A Quirky and Fun Read!--"Diamond in the Rough" by Jen Turano--Review & GIVEAWAY!

About Diamond in the Rough

Hardcover: 352 Pages

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (September 3, 2019)

To save her family from financial ruin, Miss Poppy Garrison accepts an unusual proposition to participate in the New York social season in exchange for her grandmother settling a family loan that has unexpectedly come due. Ill-equipped to handle the intricacies of mingling within the New York Four Hundred, Poppy becomes embroiled in one hilarious fiasco after another, doomed to suffer a grand societal failure instead of being deemed the diamond of the first water her grandmother longs for her to become.

Reginald Blackburn, second son of a duke, has been forced to travel to America to help his cousin, Charles Wynn, Earl of Lonsdale, find an American heiress to wed in order to shore up his family estate that is in desperate need of funds. Reginald himself has no interest in finding an heiress to marry, but when Poppy’s grandmother asks him to give etiquette lessons to Poppy, he swiftly discovers he may be in for much more than he bargained for.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

My Review

You don’t find many historical fiction novels that also can be humorous and light hearted.  But "Diamond in the Rough" by Jen Turano is certainly just that among the many historical fiction novels published today.  I might even go so far as to say it’s a “Diamond of the First Water,” just as our main character Poppy strives to be!

Poppy Garrison is a unique, klutzy, and completely genuine and loveable character (and what a name).  I loved watching her as she tries to navigate the rules and etiquette of the New York Four Hundred social season (think of Poppy adjusting a broken bustle in public–the horror).  But this book isn’t just light and fluffy; there is also a lot of character growth and development and themes of family and identity. 

I thoroughly enjoyed my romp through the social season, but I am very glad Poppy was the one to do it and not myself, thank you very much! 

Content: This is a clean read.

Rating: I give this book 4 stars.


I want to thank TLC Book Tours, Jen Turano and Bethany House for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.

About Jen Turano

Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author and lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Visit her website at www.jenturano.com.

Connect with Jen

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Instagram tour:

Monday, September 9th: @girlandherbooks

Tuesday, September 10th: @theshybooks

Wednesday, September 11th: @southernbellereading

Thursday, September 12th: @all.the.lovely.pages

Friday, September 13th: @thereadingchemist

Saturday, September 14th: @thecaffeinated_bibliophile

Sunday, September 15th: @LisaBReads

Review tour:

Monday, September 16th: From the TBR Pile

Tuesday, September 17th: What is That Book About – excerpt

Thursday, September 19th: Broken Teepee

Thursday, September 19th: Lori’s Reading Corner – excerpt

Friday, September 20th: The Lit Bitch

Monday, September 23rd: Write Read Life

Wednesday, September 25th: Laura’s Reviews

Friday, September 27th: View from the Birdhouse

Monday, September 30th: Christian Chick’s Thoughts

Wednesday, October 2nd: Empowermoms

Friday, October 4th: Blooming with Books

Monday, October 7th: Faery Tales are Real

Wednesday, October 9th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

GIVEAWAY!!!

Open to US only.  One lucky winner will get a copy of the book!

1.  Leave a comment below and tell me what you would find hard in the High Society of the time?  The clothes, etiquette, etc.  

2.  Follow me on any of my social media accounts and comment where you followed and under what username.

A Fascinating Novel of the Todd Sisters!--"The First Lady and the Rebel" by Susan Higginbotham--Review & GIVEAWAY!

THE FIRST LADY AND THE REBEL BY SUSAN HIGGINBOTHAM

Publication Date: October 1, 2019
Sourcebooks Landmark
eBook & Paperback; 400 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

From the celebrated author Susan Higginbotham comes the incredible story of Lincoln’s First Lady

A Union’s First Lady
As the Civil War cracks the country in two, Mary Lincoln stands beside her husband praying for a swift Northern victory. But as the body count rises, Mary can’t help but fear each bloody gain. Because her beloved sister Emily is across party lines, fighting for the South, and Mary is at risk of losing both her country and her family in the tides of a brutal war.

A Confederate Rebel’s Wife
Emily Todd Helm has married the love of her life. But when her husband’s southern ties pull them into a war neither want to join, she must make a choice. Abandon the family she has built in the South or fight against the sister she has always loved best.

With a country’s legacy at stake, how will two sisters shape history?

AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | CHAPTERS | INDIEBOUND

My Review

This is a story of two sisters living during the Civil War.  Each happens to be on a different side—one a Rebel and one in the Union.  The sisters are none other than the wife of Abraham Lincoln (Mary Todd Lincoln) and her half-sister Emily.

"The First Lady and the Rebel" by Susan Higginbotham is a dual perspective novel, told from Emily and Mary’s points of view.  I loved learning about these women and this time period.  It was fun to read about their love stories and I especially enjoyed Mary’s personality and seeing Abraham Lincoln through her eyes.

This is not just another Civil War story.  It is a deeply personal tale of loss, love and family.  There are both good and bad people on either side of the War.  The issues surrounding the War aren’t as cut and dry as we like to think.  The lives of these two sisters show that love and loss are universal.  If you love the Civil War Era or reading about real life characters, you will love this book!

Content: I give this book a PG-13 rating.  Some examples of the content are: mention of a woman’s bosom; mention of alcohol and drunkenness; a character refers to the “marital act;” the word “Negro” is used in context; the word “da**” is used; mention of alcohol and men getting drunk; the word “b**ch” is used; some gore related to descriptions of war; some talk of making love, but not super descriptive; a man talks of visits from spirits and mediums.

Rating: I give this book 4 stars.

I want to thank Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, Sourcebooks and Susan Higginbotham for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.

Praise

“Historical fiction at it best: A unique, intimate view of a character we thought we knew. The Civil War comes to life through two sisters on opposite sides, one the first lady of the not-so United States. And through it all, a fascinating family saga. I learned a lot and loved this book.” – Karen Harper, New York Times bestselling author of American Duchess

“Susan Higginbotham’s The First Lady and the Rebel is a meticulously researched and powerfully written account of the complicated and compelling relationship between the Todd sisters. Higginbotham’s two female protagonists are bonded by blood and love, but pulled apart by war. Set against the sweeping backdrop of our nation’s Civil War, this is the tragic and true story of human hearts both fierce and fallible, of deeply mixed loyalties, and of the imperfect but inspiring individuals who were asked to do the unimaginable. Moving and enlightening.” – Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of The Accidental Empress

“Susan Higginbotham has done it again-crafted a richly detailed novel that immerses readers in America’s Civil War. The First Lady and the Rebel explores the tragic story of a family and a nation torn apart, while shedding light on rarely reported events in the personal life of Abraham Lincoln. Mary Todd Lincoln, the President’s wife, and her sister, Emily Todd Helm, are devoted to their husbands and to each other, yet find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict as they face overwhelming grief and loss. The novel presents a devastating time and place rendered so vividly you’ll feel as if you’d lived through the war yourself. Higginbotham’s painstaking and extensive research is evident from the engaging first chapter to the novel’s moving conclusion. For those who like their historical novels based on real people, this book is a must-read.” – Amy Belding Brown, author of Flight of the Sparrow

About the Author

Susan Higginbotham is the author of seven historical novels, including Hanging Mary, The Stolen Crown, and The Queen of Last Hopes. The Traitor’s Wife, her first novel, was the winner of ForeWord Magazine’s 2005 Silver Award for historical fiction and was a Gold Medalist, Historical/Military Fiction, 2008 Independent Publisher Book wards. She writes her own historical fiction blog, History Refreshed. Higginbotham has worked as an editor and an attorney, and lives in Maryland with her family.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB

Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, October 1
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books

Wednesday, October 2
Review at Faery Tales Are Real
Review & Guest Post at Clarissa Reads it All

Thursday, October 3
Review at Broken Teepee
Review at Stephanie’s Novel Fiction

Friday, October 4
Review at Donna’s Book Blog

Saturday, October 5
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Monday, October 7
Review at Hooked on Books
Interview at Reading the Past

Tuesday, October 8
Review at The Lit Bitch

Wednesday, October 9
Review at Just One More Chapter

Thursday, October 10
Review at Unabridged Chick

Friday, October 11
Interview at Unabridged Chick
Review at View from the Birdhouse

Saturday, October 12
Review at Jorie Loves a Story

Monday, October 14
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Interview at Jorie Loves a Story

Tuesday, October 15
Review at Passages to the Past

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a paperback copy of The First Lady and the Rebel! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on October 15th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Paperback giveaway is open to the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

Direct Link: https://gleam.io/competitions/iV8aB-the-first-lady-and-the-rebel

Utterly Delightful!--"Finding Lady Enderly" by Joanna Davidson Politano--Review

Ms. Politano once again exceeded my expectations in "Finding Lady Enderly!”  This book is a work of art.  At face value it’s a beautiful Christian historical romance.  But interwoven throughout is a beautiful allegory.

"Finding Lady Enderly" by Joanna Davidson Politano is like a unique fairy tale, with a “Cinderella” and “My Fair Lady” feel to it.  There are also a lot of allusions to classic literature and a permeating Gothic tone to the story.  The setting is in a mysterious Abbey that contains an old library.  Like I mentioned above, Ms. Politano weaves in an allegory about one’s relationship with God; specifically about knowing who we are in Him, letting Him tell us who we are and what our real name is.

I also really enjoyed the spunky heroine Raina and the faithful hero, Sully.  Raina loves adventures.  Throughout the story, she learns more about who she is and whose she is.  One of my favorite parts of the book is how Raina and Sully could only really communicate with one another through secret messages in books.  It is so romantic and I love how Ms. Politano picked some beautiful quotes from classic literature for the star crossed lovers to express themselves to one another.

"Finding Lady Enderly" is a gripping story that you won’t want to miss! 

Content: This is a clean read.  Some examples of the content are: it’s implied that a woman is afraid a man will take advantage of her (but he doesn’t); characters drink alcohol.

Rating:  I give this book 5 stars!

I want to thank Joanna Davidson Politano, Revell and LibraryThing Early Reviewers for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.






About the Author:

I’m a work-from-home mom of two fun and adventurous littles and we’ll soon be homeschooling. I married my hero Vince, who is my love and my polar opposite. I write, he tears it up with the red pen. I break cars and other mechanical things, he puts them back together. He’s nailed the “speak the truth” thing, and I bring the “in love” part. But the real spark to our marriage is that he does not like chocolate and I…  like it a normal amount. We love and live from our little house in the woods near Lake Michigan.

To visit the author's website click here

To purchase the book click here

"Tiger Queen" by Annie Sullivan Blog Tour (Review) & GIVEAWAY!

Tiger Queen

by Annie Sullivan
Publisher: BLINK
Release Date: September 10, 2019
Genre: Young Adult Fiction -- Fantasy, Retelling, Romance

From Annie Sullivan, author of A Touch of Gold, comes Tiger Queen, a sweeping YA fantasy adventure that tells the story of a fierce desert princess battling to save her kingdom. Fans of Rebel of the Sands and Meagan Spooner will devour this retelling of Frank Stockton’s famous short story, “The Lady, or the Tiger?”

In the mythical desert kingdom of Achra, an ancient law forces sixteen-year-old Princess Kateri to fight in the arena to prove her right to rule. For Kateri, winning also means fulfilling a promise to her late mother that she would protect her people, who are struggling through windstorms and drought. The situation is worsened by the gang of Desert Boys that frequently raids the city wells, forcing the king to ration what little water is left. The punishment for stealing water is a choice between two doors: behind one lies freedom, and behind the other is a tiger.

But when Kateri’s final opponent is announced, she knows she cannot win. In desperation, she turns to the desert and the one person she never thought she’d side with. What Kateri discovers twists her world—and her heart—upside down. Her future is now behind two doors—only she’s not sure which holds the key to keeping her kingdom and which releases the tiger.

BOOK LINKS

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/42281646
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2LjrAHC

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tiger-queen-annie-sullivan/1129853416?ean=9780310768777#/

Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Tiger-Queen-Annie-Sullivan/9780310768784?ref=grid-view&qid=1565246691681&sr=1-3

MY REVIEW

This story captivated me from the first page!  “Tiger Queen” by Annie Sullivan has an “Aladdin” feel to it, with a “Mulan-like” heroine; yet it manages to be its own unique, amazing story!

Ms. Sullivan’s book is a retelling of a short story by Frank Stockton called “The Lady or the Tiger?”  In “Tiger Queen,” Princess Kateri realizes that there’s a whole new world outside of her palace; one where it’s not all about her. And the things she thought she knew and believed are challenged.  She finds that sometimes being the strongest isn’t about physical strength or control.  Instead, being kind and forgiving, caring for the people and being their voice are where true strength lies.  She learns that she needs others in order to succeed herself.  There are so many wonderful lessons this story imparts as Kateri grows and matures throughout the book, often with the help of the infamous Desert Boys.  But will she have learned enough to fight her biggest battle and win?  Will she be able to become the Queen her kingdom needs?

“Tiger Queen” is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year so far and I cannot recommend it enough!

Content: This is a clean read with a PG rating for descriptions of battle and violence.

Rating: I give this book all the stars!  5 stars!

I want to thank Annie Sullivan, Blink, The Fantastic Flying Book Club and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.

Annie Sullivan is a Young Adult author from Indianapolis, Indiana. Her work has been featured in Curly Red Stories and Punchnels. She loves fairytales, everything Jane Austen, and traveling and exploring new cultures. When she’s not off on her own adventures, she’s teaching classes at the Indiana Writers Center and working as the Copy Specialist at John Wiley and Sons, Inc. publishing company, having also worked there in Editorial and Publicity roles. You can follow her adventures on Twitter and Instagram (@annsulliva).

Website: https://anniesullivanauthor.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/annsulliva

September 4

That Artsy Reader Girl - Welcome Interview

September 5

Library of a Book Witch - Book Review, Creative Post

Abellafairytale - Book Review

Feed Your Fiction Addiction - Book Review

Careful of Books - Book Review

Faery Tales Are Real - Book Review

September 6

Starlight Reads - Book and Book Cover Review

Sometimes Leelynn Reads - Book Review, Creative Post (Playlist/Dream Cast)

The Caffeinated Reader - Book Review + Favorite Quotes

Lost In Storyland - Book Review

Portals of Paper and Ink - Book Review, Book Aesthetic/Mood Board

Bookishly Nerdy - Book Review, Creative Post

September 7

Adventurous Bookworm - Book Review, Author Q&A

Confessions of a YA Reader - Book Review + Favorite Quotes

Moonlight Rendezvous - Book Review + Favorite Quotes

Clarissa Reads It All - Book Review + Favorite Quotes

A Book Addict's Bookshelf - Author Guest Post

A Court of Coffee and Books - Book Review + Favorite Quotes

Belle's Archive - Book Review + Favorite Quotes

Nay's Pink Bookshelf - Creative Post

September 8

Lisa Loves Literature - Book Review, Author Interview (re-share)

One In a Million - Author Guest Post

The Shelf Life Chronicles - Book Review + Favorite Quotes

Book Butterfly In Dreamland - Book Review

Fictitiouswonderland - Bookstagram Review

Becky's Book Blog - Book Review + Favorite Quotes

September 9

A Fictional Bookworm - Book Review + Favorite Quotes

Devouring Books - Book Review + Favorite Quotes

The Book Dutchesses - Buddy Book Review + Favorite Quotes

Story-eyed Reviews - Book Review

Sereadipity - Book Review + Favorite Quotes

September 10

Star Is All Booked Up - Book Review, Bookstagram Post

To All the Books I've Read Before - Book Review

Angela Walker's Reviews - Book Review

Cinnamon Summers - Book Review

Reading Under the Covers - Book Review

Mahkjchi's Not-So-Secret Books - Book Review, Creative Post

The Baroness of Books - Book Review, Creative Post (Quiz)

September 11

TBR and Beyond - Book Review + Favorite Quotes

Book Nerd Anonymous - Book Review, Creative Post

Paper Reader - Book Review

Wishful Endings - Book Review, Author Q&A

Popthebutterflyreads - Book Review, Creative Post

GIVEAWAY

Prize: Tiger Queen poster and signed bookplate (USA only)

Starts: 9/4/19

Ends:  9/13/19

Direct Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d9681b86398/?