September 30, 2017

Letters to Juliet by Lisa and Ceil Friedman - Review


Book details
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Stewart, Tabori and Chang (May 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1584799129
ISBN-13: 978-1584799122

About the book
The enduring legend of Shakespeare’s pair of star-crossed lovers draws millions of visitors to Verona, Italy, each year. But that is just part of the story. Every day, letters, frequently addressed simply, “Juliet, Verona,” arrive in the city. They come by the truckload, in almost every language imaginable, written by romantics seeking Juliet’s counsel. Most of the missives talk of love, of course —love found and love lost, love sought and love remembered. And, amazingly, not one letter goes unanswered.

Letters to Juliet tells the story of these letters and the volunteers who have been writing responses for more than seven decades —volunteers who first acted privately, and who are now sanctioned by the city of Verona as part of the Juliet Club . Featuring more than seventy-five heartfelt letters, this poetic book retraces the history behind Shakespeare’s tale and tours the monuments that have fueled the world's enchantment with Juliet and her Romeo.

Meet the authors - Lise and Ceil Friedman
Lise Friedman, a former dancer with Merce Cunningham, was the editor of the quarterly Dance Ink and is the author of First Lessons in Ballet, Break a Leg!: The Kid's Guide to Acting and Stagecraft, and STC's Alvin Ailey Dance Moves!: A New Way to Exercise. She lives in New York City.

Ceil Friedman is a freelance art historian and translator who writes extensively about contemporary art. She lives in Verrona, where she has collaborated for several years with the Verona City Museums and other institutions in Italy.

My thoughts
I liked this book for the most part. The idea that so many people around the world write letters to Juliet is something I would not have thought about. Some people write asking for help and some write to tell her how much they admire her. It was interesting to hear how there is a group of people that answer all the letters that people write. I liked seeing the pictures of Verona, Italy. The stories of where the idea of Romeo and Juliet came from before Shakespeare wrote his play was also kind of interesting. Parts of that part of the book was a little dry in spots for me but in the same light I did not realize that Romeo and Juliet was possibly based on real people and/or other stories that were written long ago. For me this read fast as I was able to read it in one day and I am glad I took the time to read it. 

Unplug by Suze Yalof Schwartz - Review


Book details
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Harmony (March 7, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1101905360
ISBN-13: 978-1101905364

About this book
A modernized approach to meditation will appeal to anyone, even if - especially if - you believe you have no time, you can't sit still, or that "it's just not you."

Whether you're a Fortune 500 CEO or someone bogged down with a never-ending to-do list, the proven secret to being more effective and living a happier, healthier life is to hurry up and slow down, to unplug. Studies show that you can get more done - and do it better - by doing less, just by consciously unplugging for a few minutes each day and meditating.

This revolutionary book by the founder and CEO of the groundbreaking LA-based meditation studio Unplug Meditation brilliantly simplifies this powerful practice and shows the overwhelmed and overworked how easy it is to unplug in order to relieve stress, regain focus, and recharge.

Schwartz debunks the common misperceptions about meditation, including the notion that you need to sit still for long periods of time, or that you need to "turn off your brain." She also shares the life-changing benefits you will experience, the proven science of how meditation literally changes your brain, as well as easy techniques and tips to easily incorporate meditation into your daily life.

Meet the author - Suze Yalof Schwartz
Suze Yalof Schwartz is the founder and CEO of Unplug Meditation. For decades she was a fashion editor, director, and stylist at Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, and Glamour. She has appeared on Today, Good Morning America, The Early Show, and The View, as well as The Oprah Winfrey Show and CNN.

My thoughts
I first noticed the cover of this book and that is what drew me in. Then I noticed what it is about and decided it would be worth the time to read it and I was right. The author tells you a new way to look at how you can meditate. I liked what she says - everyone can do it. You do not need to have the traditional way of sitting, things they say or how to do it. The idea is to just get started meditating. As she says there will never be extra time to do but you have to make time for it, just like you make time for everything else in your life, i.e. reading, working out, sports, tv watching etc. You can start by just doing it five minutes a day and work your way up to 30 minutes a day. You can do it lying down, standing in line or sitting in your favorite chair. She even tells you how you can meditate in your car in a traffic jam or standing in line at the grocery store, both of which I need to start doing. The author tells you how to pick your mantra, how to find what is comfortable for you and when to do it. She also threw in some stories from real people and their thoughts on unplugging. I liked her ideas and made myself some good notes. This book was well written and easy to read. 

Taking Aim by Eva Shockey - Review

I received this book free from the publisher. All the opinions are my own

Book details
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Convergent Books (August 29, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451499271
ISBN-13: 978-0451499271

About this book
An acclaimed bow hunter who defies the stereotype that hunting is a man’s game, Eva Shockey is a TV and social media phenomenon at the forefront of a new wave of women and girls who are passionate about outdoor sports.

Eva Shockey grew up expecting to be a dancer like her glamorous mother. But something about spending family vacations RV-ing across North America and going on hunts with her dad sparked in her an enduring passion for a different way of life. 

In Taking Aim, Eva tells a very personal story of choosing the less-traveled path to a rewarding life in outdoor pursuits like hunting and fishing. For her, as her millions of fans can attest, that has meant hunting as a way of harvesting food, caring deeply about conservation, sustainability and healthy eating, and getting closer to God in nature. 
 
In this riveting memoir for the adventurer in all of us, Eva takes readers along as she hunts caribou on the rugged Aleutian Islands, tracks a 1,500-pound bull moose across the unforgiving Yukon, and meets many other challenges of a life in the wild. 

Along the way we learn that hunting is about so much more than pulling a trigger. "My story is about discovering your dream," writes Eva. "It's about following your passion, mastering your skills, taking aim no matter who thinks you’re crazy…and then letting the arrow fly. If you’ve done all you can, I can tell you that you’re almost certain to hit your mark."

Whether you’re a lifelong hunter or a city dweller who has never set foot in the wilderness, Eva’s story delivers an empowering message about rejecting stereotypes and expectations, believing in yourself, and finding the courage to pursue what you care about most.

Meet the author - Eva Shockey
Eva Shockey is co-host with her father of Jim Shockey's Hunting Adventures on Outdoor Channel. A sought-after spokesperson on hunting and the outdoors, she is a corporate ambassador for Cabela's, Under Armour, Bowtech, Crosman, Daniel Defense, Muzzy Broadheads, MTN OPS, and other major brands. She lives with her husband, pro hockey player Tim Brent, and their young daughter in North Carolina.

My thoughts
I found this book to be a good book about a strong woman. This is about a girl who learned to follow her dreams and never let go. It will also inspire you to do the same. It was fun to read about her adventures in life and she made you feel as if you were right along with her. Even if you do not hunt you will enjoy this book. I myself do not hunt and was a little leary about this book but after reading it I am glad I gave it a chance. There is so much more to this story than her hunting. Eva is an inspiring woman that many can look up to. 

Many Sparrows by Lori Benton - Review

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own. 

Book details
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook (August 29, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1601429940
ISBN-13: 978-1601429940

About this book
Either she and her children would emerge from that wilderness together, or none of them would. . . .

In 1774, the Ohio-Kentucky frontier pulses with rising tension and brutal conflicts as Colonists push westward and encroach upon Native American territories. The young Inglesby family is making the perilous journey west when an accident sends Philip back to Redstone Fort for help, forcing him to leave his pregnant wife Clare and their four-year old son Jacob on a remote mountain trail.

When Philip does not return and Jacob disappears from the wagon under the cover of darkness, Clare awakens the next morning to find herself utterly alone, in labor and wondering how she can to recover her son . . . especially when her second child is moments away from being born.

Clare will face the greatest fight of her life, as she struggles to reclaim her son from the Shawnee Indians now holding him captive. But with the battle lines sharply drawn, Jacob’s life might not be the only one at stake. When frontiersman Jeremiah Ring comes to her aid, can the stranger convince Clare that recovering her son will require the very thing her anguished heart is unwilling to do—be still, wait and let God fight this battle for them?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Meet the author - Lori Benton
Lori Benton was raised east of the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by early American history going back three hundred years. Her novels transport readers to the eighteenth century, where she brings to life the Colonial and early Federal periods of American history. When she isn’t writing, reading, or researching, Lori enjoys exploring and photographing the Oregon wilderness with her husband. She is the author of “Burning Sky,” recipient of three Christy Awards, “The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn,” Christy-nominee “The Wood’s Edge,” and “A Flight of Arrows.”

Find out more about Lori at http://loribenton.blogspot.com.

My thoughts
There is nothing I like more than a book about then for it to be set in the 1800s and to have pioneers and Native Americans as characters. I have read many books by this author and she never disappoints me. She does a good job of setting the scenes and characters. I can't imagine what it would be like to lose not only your husband but your son as well. Clare was such a strong woman. First she gives birth on the wild frontier then she goes after other son - determined to rescue him from his captors. While reading this book you will find yourself going through many emotions from sadness, to anger to grief to relief. In my my opinion this was another hit by Lori. 

Bringing Maggie Home by Kim Vogel Sawyer - Review

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own

Book details
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook (September 5, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0735290032
ISBN-13: 978-0735290037

About this book
Decades of loss, an unsolved mystery, and a rift spanning three generations

Hazel DeFord is a woman haunted by her past. While berry picking in a blackberry thicket in 1943, ten-year old Hazel momentarily turns her back on her three-year old sister Maggie and the young girl disappears.

Almost seventy years later, the mystery remains unsolved and the secret guilt Hazel carries has alienated her from her daughter Diane, who can’t understand her mother’s overprotectiveness and near paranoia. While Diane resents her mother’s inexplicable eccentricities, her daughter Meghan—a cold case agent—cherishes her grandmother’s lavish attention and affection.

When a traffic accident forces Meghan to take a six-week leave-of-absence to recover, all three generations of DeFord women find themselves unexpectedly under the same roof. Meghan knows she will have to act as a mediator between the two headstrong and contentious women. But when they uncover Hazel’s painful secret, will Meghan also be able to use her investigative prowess to solve the family mystery and help both women recover all that’s been lost?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Meet the author - Kim Vogel Sawyer
Kim Vogel Sawyer is a highly acclaimed, best-selling author with more than one million books in print, in several different languages. Her titles have earned numerous accolades including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas with her retired military husband Don, where she continues to write gentle stories of hope and redemption. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and grandchildren.

My thoughts
I really liked this book. The whole mystery behind the disappearance of Maggie had me wanting to read as fast as I can. I wanted to find out what happened. You can only imagine the guilt that Diane held onto her whole life, so you could understand her sense of being over protective. When Meghan found out about the cold case she was determined to solve it. I thought the author did a good job of developing the story and characters. This could have been a real life story. I felt drawn in from the first page. I also liked how through trying to solve this case the family was brought together. 

Gathering the Threads by Cindy Woodsmall - Review

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own

Book details
Series: The Amish of Summer Grove (Book 3)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook (August 15, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1601427034
ISBN-13: 978-1601427038

About this book
Finally back in the Old Order Amish world she loves, will Ariana’s new perspectives draw her family closer together—or completely rip them apart?

After months away in the Englisch world, Ariana Brenneman is overjoyed to be in the Old Order Amish home where she was raised. Yet her excitement is mixed with an unexpected apprehension as she reconciles all she’s learned from her biological parents with the uncompromising teachings of her Plain community. Although her childhood friend, ex-Amish Quill Schlabach, hopes to help her navigate her new role amongst her people, Ariana’s Daed doesn’t understand why his sweet daughter is suddenly questioning his authority. What will happen if she sows seeds of unrest and rebellion in the entire family?

Meanwhile, Skylar Nash has finally found her place among the large Brenneman family, but Ariana’s arrival threatens to unravel Skylar’s new identity—and her sobriety. Both Ariana and Skylar must discover the true cords that bind a family and community together and grasp tight the One who holds their authentic identities close to His heart.

Gathering the Threads is the third and final novel in The Amish of Summer Grove series.

Meet the author - Cindy Woodsmall
Cindy Woodsmall is the "New York Times" and CBA best-selling author of nineteen works of fiction and non-fiction with more than a million copies sold. Her connection with the Amish community has been featured in national media outlets such as ABC’s "Nightline," the "Wall Street Journal," and a National Geographic documentary on Amish life. Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains.

My thoughts
This is the third book in the Amish of Summer series and I suggest you read each of these in order. Although this book gives a recap of the first two books in it. The author also had a few touchy subjects - bullying, substance abuse, adoption, babies switched at birth. I felt bad for both Ariana and Skylar as there was a little bit of turmoil for both of them. The author does a good job of combining both the English and Amish worlds and shows how it is to have gone from one world to the other. It could not have been easy for them. I thought this was a fitting ending to this series as the author did a good job of tying everything together. 

September 29, 2017

On the Edge of Sunrise by Cynthia Ripley Miller - Review

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Book details
Series: The Long-Hair Saga (Book 1)
Paperback: 300 pages
Publisher: Knox Robinson Publishing (May 12, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1910282448
ISBN-13: 978-1910282441

About this book
When love commands, destiny must obey. Against an epic background and torn between duty and passion, Arria Felix, a Roman senator’s daughter, must choose between Rome’s decadent world and her forbidden love—Garic, a Frank barbarian noble. The year is AD 450. The Roman Empire wanes as the Medieval Age awakens. Attila the Hun and his horde conquer their way across Europe into Gaul. Caught between Rome’s tottering empire and Attila’s threat are the Frankish tribes and their ‘Long-Hair’ chiefs, northern pagans in a Roman Christian world, and a people history will call the Merovingians. A young widow, Arria longs for a purpose and a challenge. She is as well versed in politics and diplomacy as any man … but with special skills of her own. The Emperor Valentinian, determined to gain allies to help stop the Huns, sends a remarkable envoy, a woman, to the Assembly of Warriors in Gaul. Arria will persuade the Franks to stand with Rome against Attila. When barbarian raiders abduct Arria, the Frank blue-eyed warrior, Garic, rescues her. Alarmed by the instant and passionate attraction she feels, Arria is torn between duty and desire. Her arranged betrothal to the ambitious tribune, Drusus, her secret enlistment by Valentinian as a courier to Attila the Hun, and a mysterious riddle—threaten their love and propel them into adventure, intrigue, and Attila’s camp. Rebels in a falling empire, Arria and Garic must find the strength to defy tradition and possess the love prophesied as their destiny.

Meet the author - Cynthia Ripley Miller
Cynthia Ripley Miller is a first generation Italian-American writer with a love for history, languages and books. She has lived, worked, and travelled in Europe, Africa, North America and the Caribbean. As a girl, she often wondered what it would be like to journey through time (she still does), yet knew, it could only be through the imagination and words of writers and their stories. Today, she writes to bring the past to life.

Cynthia holds two degrees and has taught history and teaches English. Her short fiction has appeared in the anthology Summer Tapestry, at Orchard Press Mysteries.com and The Scriptor. A Chanticleer International Chatelaine Award finalist for her novel, On the Edge of Sunrise, she has reviewed for UNRV Roman History, and blogs at Historical Happenings and Oddities: A Distant Focus and her WEBSITE http://www.cynthiaripleymiller.com.

Cynthia has four children and lives with her husband, twin cats, Romulus and Remus, and Jessie, a German Shepherd, in a suburb of Chicago. On the Edge of Sunrise is the first in the Long-Hair Sagas; a series set in late ancient Rome and France and published by Knox Robinson Publishing.

My thoughts
I enjoyed reading Cynthia's books. This book can satisfy your thirst for both romance and history all at once. It takes place in a time period that I have not read much about so I liked that I learned a little while being entertained. There is romance, adventure, battle scenes a little of everything. The author did a good job of making you feel like you were a part of the story through her detailed descriptions. She did her research and it shows. I also thought the story flowed nicely and was easy to read.  I liked how she made Arria such a strong woman. I am looking forward to book two in this series. 

These Healing Hills by Ann H. Gabhart - Review

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own. 

Book details
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Revell (September 5, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800723635
ISBN-13: 978-0800723637

About this book
Francine Howard has her life all mapped out until the soldier she planned to marry at WWII's end writes to tell her he's in love with a woman in England. Devastated, Francine seeks a fresh start in the Appalachian Mountains, training to be a nurse midwife for the Frontier Nursing Service.

Deeply affected by the horrors he witnessed at war, Ben Locke has never thought further ahead than making it home to Kentucky. His future shrouded in as much mist as his beloved mountains, he's at a loss when it comes to envisioning what's next for his life.

When Francine's and Ben's paths intersect, it's immediately clear that they are from different worlds and value different things. But love has a way of healing old wounds . . . and revealing tantalizing new possibilities.

Meet the author - Ann Gabhart
Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of several Shaker novels--The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted--as well as Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, Love Comes Home, Words Spoken True, and The Heart of Hollyhill series. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Learn more at www.annhgabhart.com.

My thoughts
Two things drew me to this book. First I enjoy reading books by Ann as I think she is a great writer that puts meaning into her stories. Second I like the nurse midwife part of the story and that it takes place in Kentucky. The more I read of this book the more I liked it. Even though Francine lost her love she found a way to become happy and when she did she found a new love. Ann did a good job of really describing what these nurses did, the landscapes, the characters and the story in as a whole. I guess I can't say enough good things about this book. I just thought it was an all around good book. 

Murder in Little Shendon by A.H. Richardson - Review

I received this book free from the publisher.

Book details
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 28, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1515283976
ISBN-13: 978-1515283973

About this book
The Hazlitt/Brandon Series of Murder Mystery Novels by A. H. Richardson 

The Hazlitt/Brandon series of murder mystery novels follows a pair of clever, colorful and charismatic sleuths - Sir Victor Hazlitt and Beresford Brandon – as they scratch their heads searching for clues to figure out whodunit.

The first book in the series, Murder in Little Shendon, is a thriller murder mystery which takes place in a quaint little village in England after World War Two.

Picture, if you will, a picturesque village called Little Shendon, suddenly caught up in dealing with a murder of one of its citizens — not a particularly well-liked one at that. Which makes it all the more intriguing because the list of suspects becomes very long. This tantalizing tale unfolds with twists and turns to find out whodunit to Mr. Bartholomew Fynche, the murdered shopkeeper.

Fear grips the community as the investigation slowly progresses. Everyone is interviewed; everyone is suspect! From his housekeeper to Lady Armstrong and her household staff. Or could it be the shy librarian new in town? Or the defiant retired army major and his ladyfriend, the post mistress? Or perhaps the weird sisters who live on the edge of town? Then there is the couple who own the local inn and pub, along with the two Americans who are staying there? Even the vicar and his wife fall under the gloom of suspicion.

Uncertainty, wariness, and terror reign as neighbors watch neighbors to discover the evil that permeates their upturned lives. No one feels safe in this charming little village. Who is the murderer? And why was this strange uncivil man dispatched in such a seemingly civil community?

A murder mystery that will keep you reading until you learn the details, uncovered by Police Inspector Stanley Burgess and his two amateur detectives, Sir Victor Hazlitt and Beresford Brandon. The three sift methodically through the Alibis and life stories of the suspects until they uncover…

You are challenged to discover the culprit before the last few pages. And no fair looking ahead — it’s the journey that proves the most enticing.

Meet the author - A.H. Richardson
A.H. Richardson was born in London England and is the daughter of famous pianist and composer Clive Richardson. She studied drama and acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She was an actress, a musician, a painter and sculptor, and now an Author.

In addition to the Hazlitt Brandon series, she is also the author of a series of children’s chapter books, the Jorie series, which includes Jorie and the Magic Stones, Jorie and the Gold Key, and Jorie and the River of Fire.

A.H. Richardson lives happily in East Tennessee, her adopted state, and has three sons, three grandchildren, and two pugs. She speaks four languages and loves to do voiceovers. She plans on writing many more books and hopes to delight her readers further with her British twist, which all her books have.

Readers can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

To learn more, go to https://ahrichardson.com/

My thoughts
I felt this was a good start to a new series. The characters were well developed and played well off of each other. I also liked the little town of Shendon - quaint and someplace you would like to live. There is something about this being set in a town in the English countryside that I really like. The author did a good job of holding my interest from the first page. When I read that the victim was murdered by a candlestick it gave me a chuckle as it reminded me of the game clue. Just when I thought I had something figured out she gave a little twist. This is a good book to read on a rainy day. 

Excerpt
Chapter One 
A Killing in The Bygone Era 

BARTHOLOMEW FYNCHE LEANED OVER HIS DESK, adjusted his pince-nez and peered down at the document on his desk. He gave a series of grunts, which culminated in a long “Hmmm”.

He scratched a brief note on the pad in front of him. He always used a pen and ink because he did not approve of ballpoint pens and regarded them as signs of an uncivilized society.

Mr. Fynche turned his attention to the small jade horse in front of him, running his fingers over it gently, almost lovingly. He frowned, took a deep breath, and removed a key from around his neck. He unlocked a drawer to his desk, placed the small statue inside and carefully locked it again.

He glanced at the French Ormolu clock on the wall before consulting his watch, and pursed his lips together in annoyance. He didn’t like people who were not punctual. Time was money, and his time was particularly precious.

The retired Mr. B. Fynche had been involved in a number of most interesting exploits in his life, not the least of which involved his extraordinary knowledge of rare documents, famous objets d’art, and rare paintings. It was rumored that he had been involved with MI5 just after the war, but no one was quite certain about this. Nowadays he puttered fairly contentedly in his antique shop, which he had named The Bygone Era.

He did the occasional appraisal for some local villagers and was occasionally persuaded to go into London (a trip he detested) to authenticate something or other for the odd client he had. He was, as far as anyone knew, unmarried, quite without family, with the exception of a sister who was rumored to live in New Zealand and a brother who was deceased.

At first glance, Fynche’s little shop seemed to be an untidy mass of bric-a-brac, consisting of small statues, framed documents, interesting looking things in glass cases, paintings of all descriptions, prints, watches, chains and… much much more. Mr. Fynche however, knew exactly where everything was, referring to it on occasion as organized clutter.

Today was Thursday, better known as early closing day when most if not all the shops in the village closed about noon, and The Bygone Era was no exception. Fynche liked to lock the doors, put up the CLOSED sign and busy himself with his latest project, and he had many of those.

The little man glanced down once again at some notes he had made. For the first time in his life, he was not quite sure how to deal with this. Probably the best policy was to be frank and explain that this was not something with which he chose to be involved. He scratched the back of his head thoughtfully. Perhaps no mention of the police should be made at this juncture, for he felt instinctively that he would have to be careful here.

A knock on the door interrupted his reverie and Fynche’s eyes again darted up to the clock. He frowned, realizing that the knock was coming from the back door, which was rarely used. Thoroughly disgruntled, the old man unlatched the door.

“Come in,” he said curtly, “and see that you close the door behind you.” He paused, then growled in a surly manner, “You’re late; we need to talk.”

“I’m sorry. There was some work left to do,” answered the other. A breeze blew through the open window behind Fynche’s desk.

“Close the window, please. That wretched cleaning woman always leaves the window open, and it blows my papers all around.”

“Very well.” His visitor closed the window obediently.

“Come around to the front, where I can see you. Something quite interesting has come up and we need to talk. Clearly, decisions have to be made here. Did you hear me…?”

Fynche made a half-turn, threw up his hands defensively, and gave a smothered cry, but it was too late. The broad brass base of an Edwardian candle holder was wielded aloft and came crashing down with a sickening thud into Mr. Fynche’s skull. Blood flew everywhere, seeping into the dark wood of the desk and into some papers and puddling on to the floor.

Mr. Bartholomew Fynche, open-mouthed and eyes glazed, his hands futilely clutching at the air, slumped over the side of his chair and onto the floor… very very dead.

The visitor spent a moment or two looking around the cluttered shop, hunting for something, but then thought better of it. With a sudden gesture, the visitor pried a large gold ring from Mr. Fynche’s finger, hastily made the decision to leave and, used The Bygone Era’s back door as the avenue of escape. The door was closed quietly, and the visitor slipped out noiselessly into the anonymity of the bustling throng of last-minute shoppers in the High Street. It was a bright sunny day in late spring.

Ax to Grind by Tonya Kappes - Guest Post and Giveaway


Book details


Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series 
Henery Press (September 19, 2017) 
Paperback: 256 pages 
ISBN-13: 978-1635112474 
E-Book ASIN: B0731M7RRM

  

About this book
Southerners keep their secrets swept under the rug, but what happens when that rug goes up for sale?

Bestselling author Berlye Stone, the most famous citizen to ever come out of Cottonwood, Kentucky, has died and put all her worldly possessions up for auction, but not without leaving one more manuscript behind. A hidden tell-all about Cottonwood that’s got more gossip than a ladies’ luncheon.

When Beryle’s assistant turns up with an ax in her back and the only witness is in a coma, Sheriff Kenni Lowry reckons someone in town will do anything to keep the manuscript from seeing the light of day. Her poppa’s ghost returns to help piece together the life of the Beryle he once knew, but his memory’s a little foggy, and any misstep could cause them a world of trouble. With the help of Deputy Finn Vincent, can Kenni sort through the secrets buried in Beryle’s books, or will this be her final chapter?

Meet the author - Tonya Kappes
For years, USA Today bestselling author Tonya Kappes has been publishing numerous mystery and romance titles with unprecedented success. She is famous not only for her hilarious plot lines and quirky characters, but her tremendous marketing efforts that have earned her thousands of followers and a devoted street team of fans. Sign up for her newsletter on her website at Tonyakappes.com .

Visit Tonya:
Facebook at Author Tonya Kappes, https://www.facebook.com/authortonyakappes
Kappes Krew Street Team https://www.facebook.com/groups/208579765929709/
Webpage tonyakappes.com
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4423580.Tonya_Kappes
Twitter https://twitter.com/tonyakappes11
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/tonyakappes/

Purchase Links: Amazon B&N kobo iTunes

Giveaway
The author is hosting a giveaway for some swag. Please enter by clicking on the link below
Guest post

VISITOR CENTER WELCOME PACKET
COTTONWOOD, KENTUCKY

Welcome to Cottonwood! We are thrilled you have chosen to vacation with us. Isn’t the steeple of our courthouse beautiful? We hope you take a tour and enjoy the marble floors and marble walls.

By 1798 plans for a town were laid out by local Reverend John Calf. The town’s name honors Revolutionary War Colonel George Cotton. You will find Colonel’s framed portrait near the rotunda leading up to the clock in the watchtower.

Just forty-five minutes south from Lexington, Kentucky, you’ll find Cottonwood home to a truly unique blend of carefully preserved historical and natural landmarks, numerous cultural and historical events, over 100,000 acres of fertile diverse land bordered by more miles of Kentucky River shoreline than any other Kentucky county and, of course, friendly folks who are happy to share their love of the area with visitors.

Please stop in and introduce yourself to me. I’d love to know what you think about our fine town. Please, take your time and wander in our local shops and restaurants. Stay in one of the two fine lodging Inns.

Rest assured that Cottonwood is safe. There’s only been one murder in the last. . .ummm. . .forever and that was just a few months ago. Sheriff Lowry has everything under control and solved that murder, though it was a pickle. Anyways, enjoy your stay! Don’t forget to meet down on the front of the courthouse lawn on Monday, March 20 where you’ll meet your tour guide for your first stop in and around Cottonwood!

Mayor Chance Ryland

SHOPS (that paid to be mentioned in this welcome packet):
Ruby’s Antiques
White’s Jewelry
Dixon’s Foodtown
Luke Jones Basement Movie Theater-Call 859-mov-iess to get a listing of show times.
Lulu’s Boutique

RESTAURANTS (that paid to be mentioned in this welcome packet):
Jolee’s On the Run Food Truck
Kim’s Buffett
Ben’s Diner
Cowboy’s Catfish

(Get more southern recipes under the READER tab at Tonyakappes.com

PLACES TO STAY:
Tattered Cover Book and Inn
Nanette Rodriguez Proprietor – Call 859-882-0001 for reservations

Wanting to stay downtown Cottonwood? Tattered Book and Inn is the place for you. Stay in one of the six rooms that has all the comforts of home. Each bed is filled with feathers and plumped up each night for your sleep. The double layered goose-down comforters are perfect for any body temperature and are made right here in Cottonwood. Enjoy a nice breakfast on your very own balcony overlooking Main Street or come down to the fine dining room where you’ll enjoy a homecooked country breakfast.

The Inn
Darby Gray Proprietor- Call 859-881-0001 for reservations

Enjoy the view of the beautiful Kentucky River and our famous Kentucky Bluegrass where the tint really is a hint of blue. You’ll enjoy the limestone walls that keep our grass so healthy and feed our racehorses.

You can enjoy a glass of sweet ice tea while sitting in one of the many rockers on the wrap around porch. You might find yourself having a conversation with Kiwi, the Inn’s Macaw mascot. Kiwi is known to pack a tell or two, so pretty much everything he’ll tell you is gossip.

Stay in one of the ten rooms at the Inn. Come into the communal room for a snack anytime of the day or night. Or just open your room window and listen to the sweet sounds of the Kentucky River and the Kentucky state bird, the Cardinal sing a lovely song.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Cottonwood Baptist Church- 859-885-0000
Dr. Camille Shively- 859-887-0000
Sheriff Kendrick Lowry- Dispatch number 911
Deputy Finley Vincent- Dispatch number 911
Cottonwood Chronicle Newspaper-Edna Easterly EIC – 859-885-0001

Be sure to stop by and say hello.
Mayor Ryland

DO YOU LIKE TO VISIT SMALL TOWNS?


Fixin’ To Die is the first book in the Kenni Lowry Mystery Series. 

“A Southern-fried mystery with a twist that’ll leave you positively breathless.” – Susan M. Boyer, USA Today Bestselling Author of Lowcountry Book Club

Kenni Lowry likes to think the zero crime rate in Cottonwood, Kentucky is due to her being sheriff, but she quickly discovers the ghost of her grandfather, the town’s previous sheriff, has been scaring off any would-be criminals since she was elected. When the town’s most beloved doctor is found murdered on the very same day as a jewelry store robbery, and a mysterious symbol ties the crime scenes together, Kenni must satisfy her hankerin’ for justice by nabbing the culprits.

With the help of her poppa, a lone deputy, and an annoyingly cute, too-big-for-his-britches State Reserve officer, Kenni must solve both cases and prove to the whole town, and herself, that she’s worth her salt before time runs out.

“This story offers up a small touch of paranormal activity that makes for a fun read…A definite “5-star,” this is a great mystery that doesn’t give up the culprit until the last few pages.” – Suspense Magazine

“Packed with clever plot twists, entertaining characters, and plenty of red herrings! Fixin’ To Die is a rollicking, delightful, down-home mystery.” – Ann Charles, USA Today Bestselling Author of the Deadwood Mystery Series

“Kappes captures the charm and quirky characters of small-town Kentucky in her new mystery…a charming, funny story with exaggerated characters. The dialect-filled quirky sayings and comments bring those characters to life. Best of all, for a mystery reader, the culprit was an unlikely suspect, but the solution made sense.” – Lesa’s Book Critiques

“Southern and side-splitting funny! Fixin’ To Die has captivating characters, nosy neighbors, and is served up with a ghost and a side of murder.” – Duffy Brown, Author of the Consignment Shop Mysteries

“This first book in a new series promises to be fun for both cozy mystery buffs and ghost aficionados.” – For The Love of Books

“The who and why may surprise you, but you’ll probably laugh your way through the book. If you’ve never read a Tonya Kappes book, this is a perfect starting place. I highly recommend.” – Book Review Crew


Southern Fried is the second book in the Kenni Lowry Mystery Series. 

“Fabulous fun and fantastic fried food! Kappes nails small town mystery with another must-read hit. (Also, I want to live in Cottonwood, KY.) Don’t miss this one!” – Darynda Jones, New York Times Bestselling Author of the Charley Davidson Series

In the South, it’s better when the food is fried and the secrets kept buried…After the dead body of a beloved Cottonwood resident is found tangled up in an electric fence, Sheriff Kenni Lowry has a hunch that somethin’ ain’t right. Her investigation heats up with a fierce cook-off competition, a euchre game where the intel is sweeter than the brownies, and a decades old family recipe that may just be the proof in the pudding.

The icing on the cake: Kenni is fighting an attraction to her recently sworn-in deputy sheriff, and election season is hot on her tail. When the killer comes after who she holds most dear, even her poppa’s ghostly guidance might not be enough to keep her and her own out of the frying pan.


Southerners keep their secrets swept under the rug, but what happens when that rug goes up for sale?

Bestselling author Berlye Stone, the most famous citizen to ever come out of Cottonwood, Kentucky, has died and put all her worldly possessions up for auction, but not without leaving one more manuscript behind. A hidden tell-all about Cottonwood that’s got more gossip than a ladies’ luncheon.

When Beryle’s assistant turns up with an ax in her back and the only witness is in a coma, Sheriff Kenni Lowry reckons someone in town will do anything to keep the manuscript from seeing the light of day. Her poppa’s ghost returns to help piece together the life of the Beryle he once knew, but his memory’s a little foggy, and any misstep could cause them a world of trouble. With the help of Deputy Finn Vincent, can Kenni sort through the secrets buried in Beryle’s books, or will this be her final chapter?


You can go on a real virtual tour of Cottonwood and get to know all the fun characters along with the cozy community by visiting the new Kenni Lowry Mystery Series website by clicking here!

I LOVE to connect with my readers!! Please send me your questions to Tonyak11.tk@gmail.com where I answer reader’s questions via video! It’s so fun!! Also be sure to connect with me on my FREE Facebook page in our Cozy Krew Community.

Are you signed up for my newsletter? Don’t miss a thing or release day fun that’s ONLY on the newsletter.

Enjoy your visit in Cottonwood!
Bless your heart!
Tonya

Have you checked out all my books? Here is a list and links!
Also by Tonya Kappes

Olivia Bloom Paranormal Mystery Series
SPLITSVILLE.COM
COLOR ME LOVE (novella)
COLOR ME A CRIME

Magical Cures Mystery Series
A CHARMING CRIME
A CHARMING CURE
A CHARMING POTION (novella)
A CHARMING WISH
A CHARMING SPELL
A CHARMING MAGIC
A CHARMING SECRET
A CHARMING CHRISTMAS (novella)
A CHARMING FATALITY
A CHARMING GHOST
A CHARMING HEX
A CHARMING VOODOO

Spies and Spells Mystery Series
SPIES AND SPELLS
BETTING OFF DEAD

GET WITCH OR DIE TRYING

Grandberry Falls Series
THE LADYBUG JINX
HAPPY NEW LIFE
A SUPERSTITIOUS CHRISTMAS (novella)
NEVER TELL YOUR DREAMS

A Laurel London Mystery Series
CHECKERED CRIME
CHECKERED PAST
CHECKERED THIEF

A Divorced Diva Beading Mystery Series
A BREAD OF DOUBT SHORT STORY
STRUNG OUT TO DIE
CRIMPED TO DEATH

Bluegrass Romance Series
GROOMING MR. RIGHT
TAMING MR. RIGHT

A Ghostly Southern Mystery Series
A GHOSTLY UNDERTAKING
A GHOSTLY GRAVE
A GHOSTLY DEMISE
A GHOSTLY MURDER
A GHOSTLY REUNION
A GHOSTLY MORTALITY
A GHOSTLY SECRET

Kenni Lowry Mystery Series
FIXIN’ TO DIE
SOUTHERN FRIED
AX TO GRIND (9/2017)
SIX FEET UNDER (4/2018)

Women’s Fiction
CARPE BREAD ’EM

Young Adult
TAG YOU'RE IT

Be sure to join me everywhere!!

I want to invite everyone to join the Cozy Krew group page. If you are not already a group member you can join at facebook.com/groups/208579765929709

Join the Mailbox Love where I send snail mail and birthday cards! Click here or tonyakappes.com/kappes-krew-birthday-club

If you like to cook and have recipes that you'd like to share, please share them here or tonyakappes.com/recipes

Be sure to check out my web page for up to date information on all my books as well as a complete list of books in order at tonyakappes.com

Follow me on Twitter - twitter.com/tonyakappes11




TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
September 19 – A Cozy Experience – REVIEW 
September 20 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW 
September 21 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW 
September 22 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW 
September 23 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT 
September 25 – Varietats2010 – REVIEW 
September 25 – FUONLYKNEW - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST 
September 26 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW 
September 26 – Dee-Scoveries - GUEST POST 
September 27 – My Reading Journeys - REVIEW, INTERVIEW 
September 28 – Island Confidential – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
September 28 – Books, Movies, Reviews, Oh my! – REVIEW 
September 29 – A Holland Reads – GUEST POST 
September 30 – Becky's Bookcase – REVIEW 
September 30 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT 
October 1 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, GUEST POST 
October 2 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – INTERVIEW 
October 2 – Christa Reads and Writes – INTERVIEW  

September 28, 2017

Beware the Orchids by Cynthia Hickey - Guest Post and Giveaway



Book details

1st in Series
Forget Me Not Romances, a division of Winged Publications
Release Date – February 4, 2016
Paperback: 216 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1944203061
E-BOOK ASIN: B01BI6RAGG

About the book
Ditched at the altar, Shelby Hart tosses down her bouquet, quits her job, and accepts a position as gardener and event coordinator at an upscale retirement community. Her first day on the job results with a dead body in the greenhouse under the orchids and with her as the prime suspect!

Toss in a handsome handyman, quirky characters, and a flirtatious grandma and the fun never stops.

Meet the author - Cynthia Hickey
Multi-published and Amazon and ECPA Best-Selling author Cynthia Hickey has sold over a million copies of her works since 2013. She has taught a Continuing Education class at the 2015 American Christian Fiction Writers conference, several small ACFW chapters and RWA chapters. You can find her on FB, twitter, and Goodreads, and is a contributor to Cozy Mystery Magazine blog and Suspense Sisters blog. She and her husband run the small press, Forget Me Not Romances, which includes some of the CBA’s best well-known authors. She lives in Arizona with her husband, one of their seven children, two dogs, one cat, and three box turtles. She has eight grandchildren who keep her busy and tell everyone they know that “Nana is a writer”.

Website at www.cynthiahickey.com
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Cynthia-Hickey/e/B002W1MP2Q/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cynthia-Hickey-151333448227549/
Twitter: @cynthiahickey

Purchase Link
Amazon

Giveaway

Guest post
WHY I BECAME A WRITER

Funny how this roller-coaster business can tug on someone until it’s either write or die. A bit dramatic, yes, but that’s how most writers feel. Writing is like breathing, or eating.

I started reading at the young age of five and became hooked on words and stories. Being a shy child, I would make up stories to act out, but it wasn’t until Junior High and an English teacher assigned a writing project that I realized how much I loved putting the story to paper. I began writing short stories in which my younger brother was featured as the hero or I’d write a romance featuring me and whatever boy I had a crush on at the time.

When I turned fifteen, I wrote my first “real story” about terrorists taking over a high school. Funny how I have now seen that very plot made into a movie. I couldn’t be stopped after that first “book”. I kept writing, keeping my stories in a notebook, which I unfortunately lost when I married and moved out of state. Then, life happened and I didn’t take up writing again until the age of forty when my children were older and I had time to devote to the art.

In 2007, I published my first cozy mystery, Fudge-Laced Felonies, with Barbour Publishing and haven’t slowed down since. Fifty plus books later, and several genres added to the mix, I have no intentions of stopping this crazy career any time soon. In May of 2013, I left behind the day job and became a full time writer. Scary, but worth every busy minute.

My husband and I now own a small press with over seventy authors on our roster. How do I do it is a question I’m asked over and over. Post it notes and lists! Add that to God’s grace and I can’t see myself slowing down any time soon.

Watch for Kill Shot, the first book in a new cozy mystery series!



Tour Participants

September 20 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW
September 21 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
September 21 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 22 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
September 23 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
September 24 – The Power of Words – REVIEW
September 25 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
September 26 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – SPOTLIGHT
September 26 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
September 27 – Books a plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
September 28 – A Holland Reads – GUEST POST
September 29 – Cozy Up With Kathy – INTERVIEW
September 30 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
October 1 – Valerie’s Musings – REVIEW, GUEST POST
October 1 – A Blue Million Books – INTERVIEW
October 2 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT
October 2 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 3 – Christa Reads and Writes – SPOTLIGHT

September 27, 2017

Helen R. Davis - Guest Post and Giveaway



Cleopatra Unconquered by Helen R. Davis
Publication Date: December 2, 2015
Savant Books & Publications LLC
eBook & Paperback; 328 Pages
Genre: Alternative Historical Fiction


About this book
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
Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Evita…My Argentina by Helen R. Davis
Publication Date: February 10, 2017
Custom Book Publications
eBook & Paperback; 228 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction/Biographical


About this book
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.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble


The Most Happy by Helen R. Davis
Publication Date: July 25, 2017
Callipe Editorial
Genre: Alternative Historical Fiction


About this book
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?
Amazon

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.

Giveaway
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away eBooks of Cleopatra Unconquered & Evita…My Argentina & a paperback of The Most Happy! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on October 6th. 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.

Helen R. Davis

Guest post
What is it about Anne Boleyn that continues to intrigue scholars and Hollywood producers? Is it that she changed the course of England and possibly the world? Is it that she was a Reformist? A homewrecker? Or is it that there is still a lot of her we don’t know to make a concrete analysis?

The Most Happy is an alternative historical fiction novel that asks the important question of ‘what if?’ What if Anne had a son? Would she have kept her head then? And, what new challenges would she have faced?

Anne Boleyn popularity on the big screen is nothing new; what is is people’s perception of her. During her daughter Elizabeth I’s reign, the opinion of Anne Boleyn was based upon assumptions of foreign ambassadors’ reports of her, primarily the Holy Roman Emperor’s envoys, particularly Eustace Chapuys. Eustace Chapuys wasn’t the first to call her ‘the concubine’, but he followed suit after he became attached to her rival, Katharine of Aragon. Enraged by her poor health and Henry’s dismissal of her and her daughter, the former princess Mary, he slandered Anne to no end. But even he was forced to recognize her bravery after he heard from several eye-witness accounts of her speech at the tower seconds before she died.

Indeed, Anne Boleyn’s composure during that terrible ordeal moved other people, including the Holy Roman emperor’s sister, Mary Habsburg, who was disgusted to find out about Henry’s proposal and wedding to Jane Seymour shortly after her execution.

Since then, Anne Boleyn became a hot topic, and has been at the hub of controversy. Both extremes have taken control of the narrative, projecting their own fears and hopes on her; one extreme blames her for what happened to her rival and her stepdaughter, and what Henry did to England, while another strips her of all agency, deconstructing negative portrayals of her, but transforming her into a victim.

Anne had never intended to be Queen. Some of her daughters’ biographers, believe they are doing her a favor by giving her every type of agency as the first extreme that views her as a villain, by saying that she knew what she wanted from the start and was determined to get it. The truth is she did not. Henry VIII saw something in Anne that he liked and like the hunter that he was, her refusal only made him more determine to win her over. When Anne realized that she couldn’t say ‘no’, and what that would mean for her family’s future, she relented but not before she made it clear that she wouldn’t be his mistress. At the time, it seemed like the pope would grant Henry an annulment. Divorce and annulment wasn’t uncommon, kings and queens got their marriage annulled all the time -i.e. his elder sister Margaret had recently got her second one annulled on the basis of his scandalous unions with his mistress and other transgressions. So Henry had no reason to believe that he would face any obstacle until he received news that his wife’s nephew’s mercenaries had ransacked Rome and Charles V had placed the pope into protective custody.

As time went on, Anne became desperate. A woman of her stature and age would have been married by now and had children of her own. If this continued, she feared that she would die an old maid, with her name being dragged through the mud even further. This is when she started to introduce Henry to ‘forbidden books’ that presented Henry with an alternative to solve his dilemma.

When Henry VIII forced his own church and less than a year later married Anne, crowned her and welcomed his new daughter, Catholic Europe became more hostile towards Anne. To the Protestants she sponsored, she was their heroine, to the others, she was a heretic and a witch who needed to be taken out of the scene by any means necessary. The latter got their wish. While no one could have predicted at the time that she would go down in history as one of England’s greatest history makers, or that her daughter would become one of the world’s renowned female rulers, they acknowledged her bravery and deep religiosity in the last minute.

These aspects of Anne Boleyn have not been lost on the actresses who’ve played her. Natalie Dormer who played her on Showtime’s “The Tudors”, said that before she did, she had no doubt in her mind as to who Anne Boleyn was. The glamorous, opportunist femme-fatale who changed English history and was responsible for many of England’s problems. After picking up more than one biography on the six wives, her outlook changed.

"I didn’t just want to play [Anne Boleyn] as this femme fatale – she was a genuine evangelical with a real religious belief in the Reformation. The show was an absolute joy because it was an amalgamation of my two greatest passions – drama and history. I read everything by Starkey… good old Starkey… opinionated Starkey… Antonia Fraser, all of them. But there is a lot of sex and violence in the programme, so it’s hard to explain it to the guy in the street who’s saying, ‘The Tudors? Tits, man!’" (Natalie Dormer)

Genevieve Bujold for her part became completely immersed in her role, that she enjoyed every minute of it. Fillmmaker Hal Wallis, who directed the film adaptation of the play “Anne of a Thousand Days” describes how rewarding it was to work alongside her, noting that like the historical figure she was playing, there was more to her than met the eye.

“The minute she appeared on the screen, I was riveted. I saw a tiny, seeming fragile woman made of steel -willful, passionate, intense. She was exactly the actress I wanted to play Anne.”

For her part, Claire Foy -who’s best known for playing the current English monarch, Elizabeth II in Netflix’s “The Crown”- said that her views on Anne Boleyn changed as well, but added that she didn’t see her as a woman of her times but ahead of them. Although noble, the sentiment is misplaced but it is a testament on how our perception of Anne overrides the reality.

As Natalie Dormer pointed out, Anne Boleyn’s religiosity and family devotion was a big component of her character, and her story. She was ambitious, but that ambition was rooted in her interest in promoting a faith that she believed the pathway to salvation. Anne was not a hardcore Protestant, her family belonged to a group of people who were interested in Reforming the church and returning it to its original roots, by following the literal word of god instead of viewing it as an allegory. While some saw the dissolution of the monasteries as a terrible injustice, Anne for her part, saw it as an opportunity to build more schools, hospitals, and other educational and charity centers that would have more success at promoting the Anglican faith, and helping those in need.
During her time as queen, she gave alms to the poor and had an English bible in her chambers which her servants had access to, and could read whenever they wanted.

The real Anne Boleyn has been lost in translation. While it may seem futile for fiction to rescue her from the shadows, it is important to remember that fiction has an important role to play in the historical record.

The market is ripe for alternative history. Imagination is a powerful tool and in the hands of history buff, it becomes even greater, and it opens doors to whole new worlds that otherwise would not have been possible. It is the literary version of a butterfly effect. Change one thing, change everything. In this case, it is about Anne Boleyn having more than one child. That factor alone leads to a different fate, not just for her, but for England and our modern world.

This novel has re-imagined sixteenth century starting with Anne Boleyn, a figure that continues to generate controversy, and whose strength, compassion, religiosity will be something that ever reader will find compelling. Nonetheless, this novel hasn’t shied away from her negative traits -or what we would perceive negative- because the past is after all a different world, and even alternative history cannot change that. What alternative history aims to do is make a story sound as plausible as possible based on what is known about that period. This is what was done for this novel, and the end result is a story that will resonate with all of us, but at the same time will be something new, and a door to an era where the stakes were high, and people’s perception of the world were entirely different from our own.

There is no doubt in my mind that Anne Boleyn will continue to generate interest and this is why the time is now for novelists to go into new territory. Imagination and hard research are what make alternative history great, and it was a joy delving deeper into this character’s story, discovering new things, and I hope my readers will find this journey equally exciting.

Bibliography:

· Bordo, Susan. The Creation of Anne Boleyn. Houghton Miffin Harcourt. 2013.

· Henry VIII: The Mind of a Tyrant presented by David starkey, directed by David Sington, BBC, 2009.

· Lisle, Leanda. Tudor. Passion. Manipulation. Murder. The Story of England’s Most Notorious Royal Family. Public. 2014

· Ives, Eric. The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn. Blackwell. 2005.

· Norton, Elizabeth. The Boleyn Women: The Tudor Femmes Fatales who changed English History. Amberley. 2013.

· Loades, David. The Six Wives of Henry VIII. Amberley. 2010.

· Starkey, David. Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII. Harper. 2004.

· Norton, Elizabeth. The Anne Boleyn Papers. Amberley. 2013.

· “Divorced.” Six Wives with Lucy Worsley, written by Chloe Moss, directed by Russell England, BBC, 2016.

· Licence, Amy. The Six Wives & Many Mistresses of Henry VIII: The Women’s Stories. Amberley. 2014.

· Lofts, Norah. Anne Boleyn. Putnam Pub Group. 1986.

· The Last Days of Anne Boleyn. Presented by Dr. David Starkey, Alison Weir, Philipa Greggory. BBC. 2013.


Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, September 25
Interview at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, September 26
Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective (The Most Happy)

Wednesday, September 27
Review at A Bookish Affair
Guest Post at A Holland Reads

Thursday, September 28
Review at Pursuing Stacie (Cleopatra Unconquered)

Friday, September 29
Review at A Chick Who Reads (Evita)
Review at 100 Pages a Day (The Most Happy)

Monday, October 2
Review at Must Read Faster (The Most Happy)

Tuesday, October 3
Review at Book Nerd (Evita)

Wednesday, October 4
Review at Tudor Enthusiast (The Most Happy)

Thursday, October 5
Review at Faery Tales Are Real (The Most Happy)

Friday, October 6
Review at Pursuing Stacie (The Most Happy)