Review of The Soldier's Return by Laura Libricz

The Soldier’s Return by Laura Libricz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Soldier’s Return by Laura Libricz is a devastating historical novel that takes place in Germany during the Thirty Years’ War.

Main character, Katarina, is a servant in love with her master. Katarina also takes care of a young orphan girl who becomes the center of the story.

Her master’s compound lies in an area that is often pillaged by soldiers on their way to fighting. Anything of value is stolen or destroyed, including the women's’ virtues as they are subject to beatings and rapes. Katarina’s master is unable to protect her and ultimately thrusts her out of the main home when his wife, her servants, and their children arrive to stay. Katarina is then subject to further abuse at the hands of her master’s wife and servants. She goes to stay at a neighboring compound and the story of her young charge develops.

Libricz intertwines fact with fiction, giving the reader a true taste of the atrocities endured by civilians during the Thirty Years’ War. The sign of a good story is one in which the author evokes strong emotions in the reader, and this book did just that.




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Review of Where Do I Go by Beverly Magid

Where Do I Go by Beverly Magid
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Where Do I Go by Beverly Magid is a historical fiction novel set in New York in the early 1900’s. Leah and her children have escaped the atrocities suffered by the Jewish in Russia, including the murder of her husband. She has come to live with her brothers and relishes a new life of possibilities. However, her dreams are shattered by harsh reality.

Leah works from home, but upon delivering her wares, discovers that her boss is the owner of a sweatshop. Leah befriends the employees there and they nominate her to be their union spokesperson. Concurrently, Leah is dealing with the fact that her son appears to be working for the local mob.

This book is relevant in our current time when unions are all but disappearing. Mothers will relate to Leah and her struggles not only to survive, but to see her son safely out of a dangerous situation.


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GIVEAWAY! Book Blast! for The Soldier's Return by Laura Libricz (Review to follow on January 31, 2018)

The Soldier's Return by Laura Libricz

Publication Date: September 15, 2017

eBook & Paperback

Series: Heaven's Pond Trilogy, Book Two

Genre: Historical Fiction

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? ​ The Soldier’s Return is the second book in the Heaven’s Pond Trilogy.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

About 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. For more information, please visit Laura Libricz's website and blog. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, January 30 Interview at Passages to the Past Wednesday, January 31 Review at Cup of Sensibility Thursday, February 1 Excerpt at WS Momma Readers Nook Friday, February 2 Guest Post at Reading the Past Monday, February 5 Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views Tuesday, February 6 Feature at A Bookaholic Swede Wednesday, February 7 Review at Locks, Hooks and Books Thursday, February 8 Review at Clarissa Reads It All Friday, February 9 Guest Post at Let Them Read Books Monday, February 12 Review at Back Porchervations Wednesday, February 14 Review at Rachel's Ramblings Thursday, February 15 Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit Friday, February 16 Review at Donna's Book Blog Interview at Dianne Ascroft's Blog

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we are giving away a set of The Master and the Maid and The Soldier's Return to one lucky winner! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on February 16th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open to US & UK residents 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. The Soldier's Return Blog Tour

GIVEAWAY and Book Blast for Where Do I Go by Beverly Magid (Review to Follow on January 31, 2018!)

Where Do I Go by Beverly Magid

Publication Date: October 9, 2017

BeWrite Press

Paperback & eBook; 138 Pages

Genre: Fiction/Historical/Jewish

READ THE FIRST CHAPTER. It's 1908 and Leah and her boys have immigrated to New York's Lower East Side to live with her brothers after surviving a pogrom in their Russian village. She is determined to find a home in America but the conditions are harsher than she expected. The garment sweat shops are brutal to work in and it's essential that her son Benny works after school to help with expenses. Unbeknownst to her he runs errands for the local bookie/gangster. Life isn't what Leah hoped for, but she's a fighter and not willing to accept the awful conditions at Wollowitz's Factory. She's on a journey to find her own voice, to find a place for herself and her sons, to find a little beauty and romance in her life.

Available in Paperback and eBook on Amazon

About the Author

Beverly Magid, before writing her novel, was a journalist and an entertainment and celebrity PR executive, who interviewed many luminaries, including John Lennon, Jim Croce and the Monty Python gang, and as a publicist represented clients in music, tv and film, ranging from Whoopi Goldberg, John Denver and Dolly Parton to Tom Skerritt, Martin Landau, Kathy Ireland and Jacqueline Bisset. Beverly is a longtime west coast resident who still considers herself a New Yorker. Among the social issues she’s passionate about is literacy and she worked with KorehLA to mentor elementary children in reading. Also she has been an advocate for Jewish World Watch, an organization dedicated to working against genocide and to aid the victims of war atrocities. On a lighter side, she is also a volunteer at the Los Angeles Zoo, monitoring animal behavior for their Research Department. She is a news and political junkie who supports environmental, animal and human rights issues. She believes most passionately that “We must remain vigilant to the those who would erode the rights of people around the world and work to defeat them.” For more information, please visit Beverly Magid's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, January 15 Review at Donna's Book Blog Feature at What Is That Book About Tuesday, January 16 Guest Post at My Reading Corner Wednesday, January 17 Excerpt at WS Momma Readers Nook Monday, January 22 Review at Locks, Hooks and Books Feature at View From the Birdhouse Excerpt at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots Tuesday, January 23 Feature at A Literary Vacation Thursday, January 25 Feature at Just One More Chapter Friday, January 26 Review at Life of a Female Bibliophile Interview at Dianne Ascroft's Blog Sunday, January 28 Feature at Books of a Shy Girl Monday, January 29 Review at Back Porchervations Tuesday, January 30 Review & Interview at Elizabeth Jane Corbett Wednesday, January 31 Review at Cup of Sensibility Feature at A Holland Reads Thursday, February 1 Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views Friday, February 2 Guest Post at Passages to the Past

Giveaway

During the Book Blast we will be giving away a signed copy of WHERE DO I GO! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on February 2nd. 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. Where Do I Go Blog Tour

Review of The Burial Society by Nina Sadowsky

The Burial Society by Nina Sadowsky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Burial Society by Nina Sadowsky is a thrill-a-minute type book in league with works such as Chris Bohjalian’s The Flight Attendant. You will not be able to put it down!

Catherine is a multifaceted character who founded and runs a society that helps women escape from abusive situations. For the most part, she is disciplined, cold, and calculated, but in the course of her work, she became acquainted with the Burrows family, and cannot seem to let them go.

The family is abroad for the summer when Natalie Burrows discovers that her father has been brutally murdered. She and her brother enlist the help of their Uncle Frank in order to navigate foreign legal waters. The reader soon discovers that none of the characters is who they seem. Sadowsky does a fantastic job of creating characters the reader first loves, then doubts. Clues from the past disappearance of Natalie’s mother intertwine with events of the present, sending the reader on a fast-paced enterprise to discover the truth.

If you love mystery, intrigue, and psychological thrillers, this book is for you!


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Book Blast! The Secret Life of Mrs. London by Rebecca Rosenberg

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The Secret Life of Mrs. London by Rebecca Rosenberg

Publication Date: January 30, 2018

Lake Union Publishing

eBook & Paperback; 348 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

San Francisco, 1915. As America teeters on the brink of world war, Charmian and her husband, famed novelist Jack London, wrestle with genius and desire, politics and marital competitiveness. Charmian longs to be viewed as an equal partner who put her own career on hold to support her husband, but Jack doesn’t see it that way…until Charmian is pulled from the audience during a magic show by escape artist Harry Houdini, a man enmeshed in his own complicated marriage. Suddenly, charmed by the attention Houdini pays her and entranced by his sexual magnetism, Charmian’s eyes open to a world of possibilities that could be her escape. As Charmian grapples with her urge to explore the forbidden, Jack’s increasingly reckless behavior threatens her dedication. Now torn between two of history’s most mysterious and charismatic figures, she must find the courage to forge her own path, even as she fears the loss of everything she holds dear.

Available for Pre-Order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and IndieBound

Praise for The Secret Life of Mrs. London

“The Secret Life of Mrs. London is a heart-wrenching portrait of a marriage between two people who utterly depend on one another, but ultimately aren’t enough for each other. With skillful precision of language, Rosenberg weaves a narrative that defines the complexities of love, passion, and art. This is a perceptive, deeply moving novel by a great new talent about a couple who has gone unnoticed in historical fiction until now. Anyone who has ever loved another person will want to read this book.” —Victoria Kelly, author of Mrs. Houdini: A Novel “One of Houdini’s best kept secrets was his affair with Charmian London in 1918. Now Rebecca Rosenberg tells the story using an elegant blend of fact and fiction, creating a Houdini book like no other. The Secret Life of Mrs. London is a true peek behind the curtain and a page-turner.” —John Cox, Wild about Harry

About the Author

A California native, Rebecca Rosenberg lives on a lavender farm with her family in Sonoma, the Valley of the Moon, where Jack London wrote from his Beauty Ranch. Rebecca is a long-time student of Jack London’s works and an avid fan of his daring wife, Charmian London. The Secret Life of Mrs. London is her debut novel. Rebecca and her husband, Gary, own the largest lavender product company in America, selling to 4000 resorts, spas and gift stores. The Rosenbergs believe in giving back to the Sonoma Community, supporting many causes through financial donations and board positions, including Worth Our Weight, an educational culinary program for at-risk children, YWCA shelter for abused women, Luther Burbank Performing Arts Center to provide performances for children, Sonoma Food Bank, Sonoma Boys and Girls Club, and the Valley of the Moon Children's Home. For more information, please visit Rebecca's website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook and Goodreads. Visit the Facebook page for The Secret Life of Mrs. London.

Book Blast Schedule

Tuesday, January 2 Passages to the Past Friday, January 5 Creating Herstory (Fierce Femme Friday) Monday, January 8 Historical Fiction with Spirit Tuesday, January 9 The Lit Bitch Just One More Chapter History From a Woman's Perspective Thursday, January 11 Suzy Approved Book Reviews Friday, January 12 Bibliotica Monday, January 15 Donna's Book Blog Tuesday, January 16 A Literary Vacation Friday, January 19 I Heart Reading Monday, January 22 Cup of Sensibility Tuesday, January 23 The Maiden's Court Thursday, January 25 Pursuing Stacie Monday, January 29 What Cathy Read Next

Review of Queen of Hearts by Kathryn R. Biel

Queen of Hearts by Kathryn R. Biel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found this to be such a sweet read! It's a feel good novel I will likely return to when I need a lift-me-up! Maryn, an awkwardly adorable and quirky character, is swept off of her feet by a legit prince who is smooth and worldly. She is taken from a Cinderella lifestyle and thrust into the duties of a royal family. The only problem is, her father in law hates her. She has a habit of putting her foot in her mouth, causing great distress to her royal handlers. Due to many misunderstandings, Maryn flees to her hometown and meets up with a long, lost love. She finds herself having to choose between a simpler life with an ex boyfriend, or stepping up to a life with her princely husband, to be lived in the spotlight, while asserting her beliefs and making her country a better place.

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Review of The Party by Robyn Harding

The Party by Robyn Harding
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book starts out with a bang and continues down a roller coaster track of twists and turns, throughout! Hannah's parents throw their daughter a laid back, innocuous sweet sixteen sleepover party. Old friends and new ones attend. Because their daughter has never given them a reason not to trust her, her parents leave the teens to their own devices and retire for the evening. In the dead of night, they are awakened and informed that a tragedy has occurred. Through twists and turns, the family's idyllic nature is shown to be a fraud. Hannah is forced to choose between popularity or doing the right thing. However, nothing is as it seems. Fans of the Pretty Little Liars books and TV series will love this entertaining novel!

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Review of The English Wife by Lauren Willig

The English Wife by Lauren Willig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an epic read! Lauren Willig transports the reader to the New York and London of old and into a story filled with secrets and surprises. Janie's brother, Bay, has been murdered and his wife, Annabelle, is missing. Janie forms an alliance with a reporter in order to discover the truth of who killed her brother. This story has many twists and turns which keep the reader alert and entertained throughout. Willig has created interesting characters whom the reader will discover are not at all what they seem. I highly recommend this book and am delighted that it was my first read of the New Year!

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Review of A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Meissner

A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Meissner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was sensational! Through Susan Meissner's lovely descriptive writing, I was transported aboard the RMS Queen Mary to a time of hope and tragedy. My heart was broken by the atrocities that occurred during the Nazi takeover of Paris during World War II. Meissner makes one feel as if they are in the heart of the story. Although there are four main characters in this book, their stories intertwined seamlessly. A surprise twist keeps the reader on their toes. This was a lovely story that I heartily recommend!

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Review of Northwoods Magic by Desiree Lafawn

Northwoods Magic by Desiree Lafawn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this novel! I haven't read fantasy in years but wanted to expand my horizons, so I tried out this novel. I was quite impressed that, although different from my normal read, it was really good! The chemistry between the main characters was HOT and palpable, and the story easily drew me in and kept me hooked. I think readers will be delighted with this book.

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