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Category: Genre Fiction

Interview & Giveaway: Elizabeth Chadwick, author of For the King’s Favor

[ 159 ] September 2, 2010

Please welcome Elizabeth Chadwick, author of For the King’s Favor!

Interview

Probably the most obvious question to ask (given your research in into William Marshal, the early Plantagenets, and subsequently Roger Bigod) is why you do not touch upon the growing Robin Hood tales that arise from this time period? Do you feel that the Robin Hood of legend is based upon Marshal or Bigod or not based upon anyone in particular?

Elizabeth: I actually do touch upon the possibility of the Robin Hood legend in my novel Lords of the White Castle, which is about the Shropshire outlaw Fulke FitzWarin. Fulke is thought by many historians to be one of the originators of the Robin Hood legends that were later brought together from various sources. Robin Hood is very ephemeral in the late 12th century and there is no mention of him by name and deed in any primary source research material pertaining to the period covered by William Marshal and Roger Bigod – nor would I expect there to be. The Fulke FitzWarin story was actually written after William and Roger’s death, so is not of their period, which is why he isn’t in my books. If their timelines had worked out better, perhaps things would have been different!

You talk about the belief that “each person leaves behind an indelible record of themselves impressed upon sub-atomic material and that this record can be accessed if one has the ability to tune in at that particular vibrational level.” Do you have the ability to tune in or do you use solely the services of the Akashic consultant Alison King?

Elizabeth: I wish I did have the ability, but I don’t. Alison’s talent with energy work is a very precious and special one. I have no such ability. I am not gullible, but I do have an open mind and I am interested to see that quantum physics is gradually getting to grips with the science of what she does.

What is Akasha? Is this method used by many historical fiction writers? How did you come across this method?

Elizabeth: Unfortunately, I’m not an expert in Akasha; it’s something I turn to Alison (mentioned above) for. Alison does have other historical novelists who are clients, and I know several historians and archaeologists who use similar methods of their own accord. She also utilizes her skill for people interested in genealogy and learning about their ancestors. Readers can obtain a fuller explanation on my website: http://www.elizabethchadwick.com/akashic.html

Nonetheless, I have known Alison for almost 25 years and have always been aware that she is sensitive to energies. While working with clients in the field of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), she discovered that she could tune in and go back to things that had happened in their past that were still affecting them now. She realized that if she could go back 20 years, then why not 200, or 800. We were having an ordinary chat one day and she asked how my novel was coming along. I said fine, but I was having a problem finding out about a particular person because the records were scanty. She asked if I wanted her to tune in and find her. I said okay, and what came through was so astonishing, that I knew I had to investigate further. That was about 6 years ago now, and I have been using Alison’s extraordinary ability to help out with my research ever since. I get the details checked out by someone I know with qualifications in medieval history; I don’t take the details in blind faith. I also use them judiciously with other more conventional forms of research to weave the story.

Are you still actively involved in Regia Anglorum? Does this organization have any affiliation with the Society for Creative Anachronism (very popular in the US and Canada)?

Elizabeth: Yes, I am still involved in Regia Anglorum. This is an early medieval living history society with a brief to recreate life as it was in the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. The emphasis is on being as accurate as possible. There is an American wing of Regia – RANA (Regia Anglorum North America). Some of the members are SCA members, but there is no affiliation as such

What attracted you to researching this era of history?

Elizabeth: My interest stemmed from when I first began researching historical fiction— the late Anglo Saxon, Norman and Angevin period. Henry II, Richard I and John are known as the Angevin kings, and before them it was the house of Normandy. I had fallen for a handsome knight in a TV programme who happened to live in the mid twelfth century. I began writing a sort of fan fiction about him and because I wanted it to feel as real as possible, I went to the library and began researching the period. The more I researched the more interested I became and the more I wanted to write about that time in history. But the original catalyst was a tall, dark, handsome guy in flowing robes with a sword in his hand!

What are your three favorite books of all time?

Elizabeth: This is a tough one! I don’t think anyone can choose their three favorite books. How do you narrow it down? Plus tastes change over time. I have books on my keeper shelves that are there because I loved them when I was 15, but not all of them have stood the test of time. I can tell you three books that are favorites though, among many favorites.

1. Hanta Yo by Ruth Beebee Hill

2. Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman

3. Alinor by Roberta Gellis

What are you working on next?

Elizabeth: A novel titled Lady of the English. It’s about two linked but very different women in English history; one an empress and one a queen. Matilda is the daughter of King Henry I and an empress by marriage to her German royal husband. When her husband dies, she returns to England, is forced into marriage with a 14 year old boy, and then has to fight for her right to inherit the crown. Adeliza is queen of England and Matilda’s stepmother, although she is in fact younger than her. When King Henry I dies, Adeliza remarries a baron on the opposing side to Matilda in the conflict for the English throne. She loves her husband and she loves Matilda and wants to be loyal to both. But how can she be? That is her dilemma. It’s about women striving to make their voices heard in a world ruled by men.

For more information, please visit Elizabeth Chadwick’s website.

Giveaway

I have 2 copies of For the King’s Favor to give away!

Mandatory entry: Please comment on this post with your e-mail address.

Extra entries (please post each entry separately, i.e. 2 posts for subscribing):
- Subscribe via e-mail, follow or subscribe to the feed. You must verify the subscriptions. (1 entry each)
- Enter another current giveaway and tell me which one you entered (1 entry each)
- Share this giveaway on a social network of your choice. Click the “Share/Save” button at the end of this post (1 entry each)
- Become a fan on Facebook (2 entries)

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Deadline to enter is midnight on September 20th.

Giveaway copies were provided free of any obligation by Sourcebooks Landmark. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell

[ 5 ] August 27, 2010

Reviewed by Rachel M.

When I came across Maggie O’Farrell’s first novel, After You’d Gone, last year, I was blown away. I thought it was one of the best novels I’d read in a long time and instantly recommended it to several friends. So, as an immediate O’Farrell fan, I was very excited to read her newest book, The Hand That First Held Mine, and was pleased to discover it didn’t disappoint. The Hand That First Held Mine doesn’t have the raw qualities and shock that made me appreciate After You’d Gone so much, but it has the same lyrical prose, graceful composition, and hidden twists that seem characteristic of O’Farrell’s writing style. You can bet that after reading two such works, I’m going to check out everything else O’Farrell’s written too.

The Hand That First Held Mine moves between two parallel trajectories: the story of Lexie, an ambitious, unformed woman in the 1950s; and that of Elina and Ted, new, uncertain parents in the present. Lexie’s presence feels real to her, but the narrator frequently reminds us that it’s temporary, and already past. Meanwhile, as Elina’s temporary amnesia after the difficult birth of her and Ted’s child fades away, Ted discovers gaping holes in his own memory. Along the way, subtle patterns, parallels, and comparisons between the characters’ lives emerge, tying the two stories together in unique and fateful ways.

Part of the pleasure in reading this book is coming across these twists and turns for yourself–discovering connections and disappointments along with the characters–and I don’t want to give them away. Instead, I want to reiterate the pleasure that comes from reading such an accomplished piece of fiction.

Verdict: this is an exquisite read, both in terms of the way O’Farrell manipulates language and sets up the novel’s structure, and it has plenty of heartbreaking moments you don’t see coming. While you’re at it, check out After You’d Gone, too–it’s superb.

Rachel, who has a Ph.D. in English, is a freelance writer/editor and a voracious reader. You can talk to her about books at twitter.com/writehandmann.

This book was provided free of any obligation by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: The Jewel of St. Petersburg by Kate Furnivall

[ 10 ] August 20, 2010

Reviewed by Jennifer J.

Set in the years leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917, The Jewel of St. Petersburg by Kate Furnivall is the story of aristocratic pianist Valentina Ivanova during a bleak period in Russian history. The daughter of a financial minister to Tsar Nicholas II, Valentina is expected to uphold a certain set of expectations. However, Valentina has no interest in the fancy balls, gowns, or handsome military leaders that are part of a young aristocrat’s daily life. Instead, Valentina’s interests lie in becoming a nurse and marrying Jens Friis, a Danish engineer.

Valentina’s father Nicholai has other plans for her, forcing her into an engagement with wealthy Captain Chernov to save himself from monetary debts. Torn between her duty to her family and her love for Jens, Valentina determinedly sets out to find a way to satisfy both her father and her own longings. As Valentina and Jens finally come together as man and wife, the Bolsheviks’ plot to overthrow the Tsar becomes a reality.

The Jewel of St. Petersburg was my introduction to Kate Furnivall’s works, and I found it a challenging read. As I was reading, I wanted to kick myself for not brushing up on Russian history. Furnivall makes it very obvious that there is friction between the working class and the aristocracy, but I wish she had provided more explanation on the political structure. There were a lot of titles used (Duma, for example) that I can’t remember having come across before this novel.

Though the characters were well written and easily distinguished from one another, I was disappointed to find that I didn’t care much for any of them, including Valentina. She is fiercely independent and outspoken, and clearly loves and would do anything for her sister Katya. Those traits are admirable, but there are other instances where Valentina comes across as naive, irrational, and even despicable.

Throughout it all, Jens remains steadfast in his love for Valentina, and she proves that she is willing to do absolutely anything to be with him. The working class is best represented by Victor Arkin, the Ivanov family’s former chauffeur. While I wanted to sympathize with him, he repeatedly did one thing after another to destroy Valentina and her family. The energy he spent hating aristocrats could have been put to better use by supporting causes that would peacefully improve the government.

The history of Russia and the fall of the Romanov Dynasty has always fascinated me, and because of it I will try Kate Furnivall’s earlier works. I am especially interested in reading The Russian Concubine, which follows the life of Jens and Valentina’s daughter, Lydia.

Jennifer graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in English. She occasionally dabbles with her own fiction writing, particularly with the Young Adult and Paranormal genres. She currently resides in Utah with her husband and daughter.

This book was provided free of any obligation by Berkley Trade. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Emma and the Vampires by Jane Austen and Wayne Josephson

[ 8 ] August 15, 2010

Reviewed by Michelle S.

Emma and the Vampires, by Jane Austen and Wayne Josephson, is yet another work in a growing trend of “mash-up” books. This time, it seems that Emma’s world of Highbury has been infiltrated by vampires.

True to the original, our clueless heroine Emma spends her time matchmaking for her friends and neighbors. I say clueless, because despite Emma’s insistence that she knows everyone and everything, she somehow manages to misunderstand the actions and words of the residents of Highbury – as well as the fact that most of the men are vampires. Luckily for them, she’s better at wielding a stake than understanding love.

I hate to say it, but I really didn’t enjoy Emma and the Vampires. As much as I favor the original, I found the modernization of some phrases to be clunky, and longwinded. I also found many of the vampire references to be poorly added, in that even after re-reading it a few times I was still confused as to whether what was being stated was spoken or thought, or even understood or being kept secret. To that end, I was disappointed in the lack of explanation for the vampirism – some seem to be born vampires, others made vampires, some gentlemen and others wild. As far as the story goes, they just exist, end of discussion.

Also, I was disappointed in the lack of intelligence for all of the residents of Highbury (other than the vampires, of course). Emma is, by all rights, fairly clueless to begin with. However, neither she, nor any other non-vampire could see the differences between the ones she killed and the ones that walk among them. Could not one resident piece together the cold hands, black or red eyes, the lack of eating or the need for darkness to determine that others in their company were vampires as well?

Overall, to get past the lack of attention to detail and storyline, one would have to be as clueless as the characters in the novel.

Michelle recently returned to her West Virginia roots to re-invent herself. She is the principal (okay, only) web and graphic designer at Michelle My Belle Designs and uses the rest of her free time to write her own book blog 52 Self-help Books. Putting up with her madness is her husband Jason, dog Leo, and rabbit Macchiato.

This book was provided free of any obligation by Sourcebooks Landmark. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Blog Tour & Giveaway: The Hypnotist by M.J. Rose

[ 215 ] August 5, 2010

Please join M.J. Rose, author of The Hypnotist, as she tours the blogosphere with TLC Book Tours!

To learn more about M.J. Rose, visit her website or Facebook page!

Reviewed by Jennifer J.

Twenty years ago, Lucian Glass was unable to stop the murder of his beautiful girlfriend, a gifted young artist. Though he no longer creates original art, Lucian now works for the FBI in a specialized unit that investigates art heists. His current investigation, which involves an art collector responsible for destroying valuable masterpieces, is loosely connected to the Phoenix Foundation and Dr. Malachai Samuels. In disguise as James Ryan, Lucian’s own past memories are revealed to have a connection to the case which he is currently working.

Lucian’s past memories, which are tapped into via hypnosis, may also be linked to a recently discovered statue of the Greek god Hypnos about to go on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The lives of others may depend on Lucian to use what he has learned in this life to keep them all safe, including that of a troubled woman who could be the reincarnation of his past love.

M.J. Rose’s The Hypnotist is the third installment in a series that covers a topic I would love to see more of in today’s fiction: reincarnation. She is very scientific in her approach to the subject, having researched some of the leading experts in the field. Like her protagonist Lucian Glass, many readers may not put much faith into the idea of reincarnation. After reading all three of the novels in this series, I’ve decided this is a subject I’d like to personally study more.

Each of the books in this series can be read as a stand-alone novel but I would highly recommend reading them in order: The Reincarnationist, The Memorist, and The Hypnotist. Dr. Malachai Samuels is a driving force in each of these novels, and his chronological actions are slowly leading up to something that has yet to be revealed. I have really enjoyed the character development in Samuels most of all because he is the only character (with the exception of Glass, who was a minor character in The Memorist) that has been in each of the novels.

The first two books seemed very formulaic, and I was relieved that The Hypnotist had an entirely different structure. This has been my favorite of the series so far, and what has convinced me that the rest of the books will be worth my time. The main story arc of the series has been slow to take off, but I’m now beginning to see that there is a purpose and end goal in sight.

Jennifer graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in English. She occasionally dabbles with her own fiction writing, particularly with the Young Adult and Paranormal genres. She currently resides in Utah with her husband and daughter.

Giveaway:
1 winner will receive a copy of The Hypnotist and an exclusive pin of the phoenix in the book (pictured on the left)!

Mandatory entry: Please comment on this post with your e-mail address.

Extra entries (please post each entry separately, i.e. 2 posts for subscribing):
- Subscribe via e-mail, follow or subscribe to the feed. You must verify the subscriptions. (1 entry each)
- Enter another current giveaway and tell me which one you entered (1 entry each)
- Share this giveaway on a social network of your choice. Click the “Share/Save” button at the bottom of this post (1 entry each)
- Become a fan on Facebook (2 entries)

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Deadline to enter is midnight on August 30th.

Review and giveaway copies were provided free of any obligation by Mira Books. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Giveaway: Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong

[ 192 ] August 3, 2010

Win a copy of the brand new Waking the Witch by Kelly Armstrong!

Kelley Armstrong is the author of the New York Times bestselling Otherworld series, the young adult trilogy Darkest Powers, and many other titles. She lives in rural Ontario with her husband and three children.

With her first book, Bitten, Kelley introduced readers to her singular brand of sophisticated, fast-paced storytelling. The Otherworld, a place populated by a wide array of supernaturals with an even wider array of powers, continues to engage and enthrall readers all over the globe after more than a dozen books. Visit Kelly at www.kelleyarmstrong.com!

About Waking the Witch:

Golden girl of the supernatural world, orphaned daughter of a dark witch and a conniving sorcerer, Savannah Levine has nothing to lose and everything to prove on her first solo case as a paranormal investigator.

She’s got a wide arsenal of spells at her fingertips, many that only she knows.
She’s got a tough-as-nails attitude and an even sharper wit.
She’s got one problem though . . . no one thinks she can handle this on her own.

Savannah has the power . . . and she’s not afraid to use it.

Mandatory entry: Please comment on this post with your e-mail address.

Extra entries (please post each entry separately, i.e. 2 posts for subscribing):
- Subscribe via e-mail, follow or subscribe to the feed. You must verify the subscriptions. (1 entry each)
- Enter another current giveaway (1 entry each)
- Share this giveaway on a social network of your choice. Click the “Share/Save” button at the end of this post (1 entry each)
- Follow Luxury Reading on Facebook (2 entries)

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Deadline to enter is midnight on August 25th.

Giveaway copy is provided free of any obligation by Dutton. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Blog Tour & Giveaway: Three Nights with a Scoundrel by Tessa Dare

[ 207 ] August 2, 2010

Please join Tessa Dare, author of Three Nights with a Scoundrel, as she tours the blogosphere with TLC Book Tours!

To learn more about Tessa Dare and her steamy books, please visit her on her website or Facebook profile!

You can also read the first 60 pages of One Dance with a Duke online and watch Tessa’s hilarious book trailer.

Reviewed by Alice P.

Three Nights with a Scoundrel is not only heartwarming and enchanting, but also a passionate tale of two star-crossed lovers. Tessa Dare perfectly illustrates the struggles one faces when in love. One Dance with a Duke and Twice Tempted by a Rogue precede Three Nights with a Scoundrel and although I recommend reading all the books, they stand well on their own.

I rarely do this in reviews, but I would just like to commend Tessa Dare on her writing. She keeps you at the edge of your seat, your heart in your throat, butterflies fluttering in your stomach. The romance in this trilogy can truly light hearts on fire. Dare is able to clearly depict a scene, while leaving some space for the use of imagination. Moreover, she successfully blends together spices of a story line: suspense, romance, anger, fear, and love.

Three Nights with a Scoundrel is a tale of wanting and needing, and is filled with deciphering the meaning in between the words. Julian Bellamy, the bastard son of a nobleman, with rugged good looks and charms, is smitten by Lily Chatwick, a noble society woman. Their chemistry and instant connection is clear from the get go, however, this love can never truly blossom because of a tragedy that hits the family: the murder of Leo Chatwick, Lily’s twin brother.

All Julian wants to do is put aside his feelings for Lily in order to get her married to someone of his own class and stature. Julian knows that being the bastard son of a nobleman makes him unworthy of the lovely Lily. Yet, Lily has other plans in mind. She knows that Julian is seeking Leo’s murderer, resorting to his old treacherous ways. In order for Lily to win, she mustsave Julian from himself…from the man he’s becoming, before it’s too late.

Filled with anguish, pain, and passion, this book will satiate your thirst for a perfect romance novel. A must read!

Alice, a.k.a. Sunny, is a full time student at LakeLand College. She is originally from India, but has been traveling the world with her mom and sister ever since she was two.

Giveaway:
One winner will receive all three books in Tessa Dare’s trilogy!

Mandatory entry: Please comment on this post with your e-mail address.

Extra entries (please post each entry separately, i.e. 2 posts for subscribing):
- Subscribe via e-mail, follow or subscribe to the feed. You must verify the subscriptions. (1 entry each)
- Enter another current giveaway and tell me which one you entered (1 entry each)
- Share this giveaway on a social network of your choice. Click the “Share/Save” button at the bottom of this post (1 entry each)
- Follow Tessa Dare on Twitter (2 entries)

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Deadline to enter is midnight on August 23rd.

Review and giveaway copies were provided free of any obligation by Ballantine Books. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Heat Wave by Richard Castle

[ 3 ] July 31, 2010

Reviewed by Cal C.

Heat Wave, ostensibly written by Richard Castle, requires a little bit of background before I can dive into the review. Castle is a television show currently running on ABC starring Nathan Fillion as a famous crime novelist named Richard Castle. His previous series of crime novels finally came to an end with the death of beloved protagonist Derrick Storm, and Castle needs a new muse. He calls in a favor with the mayor and gets partnered with gifted homicide detective Kate Beckett. Together, they solve crimes, and it’s from there that Castle draws his inspiration for Heat Wave. ABC had Heat Wave written up and released, in large part as a promotional stunt for the show’s second season. As a marketing tool, it’s undeniably clever. The question, however, is whether or not it also works as a novel.

For fans of the TV show, the book can’t be missed. It maintains much of the show’s easy, pop-savvy banter that holds it above many standard police procedurals. The mystery is engaging, with enough potential suspects, dark pasts and seedy revelations, very much in the same vein as those on the show. Even character interactions are handled in the same manner as the show – the easy camaraderie between the two less experienced detectives who work with Heat, the semi-hot, semi-hostile back-and-forth between Heat and ride-along journalistic superstar Jameson Rook – making the book an extremely comfortable read, while the layered fictions of the show and the book give it a surprisingly complex charm.

It won’t win many converts, however. The beginning of the book is clunky as the author tries (and fails) for a pulp noir aesthetic that doesn’t read well, and while the stylistic failure is dropped relatively quickly in favor of a more successful tongue-in-cheek tone, it is nonetheless disruptive. The characterization is lacking, ripped almost fully from the more fleshed out show’s primary characters, giving much of the cast a cardboard cut-out feel. Furthermore, it’s unconscionably brief, turning it at just under 200 pages, with few unpredictable twists, and that includes the book’s steamy romance.

As a marketing stunt, Heat Wave is innovative and fun, an excellent way to expand the show’s universe and something to keep fans engaged between seasons. As a novel, however, it seems relatively anemic. Not bad, definitely enjoyable, just not all there.

Cal is a young, underemployed librarian and a frequent contributor to Read/RANT comic book reviews. He’s currently living in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, with his family and using the post-grad-school grace period to read and write as much as he can.

This book was provided free of any obligation by Hyperion. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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