Paula Berinstein's Blog, page 2

Historical Novels Project: The Netherlands

The Coffee Trader by David Liss

Reading this book was like living in a Rembrandt painting but with coffee. The author really made the period come alive and from what I know, really caught the spirit of both the Dutch people in the seventeenth century and the Jews who lived side by side with them.

While the story was interesting and held my attention, it was really the historical detail that captivated me. I have a rudimentary knowledge of my people's history, but there's so much I didn't and still don't know. I didn't know that Jews policed their own people to make sure they didn't break Talmudic laws. I didn't realize that some Jews turned to conniving in order to survive within the restrictions placed on them by the countries that hosted them. I didn't realize but could have surmised that Holland was more open and accepting of Jews at that time than most of the rest of Europe. I suppose that's all a big duh--I should have known because all that is obvious--but I hadn't thought about it so I didn't.

I had heard of the conversos--Jews who were forced to convert to Christianity but who practiced their religion secretly--but I didn't realize what that meant for their daily lives. For example, one of the female characters in the story was raised a Catholic and not told she was really a Jew until she got married. No wonder she continued to attend mass--secretly so her Jewish husband wouldn't find out. After eighteen years of thinking you're a Catholic it would be pretty hard to switch religions, particularly since Jewish men in Amsterdam wouldn't let women learn to read or tell them what Judaism was all about. They only told them what they needed to know in order to keep the sabbath, etc.

I also didn't realize how financial instruments worked in the seventeenth century--much like they do today, but at that time the protocols we take for granted were just developing. Selling short, for example, was a new phenomenon. It was implied in the story that buying on margin was new as well, although I may be wrong about that. Market manipulation, professional traders, all of that thrived during the seventeenth century. I didn't realize any of that, but then why would I? Who thinks about the origins of commodities markets?

If you're not familiar with finance and trade, you may find this book a bit dense. There's a lot of detail about buying and selling and puts and calls. I do know a fair amount about that stuff but still found myself skimming the technical sections. Not following every detail didn't affect my enjoyment of the story but I did read a review from someone who had difficulty. I think history buffs will get a lot out of the book regardless.

I read this book as part of my "historical novels from every country" project.

Coloring Book Cover Reveal

Today is the cover reveal for the Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy Coloring Book!

The book is available on Amazon or directly from me.

Twenty fun-to-color detailed drawings featuring characters from the popular Amanda Lester, Detective series. Designs are printed one to a page so you never have to worry about markers bleeding through. Includes portraits of blind sleuth Ivy Halpin, her guide dog Nigel, arch villain Blixus Moriarty, and four different outfits for budding detective Amphora Kapoor.

Historical Novels Project: Spain

The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

A few weeks ago I decided that I wanted to read at least one historical novel for each country on the planet. While this book isn't strictly a historical novel and doesn't focus on the details of the period (early 20th century Spain), I'm going to count it as my first read for the project. You do get a sense of life in Barcelona during the era, although it feels as though you're looking at the tableaux through gauze. While the details are there, they're more to evoke a mood and an ambience than to convey facts.

When I finished reading, all I could do is sit there with my mouth hanging open. What a masterpiece! I loved the first book in the series, The Shadow of the Wind, but this one is even more stunning. I kept trying to guess what was going to happen next (I'm usually pretty good at this), but I couldn't keep up. The author surprised me with every twist and turn.

To say that this book is layered is an understatement. There's so much symbolism--Ruiz Zafon's favorites such as angels, death, cemeteries, blood, creepy old buildings, books, the devil, etc.--that you could be kept busy trying to decipher it for some time. Then there's the question of whether the narrator is or isn't unreliable, and if he is, is it on purpose. Are we experiencing magical realism or is the main character nuts? The way the protagonist's relationships with the other characters vacillate between positive and negative. The role each character plays in his life. Whether he is really onto the real identity of Andreas Corelli. How do you define good and evil? Why does Corelli, who is really someone we're all familiar with, ask David to invent a religion for him? And so on.

I am tempted to look up the literary criticism for the book to see how others answer these questions. And yet I think I won't. I'd prefer to ponder them myself and to keep the emotional experience of reading the book pristine. There's a time for analysis and a time to simply let a book wash over you. I'll take the latter this time.

New and Free: Amanda Lester and the Gold Spectalces Surprise

Book 6 in the Amanda Lester, Detective series is here and free in the Kindle store for two days!

Free March 27th and 28th!

What is Professor Scribbish hiding?

Amanda and her friends have known about the mysterious Detective’s Bible for some time. But what they never dreamed was that old Lovelace Earful, Legatum’s founder and the author of the precious book, had much more up his sleeve than that.

Now a strange pair of gold-rimmed spectacles he designed has fallen into the hands of the Moriarty brothers. But the glasses have been stolen, and it falls to Amanda to figure out where they are and get them back before . . . what? All she knows is that they’re powerful and the bad guys want them. But in order to acquire them she’ll have to penetrate a fortress where a new enemy is waiting—one who has already targeted Scapulus Holmes and is coming for her next.

What she doesn’t know is that sometimes you should leave well enough alone.

A Free Amanda Lester Christmas Story!

Amanda Lester was not looking forward to Christmas Eve dinner at the headmaster’s residence. The prospect of trying to make conversation with Gaston Thrillkill and Ample Scarper, the matron who looked after the girls’ dorm, was setting her teeth on edge. But the alternative was spending the holidays at her mother’s house in London, and with her evil stepfather in residence that simply wasn’t an option.

More . . .

Finding Kyler Cover Reveal

Dear readers,

I have never participated in someone else's blog tour before, but I have been enjoying Siobhan Davis's work and couldn't resist sharing it with you. As of this date I have not yet read the book but I have read her Saven series, which is so emotional and compelling that you have to fasten your seatbelt before you read it. I'm betting the Kennedy Boys series will be the same.

Enjoy, and don't forget the giveaway!

--Paula

Today is the cover reveal for Finding Kyler by Siobhan Davis. This cover reveal is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The cover is designed by Fiona Jayde.



Want to receive a free advance sample of Finding Kyler before it releases? Sign-up for the Kennedy Boys mailing list.



Finding Kyler (The Kennedy Boys #1)

by Siobhan Davis

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age category: Upper Young Adult

Release Date: January 9, 2017

Blurb:

Two fractured hearts and a forbidden love they can’t deny.



You shouldn’t want what you can’t have…



Faye Donovan has lost everything. After her parent’s tragic death, she’s whisked away from her home in Ireland when an unknown uncle surfaces as her new guardian.



Dropped smack-dab into the All-American dream, Faye should feel grateful. Except living with her wealthy uncle, his fashion-empire-owning wife, and their seven screwed-up sons is quickly turning into a nightmare—especially when certain inappropriate feelings arise.



Kyler Kennedy makes her head hurt and her heart race, but he’s her cousin.



He’s off limits.



And he’s not exactly welcoming—Kyler is ignorant, moody, and downright cruel—but Faye sees behind the mask he wears, recognizing a kindred spirit.



Kyler has sworn off girls, yet Faye gets under his skin. The more he pushes her away, the more he’s drawn to her, but acting on those feelings risks a crap-ton of prejudice, and any whiff of scandal could damage the precious Kennedy brand.



Concealing their feelings seems like the only choice.



But when everyone has something to hide, a secret is a very dangerous thing.

You can find Finding Kyler on Goodreads



Sign-up for the Kennedy Boys mailing list for a free sample of this book before the release day!

Excerpt:

Their obscene wealth intimidates me.

Not the people.

The money.

The driver opens my uncle’s door first before attending to mine. James doesn’t make any move to exit. He looks contemplative. “I hope you’ll be happy here, Faye. Truly, I do.”

“Thank you. Me, too.” I hop out of the car as the driver retrieves my suitcase from the boot.

A splash of color in the corner of the garage captures my attention. Three racing motorbikes rest on an elevated platform. One is orange and blue and there is a multitude of brand logos on the side. The other two bikes are no less impressive. One is painted in a dark shade of green, the other bright yellow. A myriad of similar stickers decorates the side panels. I’m inexplicably drawn to them, and my feet move of their own accord.

Reaching out, I run the tip of my finger along the bodywork and up and down the wheels, my fingers dipping into the grooves in the tires. I can almost feel the enhanced adrenaline in the air. Motorbikes have always excited me, and the pure rush I’m getting is sending tingles of anticipation ricocheting all over my body.

I’m so entranced that I barely register the sound of approaching footsteps.

“Get your hands off my bike.” The deep male cadence verges on a predatory growl. The possessive quality to his voice isn’t lost on me either.

Giant goose bumps sprout on my arms, but I smother my fear and lift my head up in a confident manner. A red flush creeps up my chest and over my neck as a devastatingly good-looking boy reaches my side.

I’m tall—for a girl—and I’m usually pretty much on the level with most guys, but the top of my head barely reaches this dude’s chin, so he’s got to be at least six-two to my five-nine.

His body exudes warmth like a weapon. It crashes into me, almost knocking me off my feet. Slowly, my eyes travel up his body, taking in every ripped, lean, taut inch of him. He’s wearing dark navy jeans and a plain white shirt that’s molded to his perfectly chiseled abs like it’s painted on. I gulp.

They sure don’t grow them like this in Ireland.

My eyes continue their journey, up beyond the inviting, exposed strip of skin at the top of his shirt, and note voluptuous lips that are pinched tight, the light layer of dark stubble on his sculpted chin and cheeks, and the tan, smooth lines of his handsome face. I brace myself, rocking back on my heels, as I stare into stunning pale blue eyes. Framed by a thick layer of inky-black lashes most girls would kill for, his eyes are vast pools that I could easily drown in.
This guy is seriously good-looking, and he knows it, too. Crossing his arms over his chest, he pins me with a venomous look, and I shrink back from the dangerous vibes he’s emitting.

“Are you done drooling yet?”

©Siobhan Davis 2016

Early Praise For Finding Kyler

“Siobhan Davis rocks this genre! Finding Kyler is an addictive read … it has the same character and relationship focus, drama, foreshadowing, and cliffhanger endings that I am used to from her other books. I am hooked!” Lola’s Reviews.



“A great read for fans of Erin Watt's Paper Princess, Broken Prince, and Twisted Palace.” Danielle. Goodreads Reviewer.



“Completely Addicting. I could not put it down!” Literary Dust.



“A must read for people who loved The Royals Series.” Amanda. Goodreads Reviewer.





About the Author:

Siobhan Davis writes emotionally intense young adult fiction with swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and tons of unexpected plot twists and turns that will have you flipping the pages beyond bedtime! She is the author of the Amazon bestselling True Calling and Saven series.



Siobhan’s family will tell you she’s a little bit obsessive when it comes to reading and writing, and they aren’t wrong. She can rarely be found without her trusty Kindle, a paperback book, or her laptop somewhere close at hand.



Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in human resource management.



She resides in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.



You can find and contact Siobhan here:

- Website

- Blog

- Facebook

- Twitter

- Google +

- Goodreads

- Amazon

- Kennedy Boys Newsletter



Giveaway

There is a cover reveal wide giveaway for the cover reveal of Finding Kyler. These are the prizes you can win:

- One paperback of Paper Princess by Erin Watt

- One paperback of Fallen Crest High by Tijan

- One paperback of Finding Kyler by Siobhan Davis



Enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal and Giveaway

Today is the cover reveal for Amanda Lester and the Red Spider Rumpus! There is also a giveaway for a $30 gift card which you can enter HERE.

Sneak Peek at the New Coloring Book!

The first Amanda Lester, Detective coloring book will be out next year, but you can play with it now. Click on the image of Legatum Continuatum to download a PDF you can print and color.

Sample the Amanda Lester, Detective audiobook

The new Amanda Lester, Detective audiobook is read by the great English actor Allan Corduner. Click on the image to listen on SoundCloud!

"Rules" for What's Allowed in a Book

I just discovered a reviewer who seems to have interesting things to say (not about my books; she was reviewing something else). But when I went to look at her profile, I was dismayed to discover that she has "rules" for what she will and won't tolerate in a book.

I don't, and I think people who limit themselves like that are missing out. Sure, there are things I'm not all that interested in: sports, for example. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't read a book about sports because what matters to me is great writing and storytelling. That's it. That's all I require.

I really think that prohibiting love triangles or twins or wartime stories or whatever in one's reading is self-defeating. How do we grow except by exposing ourselves to new things? How do we learn? My goodness, if we don't broaden our horizons, what kind of person will we be in five years, or ten, or forty? Someone life has passed by, I should think.

I will continue to follow this reviewer because she seems to hold minority opinions, and that's something I want to know about. But I do hope she changes her mind about her rules. Because life is too short to put up walls around ourselves.