Memory Child by Steena Holmes Review!

Steena Holmes grew up in a small town in Canada and holds a bachelor’s degree in theology. She is the author of eleven novels and novellas, including Finding Emma, for which she was awarded a National Indie Excellence Book Award in 2012. She currently lives in Calgary with her husband and three daughters, and loves to wake up to the Rocky Mountains each morning.

 

HELPFUL LINKS: 

Twitter: @steenaholmes

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SteenaHolmes.Author

Email: steena@steenaholmes.com

Website: www.steenaholmes.com

Review

A week ago, I picked up Steena Holmes’ new book The Memory Child and I finished reading it in two days. A quarter of the way through the book, I had already figured out the plotline, but I could not put the book down because there is always a chance I could be wrong (even though I wasn’t) and I just needed to know if my suspicions were true!

The synopsis of this book from Goodreads is as follows:

“When Brian finds out that his wife, Diane, is pregnant, he is elated. He's been patiently waiting for twelve years to become a father. But Diane has always been nervous about having children because of her family's dark past. The timing of the pregnancy also isn't ideal - Diane has just been promoted, and Brian is being called away to open a new London office for his company.

Fast-forward one year: being a mother has brought Diane a sense of joy that she'd never imagined and she's head over heels for her new baby, Grace. But things are far from perfect: Brian has still not returned from London, and Diane fears leaving the baby for even a moment. As unsettling changes in those around Diane began to emerge, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems.

A woman's dark past collides head-on with her mysterious present in this surreal and gripping family drama.”

This is not the best, most “gripping” book I have ever read, but I did enjoy it as a quick read. Diane is a strange character and has had difficulties in her past, which become glaringly obvious to explain her current state of mind. The storyline is interesting and intriguing and if you don’t have an over analytical mind while you read like I do, you will be surprised at the end; however, it is my opinion that Holmes gives away too many clues during the book that I picked up on and therefore was not shocked at the end. Every detail a writer puts in a book is important and not to be overlooked, and I found myself putting together puzzle pieces to solve the mystery of Brian & Diane way before the book was finished.

I give this book 3 stars (out of 5) and would recommend it to someone who is looking for a quick, intriguing read.

A copy of the book was provided for an honest review, there was no monetary compensation.

The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte by Ruth Hull Chatlien Review!

Publication Date: December 2, 2013
Amika Press
Paperback; 484p
ISBN: 978-1937484163

About the Book

As a clever girl in stodgy, mercantile Baltimore, Betsy Patterson dreams of a marriage that will transport her to cultured Europe. When she falls in love with and marries Jerome Bonaparte, she believes her dream has come true—until Jerome’s older brother Napoleon becomes an implacable enemy.

Based on a true story, The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte is a historical novel that portrays this woman’s tumultuous life. Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte, known to history as Betsy Bonaparte, scandalized Washington with her daring French fashions; visited Niagara Falls when it was an unsettled wilderness; survived a shipwreck and run-ins with British and French warships; dined with presidents and danced with dukes; and lived through the 1814 Battle of Baltimore. Yet through it all, Betsy never lost sight of her primary goal—to win recognition of her marriage.

About the Author

Ruth Hull Chatlien has been a writer and editor of educational materials for twenty-five years. Her specialty is U.S. and world history. She is the author of Modern American Indian Leaders and has published several short stories and poems in literary magazines. The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte is her first published novel.

She lives in northeastern Illinois with her husband, Michael, and a very pampered dog named Smokey. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found gardening, knitting, drawing, painting, or watching football.

Connect with Ruth Hull Chatlien at her website or on Facebook.

Buy the Book

Amazon (Paperback)
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Barnes & Noble (Paperback)
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My Thoughts

I had no clue who Betsy Patterson was when I accepted the book for review or really knew anything about Jerome Bonaparte, I just knew of Napoleon from what I learned in school and a few other historical novels I had read that were about the Bonaparte family. Betsy had always thought of herself as a "princess" from an early age and desperately wanted to live in Europe. When she met and fell in love with Jerome Bonaparte, brother to Napoleon, she thought her dreams had come true. They married and wanted to go to France to live but Napoleon would not acknowledge the marriage and forced Jerome to come to France without Betsy. 

What happens from that time on in Betsy's life is fraught with disappointments, the biggest with her father and her husband. The only constant in her life is the love for her son "Bo", who is the legitimate son of Jerome, and she will spent her life doing what it takes for Bo to achieve the rank and title of which he deserves. This goal takes her to Europe, where she wines and dines with royalty, but is still not allowed into France, until the death of Napoleon. She is determined to see that her son has a European education. makes a good marriage and is recognized by the Bonaparte family. 

I really enjoyed this novel that not only covers these historical families but also the details of Napoleon and his wars, the wars fought with Britain and the societies of both Europe and America at a time when America is still a young country. Betsy's life crosses paths with many notable people in Baltimore, New York, London and many other cities across Europe. Betsy of course is a woman of her times in that she is stymied in the course she wants for her and her son's life. She sacrifices a lot for her son and never marries again, and lives exclusively for the goals she has set for her son.
Ruth Hull Chatlien, in my humble opinion, has done an excellent job in telling the story of this strong, remarkable woman, in a time where women had little say in anything except maintaining a household and raising children. Full of historical detail, this is a novel well worth the read. It combines the history of both the United States and Europe in the 1800's that will capture the attention of the history buff. I highly recommend it.

Monday, March 31
Review at Unabridged Chick
Review at Flashlight Commentary

Tuesday, April 1
Review at A Bookish Affair
Interview at Flashlight Commentary

Wednesday, April 2
Review at HF Book Muse-News
Interview at Layered Pages

Thursday, April 3
Review at Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee
Interview at Unabridged Chick

Friday, April 4
Review at Scandalous Women

Monday, April 7
Review at The Maiden’s Court
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book

Tuesday, April 8
Review at The Lit Bitch
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews
Interview at Oh, for the Hook of a Book

Wednesday, April 9
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages

Thursday, April 10
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews
Review at Historical Fiction Obsession
Interview & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books

Friday, April 11
Review at Let Them Read Books
Review at The True Book Addict

Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

A Late Thaw by Ana Blaze Cover Reveal and Giveaway!!

TITLE: A Late Thaw

AUTHOR: Ana Blaze

GENRE: Comedy, Contemporary, Romance (Adult)

RELEASE DATE: April 2014 (originally published October 27, 2013)

GOODREADS BOOK LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17830852-a-late-thaw

SYNOPSIS: 

Barrett, Vermont, home to nearly as many goats as people. It’s the perfect picturesque spot to stop for cocoa after a ski trip or to buy your Christmas tree from a hunky farmer wearing snug jeans and a pair of well-worn boots. Kiley St. Claire isn’t there for either. She’s come home for one reason and one reason only: make enough money waiting tables at the local tourist trap to survive her final semester of graduate school. Of course she is going to have to see that Christmas tree farmer eventually. That’s fine; Kiley isn’t the same nerdy little girl he palled around with. Nope, she’s done crushing on Cole Thomas. Totally done.

Cole thought he was ready, but seeing Kiley again is a punch to the gut. She rejected him and ran away without explanation. He still couldn’t imagine a future with another woman.  Now at least he’ll have a chance to say what he’s needed to say for years and then, just maybe, he’ll be ready to move on. He only wishes she didn’t look so damn good in her uniform.

Author Info:

Ana lives just outside Washington DC with her very supportive husband and three rather demanding cats. She loves the ocean, Indian food, Ikea, and cooking. Ana admits to watching too much television and she swears that someday she’s going to learn how to play the guitar resting on the bookshelf in her office. Ana is a member of Romance Writers of America.

AUTHOR CONTACT LINKS

WEBSITE: http://anablaze.blogspot.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/AnaBlazeLove

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/AnaBlaze

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ana_blaze

Giveaway

PRIZE: Ebook copy of Love and Other GamesLove and Other Games is a collection of four sexy new adult stories centered around athletes competing in the Winter Games by Ana Blaze, Melinda Dozier, Aria Kane, and Kara Leigh Miller.

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A Wolf's Bane by Sherrie Henry Spotlight!

About the Book

Can a human and a werewolf overcome obvious obstacles to be together? Romy and Kai have been hiding their affair from Kai’s clan; it’s not only that Romy is human, but she’s also much older than Kai. Will Kai’s obligation to his clan and tradition tear them apart?

Kai, the eldest and only son and heir to the family’s clan, has fallen for the forbidden, Romy, a human. His father has plans for the clan that doesn’t involve Kai mating a human; these plans drive them apart. But can they ignore their feelings and buck tradition? Will Kai’s decision lead to his death?

About the Author

Born and raised in Southern Indiana, this Hoosier transplanted herself to the Windy City after graduate school. My passion is teaching, with writing come a close second and gaining momentum. I currently teach at the College of DuPage (part-time faculty, hoping for a full-time gig soon!). I was promoted to third-degree black belt in hapkido fall 2012 and am affliated with the US Hapkido Federation.

I'm currently working on a vampire novel, along with various short stories, novellas and even the next great American sci-fi novel. (Modest I'm not LOL.) I currently have three short stories published through XoXo Publishing, as well as a novella to be published through them as well sometime this year. Please check out the Published Works page for more information and links to order!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorSherrieHenry
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/sherriehenry 
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AuthorSHenry
Blog: http://sherriehenry.blogspot.com/
Manic Readers: http://www.manicreaders.com/SherrieHenry/
Lazy Beagle Entertainment: http://www.lazybeagleentertainment.com/sherrie-henry.htmlWebsite: http://www.sherriehenry.com

Bleeding Hearts by Ash Krafton Book Blast with Giveaway!!

Sophie Galen is an advice columnist who is saving the world--one damned person at a time. Shy and sensitive Sophie has all but given up on love until she meets Marek, a mysterious stranger who seduces her with his striking good looks and his take-charge attitude. Yet the darkness she senses within him may be more than she is prepared to handle when Marek draws her into a world of vampires, werewolves, and treachery. Forced to leave behind the comfortable routines and certainties of her past, Sophie makes unbearable sacrifices and uncovers hidden truths about herself and the world around her.

Buy on Kindle | Paperback

About the author:

Ash Krafton is a speculative fiction author from northeastern Pennsylvania. Krafton’s first novel, Bleeding Hearts was published in 2012 as part of a three-book urban fantasy series The Books of the Demimonde (Pink Narcissus Press). An urban fantasy novella, Strangers at the Hell Gate, was published by Wild Rose Press in 2013. Her latest project, Words That Bind, won first place in the HeRA RWA “Show Me the Spark” 2013 competition; it will also be released by Wild Rose Press. Krafton also writes New Adult speculative fiction novels under the pen name AJ Krafton. Upcoming titles include The Heartbeat Thief, Face of the Enemy, and the award-winning Takin’ It Back. She is part of a YA/NA collective known as the Infinite Ink Authors. In addition to novel-length fiction, Krafton enjoys writing poetry and short prose, some of which earned distinctions in various writing competitions. One of her poems was also nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She’s a proud member of Pennwriters, Romance Writers of America, Maryland Writers Association, Pikes Peak Writers, and the Science Fiction Poetry Association. Krafton is also a staff blogger for the Query Tracker Blog.
  Follow Ash: Literary Addicts | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog | Authorgraph | Goodreads

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Journeys with the Caterpillar by Shivaji Das Book Boost!!

ABOUT THE BOOK

A humorous travelogue on Indonesia

"The crowd lined the street, shoulder to shoulder. Fathers held young boys high, the older children climbing trees for better views. The pressure of the crowd built behind me. About fifteen men assembled around a tied buffalo: the sacrifices were about to begin."

What comes to your mind when you think of Indonesia?

• Do you think of volcanoes rising hurriedly from the seas to the skies?
• Do you imagine whimsical color-changing lakes sheltering tales of dead ancestors, wandering spirits, and local lore?
• Do you think of baby Komodo Dragons scurrying for cover from their hungry mothers?
• Do you imagine ever-blossoming smiles in this country often considered the happiest in the world?

Maybe you’ve never visited these islands, but you’ll feel like you have when you’ve read JOURNEYS WITH THE CATERPILLAR.

Embark on this journey today.

• Know about ancient animist cultures still thriving in these islandsExplore stunning yet remote landscapes
• Enjoy hilarious moments as you join the author and his fiancé interacting with the locals
• See the amazing photographs from this trip that were selected for solo exhibition at the National Library and the Arts House, Singapore
• Help contribute to allay poverty in these islands; all royalties from this book are donated to Ayo Indonesia and Yayasan Harapan Sumba (YHS), two not-for-profits organizations in Flores and Sumba respectively.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shivaji Das was born and brought up in the north-eastern province of Assam in India. He graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, subsequent to which he completed his post-graduation from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Calcutta.

He is presently working as a management consultant in Singapore. Shivaji's writings have been published in various magazines such as Time, Venture Mag, Hack Writers. He has also given several talks on the subject of Flores and Sumba in Singapore, China, Indonesia and Brazil where he was hosted by the Ambassador of Indonesia to Brazil.

Besides travelling, Shivaji also takes an active interest in migrant issues and eradication of underage poverty and is associated with Singapore based organization Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2).

http://www.shivajidas.com

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

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Cover Reveal for Alexandrea Weis!

Quirky, reclusive, and unwilling to trust, Rayne Greer has removed herself from the world and lives only for her horse, Bob. After her heartbreaking divorce from the wealthy, arrogant, and much older Foster Greer, Rayne returns hides behind the world of horses she loved as a child. She is insulated from men, until she meets the handsome new riding master of Southland Stables, Trent Newbury. Hired to supervise Rayne and the other riding instructors, Trent is bold, competitive, and from the moment he meets Rayne, determined to have her. Rayne thinks the man with the striking gray eyes is just another playboy out for a good time with women and little else. But Trent has something other men do not; a patient and methodical plan for taming the skittish Rayne and gaining her elusive trust.

     After corralling her to dinner, Trent gets Rayne to slowly open up and she learns to confide in him. After an impassioned kiss, Rayne begins to see the riding master in a whole new light.

     Despite Rayne’s wishes to keep the relationship platonic, Trent relentlessly pursues her. He also encourages her to move forward with her riding and return to the show ring despite a long absence. Gaining her confidence inside and outside of the riding ring, Rayne feels ready to take the next step with Trent. But right when the relationship heats up, Rayne’s ex and her alcoholic mother step in and complicate matters.       

     Trent offers a shoulder for Rayne to lean on when dealing with her cold and distant mother. Slowly, he gains her trust, but doubts still plague her, especially when facts about Trent’s philandering past come to light. After Rayne discovers Trent’s involvement with his former boss, Lisa Shelby the owner of Shelby Stables where he worked as riding master, she begins to question his intentions for her.

     But Trent swears he has found something special in Rayne, and promises to be loyal to her. As Rayne slowly succumbs to his gentling of her heart, Trent introduces her to a new world of passion. Falling for Trent, she allows him in her life and takes his advice to return to the show ring. He enters her in an upcoming horse show and works with her and Bob to get ready. Rayne feel she has found the best of both worlds; a boyfriend and trainer.

     At a special party where she meets Trent’s friends, Tyler Moore and his wife, the famous author Monique Delome, Rayne runs into her ex, and Trent’s former flame, Lisa Shelby. The encounter makes her wonder why Trent is with her. But her fears soon subside when he gives her the key to his home, asking her to be a part of his life. Overjoyed, Rayne agrees.

     A friend at work encourages Rayne to take another step forward and give Trent her house key, so he will feel she is earnest about her desire to make things work between them. Deciding to surprise Trent with her key, she goes to his house and when she walks in, finds a Lisa Shelby naked and dripping wet in his living room. Lisa tells Rayne how she has worked her way back into Trent’s life. When Trent walks in and finds the two women, he denies any wrongdoing, but it is too late. Rayne’s trust has been shattered and she ends their relationship.

    Things go from bad to worse when her mother’s health quickly deteriorates. Years of alcohol abuse have left Estelle with a bad liver and a lot of debt, compounding Rayne’s heartache. Desperate for escape, Rayne buries herself in preparations for the coming horse show.

     On the day of the horse show Rayne confronts Trent about their relationship. He vows they are not finished, but Rayne disagrees. When she enters the show ring, she is able to jump a glorious round and be in contention for a ribbon.

    Exiting the show ring, she is greeted by an unexpected visitor, her mother. Estelle has spent her life avoiding her daughter’s love of horses, but now, encouraged by Trent, she has come to the show to support Rayne. She admits Trent has helped her to see her daughter in a new light and wants a chance to mend things between them. She tells Rayne that Trent needs another chance, too.

     When Rayne discovers she has won the blue ribbon, she wants nothing more than to share it with Trent. Finding him on the show grounds she confesses her love for him, but he is not entirely convinced, and Rayne must commit one final act of “proof” to assure Trent. 

     In the end, Rayne finally finds contentment with a man she can truly call her riding master.                   

    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21479643-the-riding-master

Website:  http://www.alexandreaweis.com/index.html

Blogspot: http://alexandreaweiscom.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alexandrea-Weis/289566081083949

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexandreaweis

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1211671.Alexandrea_Weis

The Recluse Storyteller by Mark W.Sasse Spotlight!!

Red Hat hijacks a yoghurt truck and barrels into the Chester Walz Bank at full speed, desperate to open a safety deposit box. 

The twins, beckoned by an ominous streak of light across the sky, climb Harper’s Hill to encounter an apparition of their missing father. 

The reverend stands on a muddy ridge, the barrel of the rifle in his neck, looking down on a Vietnamese village, scarred by war and regret. 

The stories come to Margaret at all times, but they are anything but random. A fractured view of Michael Cheevers’ red hat through a discreetly cracked door sends her off on adventure. A glimpse of the Johnson twins from apartment 2D takes her to the lonely hill on a Midwestern prairie in 1887. The regular letters from Reverend Davies, who has tried to look after Margaret since the death of her mother, brings her to the brink of exhaustion, staring intensely into the heart of war deep in the jungle of Vietnam. 

Margaret is not insane, at least not in a clinical sense. She’s like a midnight raccoon, painfully aware of her surroundings, gleaming crumbs of information at every turn; eyes peering incessantly in the night, stealing glances of neighbors behind partially opened doors. 

But the tales that she weaves were not meant to merely hold empty court to the receptive dead air of her apartment. Her stories were meant to embolden the lives of the inhabitants of that drab apartment block because her story is also their story—and everything would be different if they could only hear her stories. 

The Recluse Storyteller weaves five stories into one as the loner Margaret not only searches for meaning from her reclusive life, but also gives meaning in the most unexpected ways to the troubled souls of her apartment complex. Part adventure, part tragedy, and part discovery, The Recluse Storyteller bridges genres, bringing hope, life, and redemption to the broken relationships of modern society.

About this author

Mark W. Sasse currently lives in Malaysia teaching drama and history. He lived in Vietnam for ten years which provided the rich background of modern day Vietnam in his first novel "Beauty Rising" released in December 2012. His second novel, "The Recluse Storyteller" will be released in October 2013. He just finished writing his third novel with a release date of 2014.

When he is not writing novels, his other passion comes out: live theater. He has published a series of plays of different genres including "Grandparents' War", "Spy Blue", "Take Two: Who Directs Your Life", and "Life with Stewart". He also produced and directed all of these as original stage productions.

Sasse grew up in western Pennsylvania as a huge baseball fan. He loves to cook and spend time with his family.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Recluse-Storyteller-ebook/dp/B00FOBQ464/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381502108&sr=8-1&keywords=the+recluse+storyteller

http://mwsasse.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/markwsasse

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18454126-the-recluse-storyteller

https://twitter.com/sassevn

The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure Daily Deal at Amazon!!

Kindle will be offering the e-book for $2.99 as its Featured Daily Deal!

Praise for The Paris Architect:

INDIE NEXT PICK – NATIONAL READING GROUP MONTH PICK – USA Today New Voices Selection

"A beautiful and elegant account of an ordinary man's unexpected and reluctant descent into heroism during the second world war."

—Malcolm Gladwell, bestselling author of The Tipping Point and Outliers

"The ingenious hiding spaces and the people in them infiltrated my imagination for weeks.

I dreamed about this novel." —Jenna Blum, New York Times bestselling author of THOSE WHO SAVE US

“Belfoure’s portrayal of Vichy France is both disturbing and captivating, and his beautiful tale demonstrates that while human beings are capable of great atrocities, they have a capacity for tremendous acts of courage as well.” – Library Journal STARRED review

“Belfoure’s characters are well-rounded and intricate. Heart, reluctant heroism, and art blend together in this spine-chilling page-turner.” – Publishers Weekly

“Belfoure writes like an up-and-coming Ken Follett” – Booklist

“If you enjoy fast paced, graphic, and fascinating historical fiction, I recommend you read THE PARIS ARCHITECT.” –Erika Robuck, author of Hemingway’s Girl

“All novelists are architects. But are all architects novelists? Charles Belfoure in his impressive debut seems to have brought us the best of both worlds. Here is a novel to read alongside the latest Alan Furst. I hope there will be more.” – Alan Cheuse, NPR book commentator

# # #

Paperback Release: JULY 15 – 9781402294150 – Sourcebooks Landmark

Lucien Bernard didn’t expect to join the French Resistance. It starts out as a game—an architectural puzzle. When a wealthy industrialist offers him a large sum of money to devise secret hiding places for Jews in Nazi-occupied Paris, Lucien can’t resist the challenge.

He begins a secret life, designing expertly concealed spaces invisible to the untrained eye—all while working with the Germans on the other side.

Set during the roundups and deportations of 1942, The Paris Architect (October 2013; ISBN: 9781402284311; $25.99 U.S.; Fiction; Hardcover) is a powerfully human novel of survival, self-knowledge, and the challenge of sacrifice in the midst of uncertainty and fear.

Charles Belfoure is a former lecturer at Goucher College whose writing has appeared in the Baltimore Sun and theNew York Times. An architect specializing in historical preservation, he is the author of several award-winning works of nonfiction. This is his first novel. He lives in Maryland.