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Monday, September 28, 2015

TBR Read-a-Thon Wrap Up


The read-a-thon has come to a close. I did not have much time to read, but I completed the two books I planned to read plus another one. All three were fantastic, some of the best I have read recently, and I could hardly put them down or get anything else done the entire time I was reading them.

Book 1: Orphan's Song by Gillian Adams
Date finished: September 18
Format: ebook
Pages: 304
Rating: 5 stars

Book 2: Oath of the Brotherhood by C. E. Laureano
Date finished: September 20
Format: ebook
Pages: 435
Rating: 5 stars

Book 3: The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen
Date finished: September 23
Format: paperback
Pages: 440
Rating: 5 stars

Final Stats: 
Total books finished: 3
Total pages read: 1179

Friday, September 25, 2015

Read-Through: A Time to Die


The sequel to A Time to Die, called A Time to Speak, will be released on October 16, 2015. In honor of the second book's release, the author asked me and two other ladies to plan and host a read-through of the first book, A Time to Die. Think of it like an online book-club, in which a bunch of people get together to read and chat about a particular book. The read-through will take place on Goodreads as a part of the new fan page for the series. Weekly discussions will be held every Saturday for 8 weeks.

Schedule


October 3: Chapters 1-5
October 10: Chapters 6-11
October 17: Chapters 12-17
October 24: Chapters 18-23
October 31: Chapters 24-28
November 7: Chapters 29-33
November 14: Chapters 34-38
November 21: Chapters 39-43

About the Book


I cannot say enough about A Time to Die. Aside from being my favorite book of the year, A Time to Die won the Carol Award and was a finalist for both the Clive Staples Award and the Christy Award. A Time to Die touches on deep topics while capturing the reader in adventure and a little bit of romance. The book is amazing and I would love to read it with you! If you are interestd, you can join the read-through here.

Description


A Time to Die
Nadine Brandes
Out of Time Series #1

Synopsis from Goodreads:
How would you live if you knew the day you'd die?

Parvin Blackwater has wasted her life. At only seventeen, she has one year left according to the Clock by her bedside. 

In a last-ditch effort to make a difference, she tries to rescue Radicals from the crooked justice system. But when the authorities find out about her illegal activity, they cast her through the Wall -- her people's death sentence. 

What she finds on the other side about the world, about eternity, and about herself changes Parvin forever and might just save her people. But her Clock is running out. 


Are you interested? Have you read A Time to Die? What do you think of it? Have you ever done anything like a read-through before?

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Fall Reads

This fall, there are a number of exciting new books coming out! Here are the Top Ten on my list!


October 1, 2015
The Keepsake by Suzy Vittelo
I recently came across this book and it looks simply fantastic, don't you think? I'm just going on the cover and the description, though. 



October 6, 2015
Luther and Katharina by Jody Hedlund
This book is by an author I have read and enjoyed. I am curious to see how she will portray the romance between Martin Luther and his wife Katharina, a former nun.



October 6, 2015
Cinderella's Shoes by Shonna Slayton
The dress has been kept safe for centuries, as told in book one. But what happened to Cinderella's shoes?



October 15, 2015
The Sound of Silver by Rachelle Rea
The continuation of Gwyn and Dirk's tale: Will their romance and Gwyn's newfound faith survive the difficulties ahead?



October 16, 2015
A Time to Speak by Nadine Brandes
Book one, A Time to Die, became my favorite book of the year when I read it in March. Needless to say, I am excited for the release of book two, especially after that cliffhanger. In fact, I and a couple other ladies are forming a read-through of book one at the request of the author in order to prepare readers for book two. Super exciting! The read-through begins October 3rd.



October 20, 2015
A Refuge at Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky
The inspiration for this stand-alone series came from the TV series Downton Abbey, or so I am told. So, if you enjoyed the show, this might just been the series for you.



November 10, 2015
Winter by Marissa Meyer
Of course, one must not forget to include the highly anticipated conclusion to the Lunar Chronicles. A cyborg Cinderella and her band of sci-fi, fairy-tale revolutionaries won the attention of more people than one might have originally expected.



November 17, 2015
The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson
Another of Melanie Dickerson's historical fairy-tale rewrites--Rapunzel, I presume? Although, you never know what other fairy-tale might be written into the story.



November 17. 2015
Blades of Accession by Breeana Puttroff
This is, what, the seventh book in the series? Every time the author says she is done with the series, she changes her mind and writes more. There is just so much more to Quinn, William, and their friends' stories. I am enjoying every single book.



December 1, 2015
The Painter's Daughter by Julie Klassen
Last but definitely not least is The Painter's Daughter. If this book is any bit as fantastic, romantic, and mysterious as The Silent Governess or The Secret of Pembrooke Park, it is well worth the time spent reading it. 


What books are you looking forward to reading this fall? Do any on this list interest you?

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Cover Reveal: The Keepsake



The Keepsake (The Empress Chronicles #2)
Release Date: December 1st 2015

Summary from Goodreads:


In this second Empress Chronicles book, Liz and Sisi continue their intertwined journey through time. On the heels of discovering a magical locket in the empress diary, Liz comes to understand its very special power: the wearer must speak the truth. Not only that, but it turns out that there are three lockets, each with their own magic and power.


Meanwhile, Sisi realizes that she’s communicating with a girl who lives 150 years in the future. A girl who knows what awaits her if she marries the emperor: lack of personal freedom and a legacy that will refer to her as the "reluctant empress."

With the world's future hanging in the balance, the two heroines must work together to thwart Lola, whose ambition to rule the Habsburg Empire will rewrite history, and lead to a terrifying new version of reality.

Book One:
(click on image for Goodreads link)




About the Author

Suzy Vitello is a proud founding member of a critique group recently dubbed The Hottest Writing Group in Portland, and her short stories have won fellowships and prizes (including the Atlantic Monthly Student Writing Award, and an Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship).

Suzy's young adult novels, THE MOMENT BEFORE and THE EMPRESS CHRONICLES are available wherever books and ebooks are sold.

An e-chapbook of some of her stories, UNKISS ME, can be found here


Author Links:
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Monday, September 21, 2015

Book Blitz: Illuminate



Description


Illuminate (The Light Key Trilogy #3)
Release Date: 09/21/15
Entangled Teen
320 pages

Summary from Goodreads:
Can one girl be the light in a world spiraling toward darkness?

Haunted by the loss of her loved ones, Cora Sandoval, one of the remaining few of an extraordinary race known as Scintilla, holds the key to disentangling the biggest conspiracy in human history...and its link to the fate of the human race. As Cora follows a trail of centuries-old clues and secrets, she collides with a truth not only shocking, but dangerous.

With enemies both known and unknown hot on her trail, Cora must locate each of the ancient clues hidden in the art, religions, and mythologies of humankind. And through it all, she must keep her heart from being torn apart by the two boys she loves most. One is Scintilla, one is Arazzi.

Save herself. Save the Scintilla. Save the world.

Or die trying…


Buy Links:

Books in this series:
(covers linked to Goodreads)
 

Buy Links for Scintillate:

Buy Links for Deviate:

About the Author


Tracy Clark is a young-adult writer because she believes teens deserve to know how much they matter and that regardless of what they’re going through, they aren’t alone. In other words, she writes books for her teen self.

She grew up a “Valley Girl” in Southern California but now lives in her home state of Nevada, in a small town at the base of the Sierra Foothills. Her two children teach her the art of distraction and are a continuous source of great dialogue. She’s an unapologetic dog person who is currently owned by a cat.

Tracy was the recipient of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Work in Progress Grant. A two-time participant in the prestigious Nevada SCBWI Mentor Program where she was lucky enough to be mentored by bestselling author, Ellen Hopkins, who taught her so much about the art of writing and cured her of her ellipsis addiction.
Her debut novel was inspired by her enchantment with metaphysics as a teen, seeing it as the real magic in life. Tracy is a part-time college student, a private pilot, and an irredeemable dreamer.

Author Links:
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Giveaway

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon Update


So far, I accomplished the minimum of what I desired to do--I finished reading both Orphan's Song by Gillian Adams and Oath of the Brethren by C. E. Laureano. Both of the books were amazing and I had been at the top of my list for a while now. I'm glad I read them and look forward to the next books in the series.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Book Tour: Inheritance

Description


The Inheritance
Marianne Perry

Synopsis:
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.



About the Author


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


Author Interview


Why did you write The Inheritance?

Family mysteries intrigue me and I wanted to understand why my paternal grandmother, Nana Caterina left Calabria, southern Italy in 1913 as a young woman; sailed on a steamship across the Atlantic Ocean; landed at Ellis Island, New York; settled in Canada and never returned to her homeland. Our large family knew scant about Nana’s early life so I started genealogical research to investigate her history. I eventually travelled to her ancestral village and The Inheritance is a tale inspired by my discoveries.

Why is there a photo of a crumbling stone cottage on the book cover?

Authenticity is important to me as a writer and I snapped this photograph on a research trip to Calabria. The crumbling stone cottage was located in the mountains near my Nana Caterina’s ancestral village and it is in the vicinity where The Inheritance is set. The image is intrinsic to Caterina’s life as a peasant in this novel and I felt a personal photograph would also give the reader a sense of my values.

Tell me about the cameo brooch Caterina inherits.

My mother has long suffered from dementia and I cherish a cameo brooch that I inherited from her. It belonged to her Sicilian-born father but she knows nothing about its origin. The clasp is broken and the brooch, fragile. I have long been haunted by the milky carving of the elegant lady depicted and it seemed the perfect gift to symbolize the ailing Anna Marino’s quasi-maternal affection for Caterina.

What do you hope the reader will gain from reading The Inheritance?

Travel informs us about the world and I included a map of Calabria at the beginning of the book as a guide for readers. The region is less well known than Tuscany, for example, and I hoped my book might stimulate interest in exploring this part of Italy. Everyone has family mysteries and I included a genealogical resource section with practical information to help readers solve theirs.

Where do you write?

I have a den dedicated to writing and genealogical research with windows fronting Lake Superior in our Northern Ontario, Canada country home. I believe in positive energy and every item in the room honours family, cherished mementos and treasured books. I have travelled to the seven continents and there is a map of the world on the wall on which I record places I have visited.


Giveaway



3 print copies of The Inheritance (Canada & USA)
2 ebook (kindle) copies (Canada & USA)
3 $15 Amazon gift cards (International) 


Tour Schedule


Sept 7 - Library of Clean Reads - review / giveaway
Sept 7 - 3 Partners in Shopping - review / giveaway
Sept 8 - Olio by Marilyn - review / author interview / giveaway
Sept 8 - Singing Librarian Books - review / author interview / giveaway
Sept 9 - The Autistic Gamer - review
Sept 10 - Griperang's Bookmarks - review / guest post / giveaway
Sept 11 - Il Mio Tesoro - review / author interview
Sept 14 - allthingsbookie - review / giveaway
Sept 14 - Working Mommy Journal - review / giveaway
Sept 15 - View from the Birdhouse - book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 15 - FLY HIGH! - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Sept 16 - The Things We Read - review
Sept 16 - Zerina Blossom's Books - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Sept 17 - Rockin' Book Reviews - review / author interview / giveaway
Sept 17 - 100 Pages a Day - review / giveaway
Sept 18 - Vic's Media Room - review
Sept 21 - Book Stop Corner - review / author interview / giveaway
Sept 21 - Book Nerd - review
Sept 22 - Essentially Italian - review / giveaway
Sept 22 - #redhead.with.book - review / giveaway
Sept 23 - Italophilia - book spotlight / author interview
Sept 23 - Studentessa Matta - review / giveaway
Sept 24 - Svetlana's Reads and Views - review
Sept 25 - Book and Ink - review / guest post
Sept 27 - Writers and Authors - book spotlight

Monday, September 14, 2015

Tackle Your TBR Read-a-Thon: Introduction


Today marks the beginning of the annual Tackle Your TBR Read-a-Thon hosted by Wishful Endings. There are daily blog posts by participating bloggers and authors along with giveaways. There is a Goodreads group for those who do not have a blog to post updates on their progress and to chat with others who are participating. If you are interested, it is probably not too late to join. Follow the links above to join.

For my part, I will be posting daily updates here on my blog. I don't know how much I will actually get accomplished, but I will try. My goal is to at least read Orphan's Song by Gillian Adams and Oath of the Brotherhood by C. E. Laureano, both of which have been high on my TBR for about a year now. Other than those, I have a little under 2,000 books on my Goodreads TBR to choose from, not to mention the 700, mostly free, Kindle books I own... Let's just say I need the pressure this will give to finish a few more in the coming weeks.

What's on your To-Be-Read list? Have you ever done something like this?

Friday, September 11, 2015

Review: In Good Company

Description


In Good Company
Jen Turano

Synopsis from Goodreads:
After growing up as an orphan, Millie Longfellow is determined to become the best nanny the East Coast has ever seen. Unfortunately, her playfulness and enthusiasm aren't always well received and she finds herself dismissed from yet another position.

Everett Mulberry has quite unexpectedly become guardian to three children that scare off every nanny he hires. About to depart for Newport, Rhode Island, for the summer, he’s desperate for competent childcare.

At wit’s end with both Millie and Everett, the employment agency gives them one last chance–with each other. As Millie falls in love with her mischievous charges, Everett focuses on achieving the coveted societal status of the upper echelons. But as he investigates the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the children’s parents, will it take the loss of those he loves to learn whose company he truly wants for the rest of his life?
 



Review


After getting fired once again from her position as a nanny, Millie finds herself in the position of either having to quite being a nanny completely or working for a man who does not want her as a nanny. The only problem is, neither of them have any other options left. So, with some convincing for both of them, Millie takes the job as nanny for Everett’s unruly children.

In Good Company by Jen Turano was a beautifully hilarious book. The author wove a lovely story with troubled children, sweet romance, funny instances, and a slight mystery.

Oh, the situations that nanny and those kids got into! Even Everett found himself caught up in their shenanigans. Rope, flour, peacocks, water, and trees all played a part in the children’s fun. I laughed through the first half of the book because of that and the other situations the strong-willed Millie got herself into.

Everett started the book as kind of a stuck up, spoiled society man. He had to be the perfect society gentleman without a single part of his life unruly. Unfortunately, the three children he gained with his friend’s death did not think the same way. I enjoyed watching him grow even as his world fell apart because of those kids.

The kids, of course, were not totally horrible either. They were ignored and grieving. Besides that, even the worst children can be sweet sometimes. The care Millie gave them helped change them. She really was a wonderful nanny.

In conclusion, I adored this book. The humor was worth remembering. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves sweet romance, kids, and a good laugh.

I received a free copy of this review from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.