous Blues

10/28/2022

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Review: 
Soon after the death of his wife, Paul Brickner and his 12-year-old daughter, Spring escape their small town of Phoenicia for a New York City sublet.  Paul and Spring embrace the change and need to be around more people.  Paul soon finds a connection with Blues singer, Tara and Spring finds a friend in Tara's daughter, Irina.  However, Paul seems to be seeing his wife Nadia's ghost everywhere while Tara is haunted by the very real members of a cult that she escaped and the ancient Tibetan vessel that she took with her when she left. Paul keeps seeing Nadia and soon Spring does too.  Paul's family has varying opinions on what he should do about his grief and Nadia's ghost but Paul may have bigger issues to deal with. 

Dangerous Blues is a creative mix of contemporary fiction, ghost story, cult antics and cursed relics with an undercurrent of mysterious blues music.  Told through Paul's point of view, I could feel his deep sense of grief, his confusion and loss.  The appearance of Nadia's ghost throughout the story served as almost a guidepost, a reminder or warning for Paul.  I did love both of Paul's wacky in-laws, Pearl and Dr. Maire who both had very different ideas of why Paul was seeing Nadia's ghost.  Spring was amazing.  She was able to deal with her grief as a pre-teen while also dealing with immense changes in her life in a graceful manner.   The suspenseful part of the story surrounded the odd relic that Tara has and the danger created from the cult that still chases her. I was super interested in the cult, how it functions and how the vessel works.  The mood of the story is set with the many blues lyrics throughout, haunting, suspenseful and dangerous.  

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

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The Myrtle Wand

10/17/2022

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About the Book: 
THE MYRTLE WAND 
BY MARGARET PORTER
Publication Date: October 11, 2022
Gallica Press
Genre: Historical Fiction

The Myrtle Wand, a retelling and a continuation of the classic ballet Giselle, restores original story elements to transform a tale of blighted romances and betrayals into a quest for redemption and restorative love.

Princess Bathilde de Sevreau, her school friend Myrte, and the peasant girl Giselle have heard the legend of the vilis, ghostly maidens who rise from their graves by night to roam the forest, seeking revenge on faithless lovers. Each will fear being ensnared by that spectral sisterhood…

Bathilde, destined for a marriage of convenience with Albin, Duc de Rozel, leaves her ancestral château for the Sun King’s sophisticated and scandalous court. As participants in royal ceremonies and entertainments, the princess and the soldier gradually recognize their deep feelings for each other, as well as mutual hopes for a happy and satisfying union. But the tragic consequences of Albin’s brief masquerade as a commoner and the amorous Louis XIV’s quest for a mistress divide the betrothed couple. Together and separately, they must overcome conflicting duties and unexpected dangers to determine their fate.

Praise
“An absorbing and touching tale . . . a fully realized, moving portrait of the storied court of Louis XIV.” ~ Kirkus Reviews

“Lushly atmospheric . . .rich with historical detail. Porter imagines the story behind the iconic Giselle, transporting us to France during the early reign of the Sun King.” ~ Leslie Carroll, author of Royal Romances


Review: 


Princess Bathilde de Sevreau has attended school at the Convent of the Ursulines in Niort, France.  Bathilde forms fast friendships with Myrte Vernier, Francoise d'Aubigne and one of her family's vineyard worker's daughters, Giselle.  However, Bathilde knows that she is destined to marry and fulfill her obligations as a Princess.  She soon learns of her engagement to  Duc de Rozel Albin and must learn to navigate the court of  Louis XIV, the Sun King and his interests in Bathilde.  


The Myrtle Wand brings to life the continued story of the ballet Giselle. Through the perspectives of Mytre, Giselle and Bathilde, life in 17th century France was shown through multiple viewpoints.  The writing not only vividly described the landscapes, festivals and court, but deeply defined the characters and their emotions as they navigated life.  I was very intrigued by Bathilde and her relationships with Albin and Louis XIV. The complications of court life and their own decisions created many tense moments.  The Myrtle Wand is a slower paced historical fiction steeped in imagery and detail.  


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About the Author
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MARGARET PORTER is award-winning, bestselling author of The Myrtle Wand (October 2022), The Limits of Limelight (September 2021), Beautiful Invention: A Novel of Hedy Lamarr, and twelve other historical novels. After studying British history in the U.K., she worked professionally in theatre, film, and television. A historian and avid traveler, Margaret returns to Great Britain and Europe for research. She lives in New England with husband and dog, dividing her time between an architecturally unique book-filled house in a small city and a waterfront cottage on one of the region’s largest lakes.

More information is available on her website and blog. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads.

The Myrtle Wand
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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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