Mary Anne Yarde's Blog: The Coffee Pot Book Club , page 192

The Du Lac Chronicles ~ Book Excerpt #ASMSG #HistFic

Would you like to have a sneak peek between the covers of The Du Lac Chronicles? Yes? Well, read on…

  The Du Lac Chronicles by Mary Anne Yarde

A generation after Arthur Pendragon ruled, Briton lies fragmented into warring kingdoms and principalities.
Eighteen-year-old Alden du Lac ruled the tiny kingdom of Cerniw. Now he half-hangs from a wooden pole, his back lashed into a mass of bloody welts exposed to the cold of a cruel winter night. He’s to be executed come daybreak—should he survive that long.
When Alden notices the shadowy figure approaching, he assumes death has come to end his pain. Instead, the daughter of his enemy, Cerdic of Wessex, frees and hides him, her motives unclear.
Annis has loved Alden since his ill-fated marriage to her Saxon cousin—a marriage that ended in blood and guilt—and she would give anything to protect him. Annis’s rescue of Alden traps them between a brutal Saxon king and Alden’s remaining allies. Meanwhile, unknown forces are carefully manipulating the ruins of Arthur’s legacy.

Book Excerpt
AD 495 Wessex, Briton.
Alden du Lac drew in a ragged breath. The cold night air hurt his lungs, and the rough wooden post that he was tied to rubbed the wounds on his back. He had prayed for the welcomed relief of unconsciousness; alas, it was not to be. It seemed even God wanted him to suffer for his failings.
He had lost count how many times he had been lashed. All he knew was that each lash represented every Wessex soldier that had been killed by his men. Cerniw's losses had been far higher, but no one paid for their deaths. Life was never fair, though; he did not need a lost battle and hundreds dead to tell him that much.
The year had been horrendous. Cerniw, with its rugged moorlands, its vast forests and beautiful coasts, had been struck with one pestilence after another. The people started to talk about moving, and some already had. Those who had stayed loyal to the land and, of course, to him, no doubt now wished they had not, for when Cerdic's Saxons came, they purged the kingdom, making it look like the hell the bishop preached of in his Sunday sermon. Alden, unlike God, had been powerless to do anything about it. Oh yes, he had fought, but the numbers he fought against had overwhelmed his army, for who could fight the devil, without God on their side, and think to win?
Alden hung his head in shame, his shoulder-length dark hair falling into his face. He cursed his naivety and worse still, his arrogance. His younger brother had warned him, but he had not heeded the warning; instead, he believed the useless treaty that Cerdic of Wessex had offered him only months before. He should have seen where Cerdic was going with it then, only he had been blinded by grief, by guilt. The responsibility for what happened, therefore, was his and his alone. He knew that, and he took the blame. He deserved to be tied to a post waiting for death.
Alden closed his pain-filled grey eyes as the image of his homeland in flames scorched his mind. He could hear the screams, the begging for mercy, and the cries for help. He could taste the terror in the air and feel the heat of the flames. Dear God, what had he done?
He had been left with no alternative. Even now, with the clarity of hindsight, he could see no other choice. He had ridden towards the enemy, carrying the white flag of truce and hoping ⎯ sweet Lord, how he had hoped ⎯ for clemency, not for himself, but for his people.
Instead, Cerdic's soldiers had pulled him unceremoniously from his horse and taken him prisoner along with at least eighty of his kinsmen. Of their fate he was uncertain, but his was assured. If he did not die tonight from exposure then an axe awaited him at dawn. It was a terrifying thought, and he prayed to God for courage. He felt no warm, welcoming presence and he feared what all men secretly feared, that on the morrow, he would not die well.
Snow began to fall softly from the night sky, not enough to settle, just enough to plummet the temperature further. He began to shiver. He tried thinking of a warm fire and his large bed covered in thick furs. It did not help. After all, when last he saw his fort it was in flames.
“Are you still alive, du Lac?”
Alden kept his head down, pretending to be unconscious, and hoped the bastard would leave him alone to die in peace.
Draca, the guard in charge of the prisoners, was not fooled. He lived for terror and he had no intention of allowing the former ruler of Cerniw an easy death. He grabbed Alden's chin roughly and forced his head up.
Alden opened his eyes and stared with contempt at the soldier in front of him. Draca was a huge man, with a shiny bald head, tiny eyes and a big fist, whose breath stank of stale beer and his body of gone-off fish mixed horribly with the smell of fresh blood ⎯ not his own, but someone else's.
“Not quite dead yet, are you? Won't be long, though.” Draca chuckled deep in his throat. “I've never killed a King before. I'm looking forward to it…”






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Thanks for reading...Mary Anne xxx

#NewRelease ~ A Highland Moon Enchantment (A Tale from the Order of the Dragon Knights) #Romance @m_morganauthor

Have you heard that the fabulous Mary Morgan has a book out just in time for Christmas?
A Highland Moon Enchantment (A Tale from the Order of the Dragon Knights)by Mary Morgan
  Irish warrior, Desmond O’Quinlan has never surrendered his heart to any woman. He has no wish to have his soul tortured by love. Yet, the moment he locks gazes with Ailsa, his fate is destined for an adventure he never fathomed. He may have battled alongside a Dragon Knight, but his greatest challenge will come from within his own heart.

Ailsa MacDuff, a warrior among her clan, has no desire to have a man chain her to a life of obedience. However, that is before she meets Desmond. The temptation to allow this warrior inside her heart is a risk she dares to take, but one that could lead to a future of emptiness and sorrow.

When betrayal looms from within, the battleground of love is no match for these two warriors. Can the power of a Highland full moon be strong enough to unite or destroy them? 
Links to PurchaseAmazon US Amazon UK
About the author
Scottish paranormal romance author, Mary Morgan resides in Northern California, with her own knight in shining armor. However, during her travels to Scotland, England, and Ireland, she left a part of her soul in one of these countries and vows to return. 
Mary's passion for books started at an early age along with an overactive imagination. She spent far too much time daydreaming and was told quite often to remove her head from the clouds. It wasn't until the closure of Borders Books where Mary worked that she found her true calling--writing romance. Now, the worlds she created in her mind are coming to life within her stories. 

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Blog Tour ~ By Love Divided #HistFic @hfvbt @ElizStJohn

Book Tour and Giveaway ~  Historical Virtual Book Tour Presents....


By Love DividedBy Elizabeth St. John
 Royalist Sir Allen Apsley thinks his choice is clear, but when his mother embraces the Puritan cause, and his beloved sister Luce falls in love with John Hutchinson, a Roundhead soldier, his loyalties are tested. Is it family first? Is it country first? As England falls into bloody civil war, Allen must fight for king and country, while Luce embraces Parliament’s radical views and confronts the very core of the family’s beliefs. And when their influential Villiers cousins raise the stakes, Allen and Luce face a devastating challenge. Will war unite or divide them? In the dawn of rebellion, love is the final battleground.
Based on surviving memoirs, court papers and letters of Elizabeth St.John’s family, By Love Divided continues the story of Lucy St.John, The Lady of the Tower. This powerfully emotional novel tells of England’s great divide, and the heart-wrenching choices one family faces.
Reviews
“I am completely blown away by Elizabeth St. John’s follow up novel, By Love Divided. The depth of her characterization, the elegance of her prose (and dialogue) and the masterful way in which she presents the realities of the English Civil War such that we’re bleeding for both sides is nothing short of brilliant. If you want a compelling, exquisitely written story to immerse you in the past, By Love Divided is a must read! I consider it one of my favourite historical reads and it’s earned a place on my keeper shelf! 5 plus stars!”Cryssa Bazos, Author of The Traitor’s Knot

Excerpt
Chapter 5
My mother showed as much humility and patience, under that great change, as moderation and bounty in her more plentiful and prosperous condition.Luce Apsley21st March 1633
Leaving the partitioned chamber and descending the broad stairs into the echoing expanse of Westminster Hall, Luce and Babs briskly crossed the flagstone floor, wooden heels clicking. Groups of clerks huddled under the arched windows, using the diffused light to proof their work, while lawyers steered their clients to recessed embrasures for private conversations. Although tempted to stay and peruse the stacks of tomes at the booksellers’ stalls, Luce had no interest in the bloodsucking lawyers standing in the hall, preying on their troubled victims. Even if her mother’s purse permitted legal counsel to guide them through the maze of interrogatories, she would not have trusted these corrupt lawyers with their defense.
“You were so composed, Luce.” Babs looked up at her. “How do you keep calm?”
“They are simply men and answer to the same God as I. He will be their judge as much as they are mine. And He sees all.” Pushing a strand of hair back under her starched white hood and adjusting her cuffed sleeves, Luce carefully straightened the decorative small bows. She must remember to sponge a clean set for tomorrow. The courtroom dust clung to the linen like a shroud.
“Our parents did nothing wrong, did they, Luce? That is a long list of items they accuse us of stealing.” Babs stopped still, her blue eyes filled with tears.
“Our father was the king’s man. His only crime was that of blind loyalty to a corrupt court and a foolish monarch who considers himself divine.”
“Hush, Luce, you cannot speak this way.” Babs looked around. “You sound like a Puritan. Remember Allen’s warning. Do not voice your opinions aloud.”
Luce ignored her, for she needed to spill the words denied airing before the judge.
“And you think it is right that our family lives in penury, our mother is dragged into lawsuits, our brother exiled behind the walls of his university to evade the interrogators, all because the king commanded our father to finance the Duke of Buckingham’s ill-planned French war?”
She steered Babs around a cluster of weathered country folk huddled around an extravagantly beaver-robed justice.
“Where is King Charles when his citizens are held hostage by a rough justice that no longer cares for the common man?” Luce waved her hand around Westminster Hall, disgusted at the sights and sounds of men’s grievances dissected before corrupt magistrates.
 “Look around you, Babs, for this is what England has come to. You are not too young to learn.” Unspoken thoughts plagued Luce’s mind. “This day in Chancery Court has brought a new awareness, and your innocence is eroding in this knowledge.”
Luce dropped her voice. She cared not if Babs understood her words or not. This was the rhetoric she learned from the sermons she attended with her mother. The preachers did not hold back their anger. Why should she?
Copyright © Elizabeth St. John 2017.
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a paperback copy of By Love Dividedto one lucky winner! Enter here.
Giveaway Rules
• Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on November 28thYou must be 18 or older to enter.• Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY.• Only one entry per household.• All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.• Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
Links for PurchaseAmazon

About the Author Elizabeth St.John was brought up in England and lives in California. To inform her writing, she has tracked down family papers and residences from Nottingham Castle, Lydiard Park, and Castle Fonmon to the Tower of London. Although the family sold a few castles and country homes along the way (it’s hard to keep a good castle going these days), Elizabeth’s family still occupy them – in the form of portraits, memoirs, and gardens that carry their imprint. And the occasional ghost. But that’s a different story…
By Love Divided, Elizabeth’s sequel to The Lady of the Tower, follows the fortunes of the St.John family during the English Civil War, and is out now.
For more information, please visit Elizabeth St. John’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

By Love Divided by Elizabeth St. JohnPublication Date: October 12, 2017
Falcon Historical
eBook & Paperback; 381 Pages
Series: The Lydiard Chronicles, Book Two
Genre: Historical Fiction

Author’s Inspiration ~ Cryssa Bazos #HistFic #Romance #ASMSG @CryssaBazos

Please give a warm Coffee Pot welcome to Historical Fiction author, Cryssa Bazos. Cryssa is going to share with us her inspiration behind her fabulous debut novel…

Traitor’s Knot

England 1650: Civil War has given way to an uneasy peace in the year since Parliament executed King Charles I.
Royalist officer James Hart refuses to accept the tyranny of the new government, and to raise funds for the restoration of the king’s son, he takes to the road as a highwayman.
Elizabeth Seton has long been shunned for being a traitor’s daughter. In the midst of the new order, she risks her life by sheltering fugitives from Parliament in a garrison town. But her attempts to rebuild her life are threatened, first by her own sense of injustice, then by falling in love with the dashing Hart.
The lovers’ loyalty is tested through war, defeat and separation. James must fight his way back to the woman he loves, while Elizabeth will do anything to save him, even if it means sacrificing herself.
Traitor's Knot is a sweeping tale of love and conflicted loyalties set against the turmoil of the English Civil War.
Praise for Traitor's Knot
"A hugely satisfying read that will appeal to historical fiction fans who demand authenticity, and who enjoy a combination of suspense, action, and a very believable love story. Five stars." –  Elizabeth St. John, bestselling author of The Lady of the Tower
“A thrilling historical adventure expertly told.” – Carol McGrath, bestselling author of The Handfasted Wife
“Cryssa Bazos is equally at home writing battle scenes as writing romance, and the pace keeps the reader turning the pages.” – Deborah Swift, bestselling author of The Gilded Lily.

Author’s Inspiration
Traitor’s Knot can be viewed as two intertwined storylines woven into one romantic tale. The first is the struggle to help Charles Stuart (later Charles II) recover his father’s throne during the latter part of the English Civil War. Playing against this backdrop is the conflict between love and duty, and the sacrifice of those who are left behind during war.
It’s hard not to be inspired by the history. Here you have a society in flux—everything that people once held as unshakable was ripped apart. Family units had been destroyed, and communities were broken apart. Rather than trying to heal the old differences, the new regime (led by Oliver Cromwell) was intent upon breaking the old icons and remaking England into a godly new society. Soldiers returning from war had crippling fines levied against their estates and many turned to highway robbery to survive.
My heroine, Elizabeth Seton, is a young woman who would like nothing better than to leave the war behind and start a new life, but the conflict is far from over. Royalists are trying to escape persecution from Parliament, and at great risk to herself, she starts to shelter these recusants.
Elizabeth by Brittany LeClerc
The original inspiration for this storyline came to me as I thought about the civilians who were affected indirectly by war. I kept thinking of the women from the English Civil War down through the ages to the more recent WWII, who were left behind while their menfolk marched off to war, and who it fell to them to find a way to keep their families together.
I grew up hearing stories of my maternal grandmother during WWII and the occupation of Greece. Widowed with three children, she had to provide for her family without the protection of a husband. She had to use her wits to keep even the roof over her head. And when an orphaned Jewish boy needed her help, she did what she could to protect and hide him, despite the risk to herself and her children.
While the two wars are separated by nearly three hundred years and arose from very different pressures, they do have in common is how they tested the mettle of those people who were left behind in the occupied areas. They faced starvation and harassment from the enemy. It would have been easier to turn a blind eye to those who were more vulnerable, but the truly courageous did not. In times of inhuman persecution, brave souls have taken a stand for humanity. It is this spirit I had in mind for Elizabeth. 
This theme of sacrifice and protecting others in need links the two storylines together in Traitor’s Knot through the dramatization of the king’s escape after his crushing defeat at Worcester. My hero, James Hart, fights his way clear of the carnage and finds himself in the company of a fugitive King Charles. At the time, there were rumours circulating that the king had received help to escape from a highwayman, who knew all the hidden roads.
Charles being disguised ~ Wikipedia
 I found this part of the history inspiring, given that the king survived only through the help of servants and commoners. Parliament had placed a bounty of one thousand pounds for his capture, a fortune for most people. The first house Charles sought asylum in (White Ladies), the family were not in residence and had left their servants, the Penderells to mind the estate. A thousand pounds would have represented a lifetime of earnings, but instead, the Penderells took Charles in, sheltered him from dragoons and saw him to the next safe house. Had they been caught, they wouldn’t have had the luxury of going into exile like many of the nobles. These people would have paid with their lives.
Finally, turning to the romantic aspect, the clandestine affair between Elizabeth and James intertwines through both storylines. With Elizabeth looking toward the future and James mired in the past, the opportunity for happiness is fleeting. James has turned to highway robbery as a form of resistance and a way to raise funds for the king.
Highwayman with a woman ~ The British Library.
 I have to admit to being hooked on the romantic notion of a highwayman ever since first reading Alfred Noyes poem, The Highwayman. Loreena McKennitt has made a song out of it and it’s brilliantly evocative and romantic. But highwaymen, lets face it, are amoral thieves and murderers, hardly the stuff of heroes. I was more intrigued by the concept of a highwayman who robbed, not for personal gain, but out of loyalty to a higher purpose. In a similar vein as the poem, Traitor’s Knotcontinues the theme of sacrifice through the lengths that Elizabeth and James are willing to go for each other.
If you enjoy rich historical detail combined with a romantic love story set during a turbulent era, then I hope you’ll consider Traitor’s Knot for your next read.
References: Illustration of Elizabeth ~ Attribution: Original artwork by Brittany LeClercCharles being disguised ~ Attribution: By Isaac Fuller (died 1672) [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsHighwayman with a woman ~ Attributions: The British Library (Public Domain)

 Links for Purchase
Amazon

About the author
Cryssa Bazos is an award winning historical fiction writer and 17th century enthusiast with a particular interest in the English Civil War. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society, the Romantic Novelist Association and is a co-editor and contributor of the English Historical Fiction Authors blog. Her debut novel, Traitor's Knot, is published by Endeavour Press. For more stories, visit her blog cryssabazos.comUseful LinksWebsite Facebook Twitter Instagram

Blog Tour ~ A Sea of Sorrow: A Novel of Odysseus #HistFic @hfvbt

Blog Tour ~ Historical Virtual Book Tour Presents....




A Sea of Sorrow:
A Novel of Odysseus

By David Blixt, Amalia Carosella, Libbie Hawker, Scott Oden, Vicky Alvear Shecter, and Russell Whitfield



 Odysseus, infamous trickster of Troy, vaunted hero of the Greeks, left behind a wake of chaos and despair during his decade long journey home to Ithaca. Lovers and enemies, witches and monsters–no one who tangled with Odysseus emerged unscathed. Some prayed for his return, others, for his destruction. These are their stories…
A beleaguered queen’s gambit for maintaining power unravels as a son plots vengeance.
A tormented siren battles a goddess’s curse and the forces of nature to survive.
An exiled sorceress defies a lustful captain and his greedy crew.A blinded shepherd swears revenge on the pirate-king who mutilated him.A beautiful empress binds a shipwrecked sailor to servitude, only to wonder who is serving whom.
A young suitor dreams of love while a returned king conceives a savage retribution.
Six authors bring to life the epic tale of The Odyssey seen through the eyes of its shattered victims—the monsters, witches, lovers, and warriors whose lives were upended by the antics of the “man of many faces.” You may never look upon this timeless epic—and its iconic ancient hero—in quite the same way again.


Giveaway
Enter Here
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a paperback copy of A Sea of Sorrow: A Novel of Odysseus! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.
Giveaway Rules

•Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on November 17th.•You must be 18 or older to enter. Giveaway is open to residents in the US only.•Only one entry per household.•All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.•Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.


Links for Purchase
Amazon US Amazon UK Amazon CA

About the authors
Amalia Carosella graduated from the University of North Dakota with a bachelors degree in Classical Studies and English. An avid reader and former bookseller, she writes about old heroes and older gods. She lives with her husband in upstate New York and dreams of the day she will own goats (and maybe even a horse, too). Amalia’s novels include Tamer of Horses, Helen of Sparta, By Helen’s Hand, and Daughter of a Thousand Years. Website | Facebook | Twitter
David Blixt‘s work is consistently described as “intricate,” “taut,” and “breathtaking.” A writer of Historical Fiction, his novels span the early Roman Empire (the COLOSSUS series, his play EVE OF IDES) to early Renaissance Italy (the STAR-CROSS’D series) up through the Elizabethan era (his delightful espionage comedy HER MAJESTY’S WILL, starring Will Shakespeare and Kit Marlowe as inept spies). His novels combine a love of the theatre with a deep respect for the quirks and passions of history.Living in Chicago with his wife and two children, he describes himself as “actor, author, father, husband. In reverse order.” Website | Facebook | Twitter
Libbie Hawker writes historical and literary fiction featuring complex characters and rich details of time and place. Libbie’s recent novels include Daughter of Sand and Stone, Mercer Girls, A Song of War, White Lotus and Persian Rose.She lives in the San Juan Islands of Washington State. Website | Facebook | Twitter
Russell Whitfield was born in Shepherds Bush in 1971. An only child, he was raised in Hounslow, West London, but has since escaped to Ham in Surrey.Gladiatrix was Russ’s first novel, published in 2008 by Myrmidon Books. The sequel, Roma Victrix, continues the adventures Lysandra, the Spartan gladiatrix, and a third book, Imperatrix, sees Lysandra stepping out of the arena and onto the field of battle. Website | Facebook | Twitter  Scott Oden was born in Indiana, but has spent most of his life shuffling between his home in rural North Alabama, a Hobbit hole in Middle-earth, and some sketchy tavern in the Hyborian Age. He is an avid reader of fantasy and ancient history, a collector of swords, and a player of tabletop role-playing games. When not writing, he can be found walking his two dogs or doting over his lovely wife, Shannon.Oden’s previous works include the historical fantasy, The Lion of Cairo, and two historical novels, Men of Bronze and Memnon. He is currently working on his next novel. Website | Facebook | Twitter
Vicky Alvear Shecter is the author of multiple books set in the ancient world, including the YA novels, CLEOPATRA’S MOON, based on the life of Cleopatra’s only daughter, and CURSES AND SMOKE: A NOVEL OF POMPEII and the adult historical collaborations, A SONG OF WAR, A YEAR OF RAVENS, and A DAY OF FIRE. She has written a mid-grade series on mythology (ANUBIS SPEAKS, HADES SPEAKS, and THOR SPEAKS) as well as two award-winning biographies for kids. She a She is a docent at the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Antiquities at Emory University in Atlanta. Website | Facebook | Twitter


A Sea of Sorrow: A Novel of Odysseusby David Blixt, Amalia Carosella, Libbie Hawker, Scott Oden, Vicky Alvear Shecter, and Russell WhitfieldPublication Date: October 17, 2017
Knight Media, LLC
eBook & Paperback; 524 PagesGenre: Historical Fiction

Blog Tour ~ The It Girl And Me #HistFic @hfvbt @4gottenflapper

Book Tour ~ Historical Virtual Book Tour Presents...



The It Girl and Me:A Novel of Clara Bow
by Laini Giles

Daisy DeVoe has left her abusive husband, her father has been pinched for bootlegging, and she’s embarrassed by her rural Kentucky roots. But on the plus side, she’s climbing the ladder in the salon of Paramount Pictures, styling hair for actress Clara Bow.
Clara is a handful. The “It” Girl of the Jazz Age personifies the new woman of the 1920s onscreen, smoking, drinking bootleg hooch, and bursting with sex appeal. But her conduct off the set is even more scandalous. Hoping to impose a little order on Clara’s chaotic life, Paramount persuades Daisy to sign on as Clara’s personal secretary.Thanks to Daisy, Clara’s bank account is soon flush with cash. And thanks to Clara, Daisy can finally shake off her embarrassing past and achieve respectability for herself and her family.
The trouble begins when Clara’s newest fiancé, cowboy star Rex Bell, wants to take over, and he and Daisy battle for control. Torn between her loyalty to Clara and her love for her family, Daisy has to make a difficult choice when she ends up in the county jail.
Here, Daisy sets the record straight, from her poverty-stricken childhood to her failed marriage; from a father in San Quentin to her rollercoaster time with Clara, leaving out none of the juicy details.


Excerpt
DESCANSO BEACH, AVALON, CATALINA ISLAND, CALIFORNIA,
October 1, 1926
“Say, Cottontop, where’s Edna?”
I hadn’t even heard her approach, but there was Clara Bow right behind me. The world’s most famous redhead was actually more of a deep auburn, with those deep, lively brown eyes that suggested lots of mischief. I’d seen her from afar in San Antonio, but we’d never met. I’d been too nervous to introduce myself.
“Gone,” I said. “That’s all they told me.”
The grapevine was abuzz with talk of Edna’s explosion at Pola Negri the week before. Too much pent-up anger, too much Pola. Word was, she’d picked up her last check two days ago and had already taken a job at the Christie Studios on Sunset at El Centro. It was a step down, but at least she was still working.
I was sad to see her go—she’d taught me so much. But her departure meant that those of us left behind were able to move up the salon ladder. So that put me in charge of doing hair for Paramount’s biggest star, Clara Bow. I was excited, nervous, happy, and nauseated, all at the same time. The minute I got back from San Antonio, they’d put me to work doing the hair for her new picture called It. In it, Clara’s character, poor shopgirl Betty Lou Spence, fell for her boss, rich store owner Cyrus Waltham.Clara’s face lit up at my bit of gossip.
“Gone? Then I guess it’s upta you.” She gave me a wink and hopped into my chair, snapping her gum.
We had tents set up along the waterfront, not far from the casino, and they’d be filming scenes on the S.S. Avalon, standing in for Cyrus’s yacht, the Itola.
“You’ll look great,” I said, hoping I was right. World’s most famous redhead, and they were depending on me to keep her looking her best. Clara had to shine like gold or I’d get the sack.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
“Daisy. Daisy DeVoe.”
“Pleased to meetcha. I’m Clara,” she said unnecessarily. She held out her hand and smacked her gum.
“I know,” I said with a chuckle and took it—the hand, not the gum.
“So whereya from, Daisy DeVoe?” she asked.
At least twenty other flicker stars had asked me the same thing, looking to pass the time while they were in the chair. But most people didn’t have a clue where Kentucky was or why it existed. There was nothing notable about it at all, except you could probably get better bourbon there than just about anywhere else in America right then. My people were used to revenue men. Had been outrunning them for years.“Paducah, Kentucky, originally,” I said.
“Wherezat?” she said, wrinkling her brow.
“On the Ohio River, about halfway between the north and the south,” I said.“You talk funny,” she said.
“Yeah?” I said defensively. “You too.”
She slapped her knee and gave a big hooting laugh. That did it. We were friends.
“Let’s see what condition your hair’s in before I get started,” I said, examining the color and texture of the strands. She glanced at me in the mirror as I looked at the roots and the ends.
“It looks a little dull to me. When we get back to the lot I’d like to try mixing a little bleach with the henna. It’ll be more vivid on camera. Brighter and less muddy. What do you think?”
“Swell!”

Giveaway
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away 5 paperback copies of The It Girl and Me! You can enter the Giveaway here
Giveaway Rules
• Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on November 29th. You must be 18 or older to enter. • Giveaway is open to US & Canada only.• Only one entry per household. • All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.• Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

Links for Purchase

Amazon  Barnes & Noble  Chapters

About the author
Originally from the counterculture mecca of Austin, Texas, Laini discovered a love of reading early on, and when she was eight, decided to be Nancy Drew. This dream was dashed when she realized she was actually a big chicken, and that there were no guarantees of rescue from tarantulas, bad guys with guns, and other fiendish plot twists. She finished her first “mystery novel” (with custom illustrations) when she was nine.
She set the writing aside for a while when life got in the way, but was led back to it through her interest in genealogy and 18 months of enforced unemployment due to moving north for maple-flavored goodies and real beer. Reading old microfilm stirred new life into her interest in writing, and watching early silent films struck the match.
Like most other writers, most of her monthly budget is spent on coffee and books. She lives with her husband and their two gray cats in Edmonton, Alberta.
For more information, please visit Laini Giles’ website. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.
The It Girl and Me: A Novel of Clara Bow by Laini GilesPublication Date: March 25, 2017Sepia Stories PublishingeBook & Paperback; 341 PagesSeries: Forgotten Actresses, Book #2
Gere: Historical Fiction/Biographical

#BookReivew ~ The Death Of The Miller's Son: Marcus I #historicalfantasy @AnnaGabbyMGD

The Death Of The Miller’s Son: Marcus IBy M.G.D. Marcus, a young slave, saves a king and embarks on a new life.*What did I think of the book?"I want you to kill the King..."Taken as a slave at the tender age of five, Marcus — the Miller's son — knows more than most eight-year-olds about cruelty and death. As a slave, he has no choice but to do as he is told. But Marcus is no murderer, and although he has heard terrible things about King Halcome, he will not kill him.
With an astonishing act of bravery, Marcus defies his master, and in doing so, he changes his destiny forever...
Oh, Boy!! What a journey author M.G.D has just taken me on! The Death Of The Miller's Son: Marcus I by M.G.D is an action-packed adventure about warring factions in a fictional historical kingdom. On one side there is the evil and power obsessed Prescott, and on the other, there is King Halcome. Our young hero, Marcus, finds himself stuck in the middle.
This book has a very slow and somewhat confusing start, but you really need to stick with it because once Marcus saves the King, the storytelling is sublime. I had a job to put this book down. It was a very compelling read. I grew to care very much about the characters, especially for Jonathan and Eron, I thought M.G.D did an amazing job of portraying these two in particular. I grew very fond of Marcus, as he struggled to understand what was happening to him. He knows how to be a slave, but he doesn't know how to be a child, or a son for that matter. This pulled at my heartstrings. Beautiful, beautiful, storytelling.
M.G.D. certainly knows how to build up tension in her story — who is friend and who is foe?  There is betrayal and courageous acts of loyalty. It is also a story of discovery  —what makes Marcus, the Miller's son, so special?
I really enjoyed this book and it is a story that I will come back to.
I Highly Recommend.Links for PurchaseAmazon US  Amazon UK About the author M.G.D the author of Recipe For A Ghost, Hallowed Springs, and others, now brings readers to the world of Marcus. Born in Southern Indiana. A coffee drinker by day and an author by night. M.G.D lives for family, little pug dogs, and a desire to enwrap the reader in worlds of epic wonder. Launching a career in writing in 2014, M.G.D strives for literary excellence in the school of outstanding authors, such as C. S. Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien.  

Book Blast ~ Cleopatra Unconquered #HistFic @hfvbt @HelenDavis2013

Cleopatra Unconquered

The first book of three in a richly imagined ancient world where the course of history is altered by one battle. In this world, Antony and Cleopatra triumph at the Battle of Actium, and Cleopatra emerges as a queen, stateswoman, and politician. Those around her come to life as the reader returns to those days to live them with her.“The first in a series, Cleopatra Unconquered by Helen R. Davis is a treat for those fascinated by Egypt and the lost glories of antiquity. The author weaves the fruits of her careful research into a fascinating combination of both the historical fiction and fantasy genres. It gives readers a look into history as it was, as well as into what might have been.” – Elena Marie Vidal, author of The Paradise Tree
Links For Purchase Amazon  Barnes & Noble
Cleopatra Unconquered by Helen R. DavisPublication Date: December 2, 2015Savant Books & Publications LLCeBook & Paperback; 328 PagesGenre: Alternative Historical Fiction
Evita…My Argentina

Evita Perón tells her own spectacular story.Tracing her life back to her humble beginnings, when she is abandoned by her father, Evita takes the reader on her journey to become an actress and later, to the pivotal moment when she meets Colonel Juan Perón. Never content to stay in her husband’s shadow, Evita reveals how she shares his belief that Peronism will help the working class. Eventually she begins doing work on her own as the president of the Society of Benevolence, helping the poor and winning the peoples’ trust.As the times change and women get the vote, Evita becomes even more powerful, running the Ministries of Labor and Health, starting a foundation, and organizing the first female party, The Female Peronist Party.A larger-than-life story, told in her own fictional words, the powerful novel is as educational as it is entertaining.Links for Purchase Amazon  Barnes & Noble
Evita…My Argentina by Helen R. DavisPublication Date: February 10, 2017Custom Book PublicationseBook & Paperback; 228 PagesGenre: Historical Fiction/BiographicalThe Most Happy

 Anne Boleyn is known throughout the world as the beheaded wife of King Henry VIII, a woman for whom Henry discarded a Spanish princess and who was later discarded for the woman who gave Henry his longed-for son. Love her or hate her, it cannot be denied her romance with Henry VIII changed the course of English and European, and perhaps World History, forever.This is a novel that imagines Anne Boleyn giving Henry a son and taking the reins of power as Regent of England when Henry VIII perishes in a jousting accident.Told in the voice of the infamous Anne Boleyn, we are treated to the 16th century world that has recently become famous through programs such as The Tudors. We meet Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII, and many of the personalities of the mid-16th century albeit in an altered setting.How would this era and time, a pivotal one in Western Civilization, have changed if one of the movers and shakers of the period, Anne Boleyn, had not been struck down in her prime by the man who once adored her?Links for Purchase Amazon The Most Happy by Helen R. DavisPublication Date: July 25, 2017Callipe EditorialGenre: Alternative Historical Fiction
About the Author Helen R. Davis is an American author. Her first novel, Evita: My Argentina was previously published as Evita: My Life and republished with Custom Book Publications in Hong Kong. Her second novel, CLEOPATRA UNCONQUERED, which is the first in a series, imagines a world in which Antony and Cleopatra, rather than Augustus Caesar, are the victors of the Battle of Actium. the sequel, CLEOPATRA VICTORIOUS, will be released soon, followed by the titles CLEOPATRA MAGNIFICA and CLEOPATRA TRIUMPHANT. Her third novel, or at least, her third historical novel/alternate history, THE MOST HAPPY, will be published with Callipe Editorial, based out of Madrid Spain, on July 25th, 2017.
For more information, please visit Helen Davis’ website. You can also connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

#BookReview ~ The Soldier’s Return (Heaven's Pond Trilogy) #German #HistFic @LauraLibricz

The Soldier’s Return(Book #2 Heaven’s Pond Trilogy)By Laura Libricz
The year is 1626. A senseless war rips through parts of Germany. Ongoing animosity between the Catholics and the Protestants has turned into an excuse to destroy much of the landscape situated between France, Italy and Denmark. But religion only plays a minor role in this lucrative business of war.

The young dutchman, Pieter van Diemen, returns to Amsterdam in chains after a period of imprisonment in the Spice Islands. He manages to escape but must leave Amsterdam in a hurry. Soldiers are in demand in Germany and he decides to travel with a regiment until he can desert. His hope of survival is to reach Sichardtshof, the farm in Franconia, Germany; the farm he left ten years ago. His desire to seek refuge with them lies in his fond memories of the maid Katarina and her master, the humanist patrician Herr Tucher. But ten years is a long time and the farm has changed. Franconia is not only torn by war but falling victim to a church-driven witch hunt. The Jesuit priest, Ralf, has his sights set on Sichardtshof as well. Ralf believes that ridding the area of evil will be his saving grace. Can Pieter, Katarina and Herr Tucher unite to fight against a senseless war out of control? What did I think of the book?When Laura Libricz approached me and asked if I would like to read an ARC of The Soldier’s Return ~ Book #2 of Heaven's Pond Trilogy, I jumped at the chance. I so enjoyed book #1 that I could not wait to head back to this fascinating time in German history.

The period that Ms. Libricz writes about is one not often seen in historical fiction but it was a very compelling and bloodthirsty era, and The Soldier's Return reflects this. This book is not for the faint-hearted, there are multiple rapes and savage torture, which some readers may find upsetting, but it added to the realism of the time.

As before, I loved the portrayal of Katarina. She suffers the most horrendous abuse, not only by the hands of soldiers but also by the man who professes to love her. When she needs him the most, he isn't there.

Once again we meet the vile priest, Ralf. He is just as disgustingly evil as he was in the first book. He looks for evil and is determined to find it, even if that means forcing confessions from the innocent. His actions are deplorable. I do not think I have ever hated an antagonist, quite so much.

The writing, as expected, was elegant and engaging. The story itself had a good pace to it, and it kept me turning those pages. I am eagerly waiting for the conclusion of this trilogy.
Links for PurchaseAmazon US  Amazon UKAbout the author Laura Libricz was born and raised in Bethlehem PA and moved to Upstate New York when she was 22. After working a few years building Steinberger guitars, she received a scholarship to go to college. She tried to 'do the right thing' and study something useful, but spent all her time reading German literature.

She earned a BA in German at The College of New Paltz, NY in 1991 and moved to Germany, where she resides today. When she isn't writing she can be found sifting through city archives, picking through castle ruins or aiding the steady flood of musical instruments into the world market.

Her first novel, The Master and the Maid, is the first book of the Heaven's Pond Trilogy. The Soldier's Return and Ash and Rubble are the second and third books in the series.Connect with Laura…Website Twitter Goodreads

   
 

Blog Tour ~ The Graham Saga Series #HistFic @hfvbt @abelfrageauthor

Book Blast and Giveaway ~ Historical Virtual Book Tour Presents....


The Graham Saga SeriesBy Anna Belfrage
This is the story of Alex and Matthew, two people who should never have met – not when she was born three hundred years after him.It all began the day Alex Lind got caught in a thunderstorm. Not your ordinary storm, no this was the mother of all storms, causing a most unusual rift in the fabric of time. Alex was dragged three centuries backwards in time, landing more or less at the feet of a very surprised Matthew Graham.
In a series of books we follow the life and adventures of the expanding Graham family, both in Scotland and in the New World – and let me tell you it is quite an exciting life, at times excessively so in Alex’ opinion.Sometimes people ask me why Alex had to be born in the twentieth century, why not make her a woman born and bred in the seventeenth century where the story is set? The answer to that is I have no idea. Alex Lind is an insistent, vibrant character that sprung into my head one morning and simply wouldn’t let go.
Seductively she whispered about terrible thunderstorms, about a gorgeous man with magic, hazel eyes, about loss and sorrow, about love – always this love, for her man and her children, for the people she lives with. With a throaty chuckle she shared insights into a life very far removed from mine, now and then stopping to shake her head and tell me that it probably hadn’t been easy for Matthew, to have such an outspoken, strange and independent woman at his side.
At this point Matthew groaned into life. Nay, he sighed, this woman of his was at times far too obstinate, with no notion of how a wife should be, meek and dutiful. But, he added with a laugh, he wouldn’t want her any different, for all that she was half heathen and a right hand-full. No, he said, stretching to his full length, if truth be told not a day went by without him offering fervent thanks for his marvelous wife, a gift from God no less, how else to explain the propitious circumstances that had her landing at his feet that long gone August day?
Still, dear reader, it isn’t always easy. At times Alex thinks he’s an overbearing bastard, at others he’s sorely tempted to belt her. But the moment their fingertips graze against each other, the moment their eyes meet, the electrical current that always buzzes between them peaks and surges, it rushes through their veins, it makes their breathing hitch and … She is his woman, he is her man. That’s how it is, that’s how it always will be.
Graham Saga Titles
Book One: A Rip in the VeilBook Two: Like Chaff in the WindBook Three: The Prodigal SonBook Four: A Newfound LandBook Five: Serpents in the GardenBook Six: Revenge & RetributionBook Seven: Whither Thou GoestBook Eight: To Catch a Falling StarBook Nine: There is Always a Tomorrow (November 2017)
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away Books #1-8 in paperback to one lucky winner! Enter here.
Giveaway Rules
• Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on November 20th. You must be 18 or older to enter.• Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY.• Only one entry per household.• All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.• Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

About the Author Anna was raised abroad, on a pungent mix of Latin American culture, English history and Swedish traditions. As a result she’s multilingual and most of her reading is Anna Belfragehistorical- both non-fiction and fiction. Possessed of a lively imagination, she has drawers full of potential stories, all of them set in the past. She was always going to be a writer – or a historian, preferably both. Ideally, Anna aspired to becoming a pioneer time traveller, but science has as yet not advanced to the point of making that possible. Instead she ended up with a degree in Business and Finance, with very little time to spare for her most favourite pursuit. Still, one does as one must, and in between juggling a challenging career Anna raised her four children on a potent combination of invented stories, historical debates and masses of good food and homemade cakes. They seem to thrive…
For years she combined a challenging career with four children and the odd snatched moment of writing. Nowadays Anna spends most of her spare time at her writing desk. The children are half grown, the house is at times eerily silent and she slips away into her imaginary world, with her imaginary characters. Every now and then the one and only man in her life pops his head in to ensure she’s still there.

For additional information regarding Anna, her characters, extra scenes, and teasers for her next books, have a look at Anna’s website at: www.annabelfrage.com. You can also find her on Facebookor follow her on Twitter.