Review of Nell and Lady: A Novel by Ashley Farley

Nell and Lady: A Novel by Ashley Farley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A lovely story about friendship, tragedy, forgiveness, and hope. Farley's characters are richly developed and I fell in love with them from the start. I also appreciated how her descriptions of scenery came alive as if the places she described were characters, themselves. This is a must read!

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Review of Country Gold, a Wilder Sisters Novel (#1) by Heatherly Bell

Country Gold, a Wilder Sisters novel by Heatherly Bell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Heatherly Bell tops the charts with her story of the romance between country stars Luke and Lexi. Bell does a fabulous job of keeping the romantic tension going. Her use of scenery captures the reader and enhances the story. I can't wait to read the next novels in this series!

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Review of The Promise of Provence (Love in Provence #1) by Patricia Sands

The Promise of Provence by Patricia Sands
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Much like Calgon, Patricia Sands takes her reader away from the stresses of real life into a whirlwind journey in Provence and Antibes. Rife with quirky characters, warm friendships, blooming love, and the bond between dog and human (you will love pup, Picasso!), the reader will quickly become ensconced in this novel. Sands’ rich descriptions made me feel as if I had been to the places she describes. She paints such beautiful scenery, I could easily visualize each scene. I can’t wait to dive into her other Love in Provence books!


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***GIVEAWAY**** and Review of Lilli de Jong by Janet Benton

Lilli de Jong by Janet Benton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lilli de Jong is a touching story of a lonely, unwed mother in the late 1800’s, and the lengths she will go to in order to provide for and protect her child. In the face of unrelentingly cruel circumstances, a theme of great love resounds throughout this novel, leaving the reader hoping for a happily ever after. This is a hauntingly beautiful story that is full of heart.


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Lilli de Jong by Janet Benton

Paperback Publication Date: July 10, 2018

Anchor Books

Paperback; 352 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Philadelphia, 1883. Twenty-three-year-old Lilli de Jong is pregnant and alone—abandoned by her lover and banished from her Quaker home. She gives birth at a charity for wronged women, planning to give up the baby. But the power of their bond sets her on a completely unexpected path. Unwed mothers in 1883 face staggering prejudice, yet Lilli refuses to give up her baby girl. Instead, she braves moral condemnation and financial ruin in a quest to keep the two of them alive. Lilli confides this story to her diary as it unfolds, taking readers from a charity for unwed mothers to a wealthy family’s home and onto the streets of a burgeoning American city. Her story offers a rare and harrowing view into a time when a mother’s milk is crucial for infant survival. Written with startling intimacy and compassion, this accomplished novel is both a rich historical depiction and a testament to the saving force of a woman’s love.

Awards

NPR Best Books of 2017 Library Journal Best Historical Fiction 2017 Bustle The 17 Best Debut Novels by Woman in 2017 An Amazon Best Book of May 2017 Semifinalist in historical fiction, Goodreads Choice Awards, 2017 Finalist, David J. Langum Prize in Historical Fiction, 2017

Praise for Lilli de Jong

“A heartrending debut…Lilli’s inspiring power and touching determination are timeless.”—Publishers Weekly “Powerful, authentic… A heart-smashing debut that completely satisfies.” —Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet “I loved this novel. It’s deeply moving and richly imagined, both tragic and joyous.”—Sandra Gulland, author of the internationally bestselling Josephine B. Trilogy “Beautifully written, emotionally resonant, and psychologically astute…A gripping read.”—Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Piece of the World “[A] gorgeously written debut . . . Devastatingly relevant and achingly beautiful.”—Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Is This Tomorrow “A captivating, page-turning, and well-researched novel about the power of a mother’s love.”—Library Journal (starred review) “A confident debut . . . Sentence by carefully-crafted sentence, Benton ensnares the reader.”—The Millions “Writing with a historical eye akin to Geraldine Brooks and incisive prose matching that of Anthony Doerr… Stunning!”—Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Kommandant’s Girl “Benton combines rich, carefully researched detail with an imaginative boldness that is a joy to behold.” —Valerie Martin, author of The Ghost of the Mary Celeste “A stunning ode to motherhood.” —Sarah McCoy, New York Times bestselling author of The Mapmaker’s Children “A new feminist classic…Benton’s writing is shrewd and beautiful.”—Philly Voice “Eloquent and powerful.”—HuffPost Books “This is both a super lush historical novel and an amazing feminist manifesto…Buy it for everyone.”—Book Riot “You would be hard-pressed to find a more intimate—even revolutionary—depiction of the emotional and sensory experiences of motherhood.”—UMass Magazine “A brilliantly quiet novel with a spine of steel.”—Read It Forward “[What a] monumental accomplishment the novel achieves. . . . Benton holds a mirror up to the past and in doing so, illustrates how far we have come as well as how far we have yet to go.”—Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

JANET BENTON’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Glimmer Train, and many other publications. She has cowritten and edited historical documentaries for television. She holds a B.A. in religious studies from Oberlin College and an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. For decades she has taught writing at universities and privately and has helped individuals and organizations craft their stories. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and daughter. Lilli de Jong is her first novel. Visit www.janetbentonauthor.com for more information. You can also find Janet on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, August 13 Review at Pursuing Stacie Wednesday, August 15 Review at Cup of Sensibility Friday, August 17 Feature at The Lit Bitch Monday, August 20 Feature at Clarissa Reads it All Thursday, August 23 Feature at Beth's Book Nook Blog Feature at What Is That Book About Tuesday, August 28 Review at Dressed to Read Friday, August 31 Guest Post at Passages to the Past Monday, September 3 Review at Oh, October Friday, September 7 Review at The Book Mind Tuesday, September 11 Review at Jorie Loves a Story Wednesday, September 12 Feature at CelticLady's Reviews Thursday, September 13 Interview at Jorie Loves a Story

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a copy of Lilli de Jong to one lucky reader! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on September 13th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open to US 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. Lilli de Jong Paperback

Review of Second Chance at Two Love Lane

Second Chance at Two Love Lane by Kieran Kramer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kieran Kramer is a masterful storyteller who does a fabulous job at portraying the angst of two long lost lovers who never got over each other. The couple meet again and fall into close quarters, reigniting a past spark. I’m a sucker for a good love story and Kramer brings it.


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Review of Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Baby Teeth completely creeped me out (in a good way!). Author, Zoje Stage, knows how to weave sadistic and psychopathic characters that stick in the reader’s mind. This was a fast and great ride!


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Review of The Trailing Spouse by Jo Furniss

The Trailing Spouse by Jo Furniss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The stories of two women intertwine and lead to a smashing climax in Jo Furniss’ latest, The Trailing Spouse. Furniss does a phenomenal job of keeping the mystery going and the reader interested. A perfect read for fans of Chris Bohjalian.


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Review of A Curve in the Road by Julianne MacLean

A Curve in the Road by Julianne MacLean
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! This book starts off with a bang and doesn't let up! An unimaginable tragedy strikes main character, Abbie. Author, Julianne MacLean, does a superb job portraying nightmarish circumstances and I felt like I was in Abbie's head, experiencing her anguish and confusion. Circumstances unravel a mystery surrounding Abbie's husband, sending her into further turmoil. Although things seem dire, an unexpected friendship does lead to a happily ever after. I highly recommend this book!

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Review of Kerry Anne King's Whisper Me This

Whisper Me This by Kerry Anne King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A haunting mystery about a woman's past has her daughter, Maisey, searching for clues. Maisey's mother has died under suspicious circumstances, and her father may have been negligent in not seeking care for his dying wife. The secrets of her mother's past unravel and enable Maisey to stand up for herself and her daughter's future. This book delicately deals with the issue of domestic violence and is a must read.

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Review of All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover

All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A heart wrenching and beautiful tale. Quinn and Graham meet under unexpected circumstances and fall madly in love. But life decides to throw painful trials in their path. Their future rests on a small wooden box that contains promises from the past that can possibly heal their present. Colleen Hoover is a magician at drawing the reader into the emotions of her characters. This book is exceptional!

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Review of Jill Shalvis' Rainy Day Friends

Rainy Day Friends by Jill Shalvis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I wanted to jump inside of this book and become part of the Capriotti clan! Jill Shalvis does a fantastic job of portraying vibrant characters the reader will fall in love with. This was my first book by Shalvis but I will be sure to read her others!

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