Book Blast: The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris + Giveaway!!

Publication Date: November 24, 2015
Kensington Books Trade
Paperback: 340 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction  



From New York Times bestselling author Kristina McMorris comes an ambitious and heartrending story of immigrants, deception, and second chances.


On a cold night in October 1937, searchlights cut through the darkness around Alcatraz. A prison guard’s only daughter—one of the youngest civilians who lives on the island—has gone missing. Tending the warden’s greenhouse, convicted bank robber Tommy Capello waits anxiously. Only he knows the truth about the little girl’s whereabouts, and that both of their lives depend on the search’s outcome.

Almost two decades earlier and thousands of miles away, a young boy named Shanley Keagan ekes out a living as an aspiring vaudevillian in Dublin pubs. Talented and shrewd, Shan dreams of shedding his dingy existence and finding his real father in America. The chance finally comes to cross the Atlantic, but when tragedy strikes, Shan must summon all his ingenuity to forge a new life in a volatile and foreign world.

Skillfully weaving these two stories, Kristina McMorris delivers a compelling novel that moves from Ireland to New York to San Francisco Bay. As her finely crafted characters discover the true nature of loyalty, sacrifice, and betrayal, they are forced to confront the lies we tell—and believe—in order to survive.

Buy the Book

 

 

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOKS-A-MILLION | POWELL'S | INDIEBOUND

 

 

Book Trailer

 

 

   

Advance Praise

“Kristina McMorris evokes such a strong sense of place that to open her books feels less like reading and more like traveling. Her absorbing new novel..[is an] epic, deeply felt tale of struggle and second chances… a transporting piece of historical fiction.” — BookPage

“McMorris’ gripping immigrant saga sweeps from Dublin to New York, through Prohibition and vaudeville, from New York to San Francisco and Alcatraz. It is a young man’s battle with hardship and tragedy, but it is also a portrait of America during a turbulent time and a quest that ends in triumph. Readers will be caught up in this well-told story.” — RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

“Compelling, resonant and deeply moving, The Edge of Lost is an absorbing tale of deceit and self-deception, survival and second chances, the ties that bind and the lure of the unknown.” — Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train

“The story will grab your heart on page one and won’t let go until the end—and if you’re like me, not even then. I absolutely love this book, and so will you.” — Sara Gruen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Water for Elephants

“A beautifully told story about a young man’s journey through adversity and loss with an exhilarating ending that I couldn’t put down and stayed up well past my bedtime to finish.” — Charles Belfoure, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Architect

“In The Edge of Lost Kristina McMorris takes us on a thrilling ride . . . I found myself thoroughly immersed in her richly evocative settings, just as I was captivated by the pure humanity of her characters as they struggled for redemption. This book is a wonderful read!” — David R. Gillham, New York Times bestselling author of City of Women

“The Edge of Lost takes readers on an enthralling journey . . . right up to a tense, edge-of-your-seat ending that left me breathless. An absorbing, addictive read.” — Beatriz Williams, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Life of Violet Grant

“With prose as lyrical as the music woven through its narrative, and boasting impeccably observed historical details, The Edge of Lost is a thoroughly mesmerizing novel. I adore everything that Kristina McMorris writes and this book is no exception.” — Jennifer Robson, international bestselling author of Somewhere in France

About the Author

Kristina McMorris is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and the recipient of more than twenty national literary awards, as well as a nomination for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award,

RWA’s RITA® Award, and a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction. Inspired by true personal and historical accounts, her works of fiction have been published by Kensington Books, Penguin Random House, and HarperCollins. The Edge of Lost is her fourth novel, following the widely praised Letters from Home, Bridge of Scarlet Leaves, and The Pieces We Keep, in addition to her novellas in the anthologies A Winter Wonderland and Grand Central. Prior to her writing career, Kristina hosted weekly TV shows since age nine, including an Emmy® Award-winning program, and has been named one of Portland's "40 Under 40" by The Business Journal. She lives with her husband and two sons in Oregon, where she is working on her next novel.


For more, visit www.KristinaMcMorris.com. You can also follow Kristina on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

 

The Edge of Lost Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, December 14

 The Maiden's Court
Passages to the Past

Tuesday, December 15

A Literary Vacation
 CelticLady's Reviews
What Is That Book About

Wednesday, December 16

Reading Is My SuperPower
Svetlana's Reads and Views

Thursday, December 17

Unshelfish
A Book Geek
 With Her Nose Stuck In A Book

Friday, December 18

The Lit Bitch
The Reading Queen

Saturday, December 19

Book Nerd
Beth's Book Nook Blog
So Many Books, So Little Time

Sunday, December 20

Let Them Read Books
Eclectic Ramblings of Author Heather Osborne

Monday, December 21

Boom Baby Reviews

 

Giveaway Time!!

 

 

To win a signed copy of The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris please enter the giveaway via the GLEAM form HERE.

 

 

Rules

 

 

Giveaway starts at 12:01am EST on December 14th and ends at 11:59pm EST on December 21st.

 

You must be 18 or older to enter.

 

Giveaway is open to residents in the US and Canada 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.

 

Good Luck!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q & A with Alex Palmer, Author of The Santa Claus Man

 

 

Alex Palmer is the author of the new history book The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York, which tells the story of a dapper con artist who used a Santa letter–answering scheme to make himself rich and famous. It’s a rollicking holiday caper that includes a kidnapping, stolen art, pursuit by the FBI, and the celebrities and famous NYC landmarks of the era. It is hard to believe the story hasn’t been told until now. I spoke with Alex about how he stumbled onto this forgotten chapter of Gotham’s Christmas past, and what inspired him to tell it. Enjoy and be sure to read on after the Q & A for more information on the book, the author, the blog tour and a special blog tour Christmas gift!

 

 

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New York City and Christmas go so well together, it’s hard to believe the story of how its Santa letters came to be answered has never been told before. How did you uncover this story?

 

 

 

I know! I couldn’t believe it had not been told either. I first learned about the story because John Duval Gluck—the title character—is my great granduncle. On Christmas Eve in 2010, a family member mentioned the story but had only the sketchiest details. I started digging into it and found there was much more than any of us realized.

 

 

 

The Santa Claus Man tells how Gluck started the Santa Claus Association in 1913, gathering together volunteers to answer letters to Santa that would otherwise go to the Dead Letter Office, and this really turned into a pretty big deal.

 

 

 

Yeah, the group became this phenomenon—tons of articles were written about them, celebrities like John Barrymore and Mary Pickford held benefits and did publicity stunts for them, politicians like Jimmy Walker and Al Smith supported them, and the group even made plans to build a huge Santa Claus Building in the center of Manhattan. Every year, the group answered tens of thousands of letters, matching kids who wrote to Santa with generous New Yorkers who would donate gifts to answer their Christmas wishes.

 

 

 

And weaved through all of this is the much larger tale of how Christmas came to be the holiday we celebrate today. A few major moments in Christmas history happen during the 15 years the Santa Claus Association was operating—the first citywide Christmas tree, the World War I Christmas truce, and the inaugural Macy’s Christmas Parade. But you go further into how the holiday was really created in New York. Were you surprised about some of what you learned about the holiday’s origins?

 

 

 

I always thought Christmas was this European tradition that we imported directly to the U.S., but what I learned while researching was that Christmas as we celebrate it today is really a New York invention. Santa Claus (the one with a big belly, red fur coat, and jolly laugh) was devised by Clement Clarke Moore at his Chelsea estate; Santa’s workshop was created by Harper’s illustrator Thomas Nast, drawing on his own cluttered Manhattan home; even the country’s first Christmas tree farm was in Manhattan.

 

 

 

All that, and the many touching Santa letters you quote from, make this a fun holiday read. But you also delve into some darker territory, particularly around the main character. As the title says, he’s a con artist.

 

 

 

That’s right. While the Santa Claus Association began innocent enough, once Gluck found himself at the center of the city’s attention and donations began to roll in, some darker aspects of his character surfaced. I won’t spoil exactly where things go, but will just say that once Gluck dedicates himself to keeping belief in the myth of Santa alive, he is soon spinning even more elaborate fictions of his own invention—and for his own enrichment. But Gluck is wily. While his schemes catch the attention of everyone from the district attorney to the FBI, he manages to stay a step ahead of the authorities—for awhile at least.

 

 

 

Was that hard to investigate, the darker aspects of your own relative?

 

 

 

Yeah, I felt a bit guilty about taking this idealized figure that embodied “Christmas spirit,” then pulling him apart and exposing all these darker schemes and lies he told. But in the process, he became a more sympathetic and interesting character to me—not a simple hero or villain, but a real person; an ambitious guy who used the tools available to him to improve his station in life. I found I could relate to that person much more than I could the simpler, purely good figure he began as. And the more complicated character is also a lot more fun.

 

 

 

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Publisher: Lyons Press

Publication Date: October 1st, 2015

Pages: 320

 

 

Miracle on 34th Street meets The Wolf of Wall Street in this true crime adventure, set in New York City in the Roaring Twenties.


Before the charismatic John Duval Gluck, Jr. came along, letters from New York City children to Santa Claus were destroyed, unopened, by the U.S. Post Office Department. Gluck saw an opportunity, and created the Santa Claus Association. The effort delighted the public, and for 15 years money and gifts flowed to the only group authorized to answer Santa’s mail. Gluck became a Jazz Age celebrity, rubbing shoulders with the era’s movie stars and politicians, and even planned to erect a vast Santa Claus monument in the center of Manhattan — until Gotham’s crusading charity commissioner discovered some dark secrets in Santa’s workshop.


The rise and fall of the Santa Claus Association is a caper both heartwarming and hardboiled, involving stolen art, phony Boy Scouts, a kidnapping, pursuit by the FBI, a Coney Island bullfight, and above all, the thrills and dangers of a wild imagination. It’s also the larger story of how Christmas became the extravagant holiday we celebrate today, from Santa’s early beginnings in New York to the country’s first citywide tree lighting to Macy’s first grand holiday parade. The Santa Claus Man is a holiday tale with a dark underbelly, and an essential read for lovers of Christmas stories, true crime, and New York City history.


Other holiday highlights found in The Santa Clause Man:

•        The secret history of Santa letters, including a trove of original Santa letters and previously unpublished correspondences between the post office and charity groups arguing whether Santa’s mail should be answered.

•        The surprising origins of Christmas as we celebrate it today. From “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to the image of Santa Claus popularized by Coca-Cola, this book outlines how modern Christmas came to be, and includes a standalone timeline of holiday milestones.

•        The rise of modern-day charity— and charity fraud. Unchecked giving exploded after the First World War and this book follows this growth, as well as some of the most egregious exploiters of the country’s goodwill (including the Santa Claus Man himself), and how they were finally exposed.

•        Dozens of original vintage holiday photos, including a sculpture of Santa Claus made of 5,000 pulped letters to Santa, and a detailed sketch of a proposed Santa Claus Building, planned but never built in midtown Manhattan.

Praise for The Santa Claus Man

“Highly readable” — Publishers Weekly

“Required reading” — New York Post

“A rich, sensational story of holiday spirit corrupted by audacity and greed, fueled by the media at the dawning of the Jazz Age.”— Greg Young, cohost of Bowery Boys NYC history podcast

“A Christmas pudding of a book, studded with historical nuggets and spiced with larceny.”— Gerard Helferich, author of Theodore Roosevelt and the Assassin

 

 

The Santa Claus Man was featured in this New York Times post entitled “Mama Says That Santa Claus Does Not Come to Poor People“.

 

 

 

Buy the Book

 

 

 Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

 

 

 

Special Blog Tour Christmas Gift!

 

 

 

 

 

Get a FREE Santa bookplate signed by the author, plus two vintage Santa Claus Association holiday seals. Just email proof once you buy The Santa Claus Man (online receipt, photo of bookstore receipt, etc.) along with the mailing address where you'd like the gift sent to santaclausmanbook[at]gmail[dot]com.

 

Email before 12/21 to guarantee delivery by Christmas. 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

 

 

Author Alex Palmer has written for Slate, Vulture, Smithsonian Magazine, New York Daily News

and many other outlets. The author of previous nonfiction books Weird-o-Pedia and Literary Miscellany, he is also the great-grandnephew of John Duval Gluck, Jr.

 

 

You can learn more about Alex Palmer on his website and connect with him on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

 

TLC Book Tour for The Santa Claus Man

 

 

 

Monday, November 30th: A Chick Who Reads – Excerpt 1
Tuesday, December 1st: Time 2 Read – Excerpt 2
Wednesday, December 2nd: Life by Kristen – review
Thursday, December 3rd: Bibliotica – spotlight
Friday, December 4th: All Roads Lead to the Kitchen – Excerpt 3
Monday, December 7th: No More Grumpy Bookseller – author guest post
Tuesday, December 8th: BookBub – “7 True Holiday Tales to Put You in the Christmas Spirit”
Wednesday, December 9th: From the TBR Pile – Excerpt 4
Wednesday, December 9th: Buried Under Books – author guest post
Thursday, December 10th: Books on the Table – review and guest post
Thursday, December 10th: Broken Teepee – spotlight
Friday, December 11th: A Literary Vacation – author Q&A
Monday, December 14th: Musings of a Bookish Kitty – review
Tuesday, December 15th: Mom in Love with Fiction – Excerpt 5
Thursday, December 17th: Open Book Society – review
Thursday, December 17th: BookNAround – review
Friday, December 18th: Dreams, Etc. – review
Thursday, December 24th: FictionZeal – spotlight

 



Book Blast: The Persian Woman by Thomas Booker + Giveaway!!

Publication Date: September 2, 2015
Circle B Publishing LLC
eBook; 229 Pages

Genre: Literary/Mystery/Thriller

 

A tough Navy SEAL and a beautiful Persian woman clash before working together to confront a ferocious common enemy. It is a tale of jihad, terror, and forbidden love. A Jeffrey Quinn novel.

 

 

“I stayed up late reading this book a second time. I read it first for the intriguing story and the second time for the wonderful language. Mr. Booker has crafted a timely and compelling story filled with a cast of characters from the slimy to the sublime. I would like to have a friend like the main character, Jeffrey Quinn . . . a man with a past and his own demons . . . honest . . . loyal . . . .” -Rebecca K. McWhorter (5 Star Amazon Review)

 

 

Buy the Book

 

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK

 

 

About the Author

 

 

Soldier of fortune Thomas Booker has traveled widely in Europe, Africa, and Latin America. He

currently is helping to build a children’s clinic in South East Asia. He resides in Texas.

Giveaway Time!!!

 

To win an eBook of The Persian Woman please enter the tour-wide giveaway HERE. 20 eBooks are up for grabs!

 

 

Rules

 

 

Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on December 31st. You must be 18 or older to enter.

 

Giveaway is open internationally.

 

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.

 

 

 Good Luck!!

 

 

The Persian Woman Blog Tour Schedule

 

November 1

 

What Is That Book About

 

November 3

 

Back Porchervations

 

November 4

 

Book Nerd

 

November 8

 

One Book Shy of a Full Shelf

 

November 10

 Just One More Chapter

 

November 12

 Boom Baby Reviews

 

November 16

 A Book Geek

 

November 18

 So Many Books, So Little Time

 

November 25

 Queen of All She Reads

 

November 27

 CelticLady’s Reviews

 

December 9

 A Literary Vacation

 

December 29

 Broken Teepee

 

December 31

 Passages to the Past

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 



Book Blast: Decorum by Kaaren Christopherson + Giveaway!!

Decorum: A Novel by Kaaren Christopherson

Publication Date: March 31, 2015

Kensington Publishing Corp.

Foramts: eBook, Paperback, Audio

Pages: 425

Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance
 

 

Kaaren Christopherson's brilliantly observed novel captures the glamour and grit of one of the world's most dazzling cities during one of its most tumultuous eras--as seen through the eyes of a singularly captivating heroine... In 1890s New York, beautiful, wealthy Francesca Lund is an intriguing prospect for worthy suitors and fortune hunters alike. Recently orphaned, she copes by working with the poor in the city's settlement movement. But a young woman of means can't shun society for long, and Francesca's long-standing acquaintance with dashing Edmund Tracey eventually leads to engagement. Yet her sheltered upbringing doesn't blind her to the indiscretions of the well-to-do... Among the fashionable circle that gathers around her there are mistresses, scandals, and gentlemen of ruthless ambition. And there is Connor O'Casey--an entirely new kind of New Yorker. A self-made millionaire of Irish stock, Connor wants more than riches. He wants to create a legacy in the form of a luxury Madison Avenue hotel--and he wants Francesca by his side as he does it. In a quest that will take her from impeccable Manhattan salons to the wild Canadian Rockies, Francesca must choose not only between two vastly different men, but between convention and her own emerging self-reliance.

Rules Of Decorum

A gentleman should not be presented to a lady without her permission being previously asked and granted. This formality is not necessary between men alone; but, still, you should not present any one, even at his own request, to another, unless you are quite well assured that the acquaintance will be agreeable to the latter. If you wish to avoid the company of any one that has been properly introduced, satisfy your own mind that your reasons are correct; and then let no inducement cause you to shrink from treating him with respect, at the same time shunning his company. No gentleman will thus be able either to blame or mistake you. The mode in which the avowal of love should be made, must of course, depend upon circumstances. It would be impossible to indicate the style in which the matter should be told... Let it, however, be taken as a rule that an interview is best; but let it be remembered that all rules have exceptions...

Buy the Book

 

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOKS-A-MILLION | HUDSON BOOKSELLERS | INDIEBOUND | WAL-MART

 

 

Praise

“A story of discovery, entitlement and love.” – Northern Virginia Magazine “Remarkable in its similarities to the work of Edith Wharton. The reader feels drawn into a world of glamour, glitz, and supreme hypocrisy. Everything is permissible as long as one does not get caught. It is a drama of manners and the stakes are high—one misstep could mean social oblivion…[Decorum] will appeal to a wide range of readers, particularly those who enjoy period novels such as Age of Innocence and The Portrait of a Lady.” – The Historical Novel Society “Beautiful heiress Francesca Lund must figure out how to assert her ideas within the confines of 1890’s New York high society.” – Library Journal “Reminiscent of Washington Square but with a more modern heroine, Decorum illuminates the dark world beneath New York society. Christopherson incorporates a clever mystery and populates the novel with a large cast of characters.” - RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

About the Author

Kaaren Christopherson is the author of Decorum—a novel about Gilded Age New York—that began taking form in 1999 during a course on writing historical fiction. From that moment, Connor O’Casey (who had been rattling around in her brain for months) finally appeared one night and said, “All right, woman. Here I am. What are you going to do about my story?” So she began to put his words on paper, and he hasn’t kept quiet since. Soon Francesca, Blanche, Tracey, Vinnie, and the rest of the characters began arguing, gossiping, loving, and forming themselves into Kaaren’s first novel. Kaaren has had a professional career writing and editing for over 30 years and is a senior editor for an international development nonprofit organization in Washington, DC. She has written fiction since her school days, story poems, children’s books, historical fiction, and time travel, and continues to be active in writer’s groups and writing workshops. In addition to her career as a writer, Kaaren was the owner of a decorative painting business. She loves to travel and prowl through historical sites, galleries, and museums. She is active in several churches in DC and in her local Northern Virginia community, where she shares her home with feline brothers, Archie and Sammy. A Michigan native, Kaaren received her BA in history and art and her MA in educational administration from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.

For more information visit Kaaren Christopherson's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Giveaway Time!!

 

 

To win a Paperback or AudioBook of Decorum please enter the giveaway via the GLEAM form HERE.

Rules

 

Giveaway starts at 12:01am EST on November 15th and ends at 11:59pm EST on December 18th.

 

You must be 18 or older to enter.

 

Giveaway is open internationally.

 

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.

 

Good Luck!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spotlight on The Dream of the City by Andrés Vidal

Publication Date: November 24, 2015
Open Road Integrated Media
eBook; 557 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction


Part love story, part chronicle of the modernist years of Barcelona and a society about to change irrevocably, The Dream of the City is an homage to the genius of the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926)—an exciting historical novel in which we tour the most bohemian parts of Barcelona.

In Barcelona, at the beginning of the 20th century, the destinies of two families, the Jufresas and the Navarros, converge: Francesc Jufresa is the head of the bourgeois family which runs the most renowned goldsmith workshop in the city. His daughter, the beautiful Laura, rejects the limited future of a housewife and mother to work with the brilliant Gaudí on the sculptures for the Sagrada Familia. Juan is the head of the Navarros, a poor family whose members must work hard to survive. Dimas, the first born, embodies his father’s hopes and resents the dangerous and ill-paying work of a streetcar mechanic. When the independent Laura and the ambitious Dimas meet, the encounter will change their lives forever.

Buy the Book

 

 

AMAZON (KINDLE) | BARNES & NOBLE (NOOK)

 

 

About the Author

 

Andrés Vidal is the pseudonym of Marius Molla. He is the author of two other novels that were

successes in Spain: Inheriting the Earth (2010) and The Dream (2012). By training the author is an industrial engineer in Barcelona.

 

Follow Andres Vidal on Facebook.

 

 

 

The Dream of the City Blog Tour Schedule

 

 

Tuesday, November 24

Spotlight & Giveaway at Unshelfish

Wednesday, November 25

Excerpt at To Read, or Not to Read

Friday, November 27

Excerpt & Giveaway at One Book Shy of a Full Shelf

Monday, November 30

Review at Beth’s Book Nook

Tuesday, December 1

Excerpt at So Many Books, So Little Time

Thursday, December 3

Spotlight at CelticLady’s Reviews

Friday, December 4

Interview at Dianne Ascroft Blog
Spotlight & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More

Monday, December 7

Spotlight at A Literary Vacation

Monday, December 21

Review at Luxury Reading
Review at Just One More Chapter

 

 

 



Excerpt from The Conqueror's Wife by Stephanie Thornton

If you missed my review yesterday (hint: LOVED IT!) you can read it HERE. You can also enter my giveaway of one copy of The Conqueror's Wife (US only) HERE (further information and rules found on my review post). Anyone who loves historical fiction about strong, often overlooked women from history will want to devour this and all of Stephanie Thornton's books so don't miss out!

 

To help whet your appetite I have an excerpt from The Conqueror's Wife for you today. I hope you enjoy it!

 

 

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 Prologue

Alexander deemed himself a god, the mythic descendant of Achilles and the son of Zeus, and entire nations fell to their knees in ecstatic worship of him. But he was no god any more than we were nymphs and dryads, benevolent four-hoofed centaurs or vengeful three-headed chimeras.


He called himself Alexander the Great and claimed that he conquered the world. But he would have been lucky to conquer a stinking midden heap populated by swarms of biting flies had it not been for our cunning and daring.


Alexander founded cities of culture and learning, and named them after himself in a fit of hubris. But he razed more cities than there are stars in the sky, slaughtered their men, and burned their ancient palaces so that the four winds carried the gray ashes to rain down upon lands more distant than Alexandria-the-Farthest.


He claimed that the earth trembled, mountains quivered, and oceans overflowed their shores at his approach, but without us, Alexander would never have mounted a single golden throne or worn the coveted eagle diadem of Persia, much less the combined crowns of Greece, Egypt, and India.


Like Achilles, he sought glory and everlasting fame, and beseeched the gods that his name would echo throughout history. Yet so many of his baser deeds have been forgotten, or retold to forge him into a hero worthy of epic ballads.


But that is only part of the story.

It was because of him, and for him, that we did great, and also terrible, things.

Just as Zeus sat in his throne room atop Olympus, surrounded by the gods of violence and light, the goddesses of desire and the hearth, so too was Alexander surrounded by us.

His lover.

His sister.

His wife.

His soldier.

We were murderers and poisoners, innocents and warriors. And without us, Alexander would have been only a man.

Instead, he was a god.

 

 

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Publication Date: December 1, 2015
NAL/Penguin Group LLC.
eBook, Paperback; 496 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

A novel from the acclaimed author of The Tiger Queens, for readers looking for “strong and determined female protagonists” (Historical Novel Society) and “a sprawling historical saga” (Renee Rosen)…


We are the women who loved Alexander the Great. We were lovers and murderers, innocents and soldiers.
 
And without us, Alexander would have been only a man.
 
Instead he was a god.


330s, B.C.E., Greece: Alexander, a handsome young warrior of Macedon, begins his quest to conquer the ancient world. But he cannot ascend to power, and keep it, without the women who help to shape his destiny.

His spirited younger half-sister, Thessalonike, yearns to join her brother and see the world. Instead, it is Alexander’s boyhood companion who rides with him into war while Thessalonike remains behind. Far away, crafty princess Drypetis will not stand idly by as Alexander topples her father from Persia’s throne. And after Alexander conquers her tiny kingdom, Roxana, the beautiful and cunning daughter of a minor noble, wins Alexander’s heart…and will commit any crime to secure her place at his side.

Within a few short years, Alexander controls an empire more vast than the civilized world has ever known. But his victories are tarnished by losses on the battlefield and treachery among his inner circle. And long after Alexander is gone, the women who are his champions, wives, and enemies will fight to claim his legacy…

Buy the Book

 

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | INDIEBOUND

 

 

 

About the Author

 

 

Stephanie Thornton is a writer and history teacher who has been obsessed with infamous women from ancient history since she was twelve. She lives with her husband and daughter in Alaska, where

she is at work on her next novel.


“The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora,” “Daughter of the Gods: A Novel of Ancient Egypt,” and “The Tiger Queens: The Women of Genghis Khan” are available now. “The Conqueror’s Wife: A Novel of Alexander the Great” will hit the shelves in December 2015.


For more information please visit Stephanie Thornton’s website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

The Conqueror's Wife Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, November 23
Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages

Tuesday, November 24
Review at Layered Pages
Interview & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair
Spotlight & Excerpt at What Is That Book About

Wednesday, November 25
Review at A Bookish Affair
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews

Thursday, November 26
Review at Historical Readings & Reviews

Friday, November 27
Spotlight & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More

Monday, November 30
Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Review & Giveaway at 100 Pages a Day

Tuesday, December 1
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee
Guest Post at Book Lovers Paradise

Wednesday, December 2
Review at leeanna.me
Review & Giveaway at A Literary Vacation

Thursday, December 3
Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway at Just One More Chapter
Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway at Unshelfish
Excerpt at A Literary Vacation
Spotlight at The Reading Queen

Friday, December 4
Review & Giveaway at The True Book Addict

Monday, December 7
Review at The Maiden’s Court

Tuesday, December 8
Review at Reading the Past
Review at Let Them Read Books

Wednesday, December 9
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews

Thursday, December 10
Review at The Lit Bitch
Interview & Giveaway at Reading Lark
Guest Post at Historical Fiction Connection

Friday, December 11
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views

Saturday, December 12
Review & Giveaway at Genre Queen

Monday, December 14
Review at Book Babe
Reivew, Excerpt, & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick

Tuesday, December 15
Review at Bookramblings

Wednesday, December 16
Review at Book Nerd

Thursday, December 17
Review at Flashlight Commentary

Friday, December 18
Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective
Interview at Flashlight Commentary

 

 

 

 



The Conqueror's Wife: A Novel of Alexander the Great by Stephanie Thornton: Review + Giveaway!!

Publication Date: December 1, 2015
NAL/Penguin Group LLC.
eBook, Paperback; 496 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis

A novel from the acclaimed author of The Tiger Queens, for readers looking for “strong and determined female protagonists” (Historical Novel Society) and “a sprawling historical saga” (Renee Rosen)…


We are the women who loved Alexander the Great. We were lovers and murderers, innocents and soldiers.
 
And without us, Alexander would have been only a man.
 
Instead he was a god.


330s, B.C.E., Greece: Alexander, a handsome young warrior of Macedon, begins his quest to conquer the ancient world. But he cannot ascend to power, and keep it, without the women who help to shape his destiny.

His spirited younger half-sister, Thessalonike, yearns to join her brother and see the world. Instead, it is Alexander’s boyhood companion who rides with him into war while Thessalonike remains behind. Far away, crafty princess Drypetis will not stand idly by as Alexander topples her father from Persia’s throne. And after Alexander conquers her tiny kingdom, Roxana, the beautiful and cunning daughter of a minor noble, wins Alexander’s heart…and will commit any crime to secure her place at his side.

Within a few short years, Alexander controls an empire more vast than the civilized world has ever known. But his victories are tarnished by losses on the battlefield and treachery among his inner circle. And long after Alexander is gone, the women who are his champions, wives, and enemies will fight to claim his legacy…

What Did I Think About the Story?

I always know I'm in for a treat when I pick up a Stephanie Thornton novel! She is the queen of the strong female protagonist and I have read and adored every single one of her previous novels (click on the title to read my reviews of The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora, Daughter of the Gods: A Novel of Ancient Egypt and The Tiger Queens: The Women of Genghis Khan). The covers just happen to be breathtaking as well, which is always a huge plus for me. Ms. Thornton continues her trend of exceptional novels with The Conqueror's Wife, bringing back to life the stories of the women - and one man - behind this great conqueror of civilizations and making them the stars of their own lives instead of the footnotes of history where they have previously been placed.

I think what I appreciate most about The Conqueror's Wife is the fact that it feels completely authentic, making it so much easier to imagine these really are the emotions, actions and spoken words of our characters. None of them are perfect but are real and raw and human. Each has their own skills and strengths but also flaws and weaknesses that aren't glossed over to make them more agreeable. To be perfectly honest, it's Thessalonike's determination, Drypetis' spunk and sharp tongue, and Roxana's willingness to do anything to adapt to just about any situation and come out on top that make me enjoy them as much as I do. Even the secondary characters who, let's face it, refuse to be secondary - Alexander's mother, Olympias, Drypetis' grandmother, Sisygambis, Thessalonike's half-sister, Cynnane, just to name a few -  are so multi-faceted that you can't help but admire something about them or appreciate where they are coming from even if they aren't overly likeable characters. And don't get me started about Hephaestion, Alexander's warrier lover...with his own sharp tongue and his weaknesses for wine and pretty faces combined with his love of learning and his just and loyal spirit, he might be my all time favorite character in the whole novel! Anyone who can walk away without really feeling for and with these characters is missing something.

Something else I love about The Conqueror's Wife,  and really all of Ms. Thornton's writing, is the skill taken with descriptions that completely immerse the reader in the world these characters are inhabiting. There are vast riches and many luxuries that some of our characters get to experience, and these are all beautifully presented to the reader, but there is also a lot of bloodshed, depravity and violence for them as well. Let's face it, this was not an easy time for anyone, let alone soldiers and women. Ms. Thornton places the reader front and center for torture, desecrated bodies, rape and agony - both physical and emotional - so it is impossible not to be a part of all the action, good and bad. All of it is necessary for the story to be realistic and to highlight why some of our characters are the way that they are. I think it is just brilliantly done and I can't help but be amazed at the author's ability to perfectly walk that fine line between realism and vulgarity.

As you might have guessed by now, I am a total fan girl for all of Stephanie Thornton's novels and The Conqueror's Wife fits perfectly within my admiration of her writing skills.   Who would have thought that the great and powerful Alexander, stylizing himself as a god, would be relegated to the backdrop of his own story, but that is exactly what has happened here. He could have been completely left out of the story and I would have been just as mesmerized with the book because it is the brave, strong and determined women that encompassed his life that shine through. They are the ones that are great and powerful and I am so happy that I've finally learned their stories!

What Did I Think About the Cover?

Stephanie Thornton's book covers are always spectacular, and this one is no exception! They always have the main female character front and center, with scenery that perfectly represents the story and vibrant colors that completely capture the eye. With this being said I think The Conqueror's Wife's cover is my new favorite! The sort of ethereal beauty of the woman is breathtaking and having her superimposed over Alexander really highlights the huge influence the women in his life held over him. Bravo to the cover designers for this one!


My Rating: 5.0/5.0

 

Thank you to the delightful Amy at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for providing me with a free copy of The Conqueror's Wife in exchange for an honest review. Be sure to continue below for more information about the author, the rest of the blog tour and your chance to win a copy!

 

 

About the Author

 

 

Stephanie Thornton is a writer and history teacher who has been obsessed with infamous women from ancient history since she was twelve. She lives with her husband and daughter in Alaska, where

she is at work on her next novel.


“The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora,” “Daughter of the Gods: A Novel of Ancient Egypt,” and “The Tiger Queens: The Women of Genghis Khan” are available now. “The Conqueror’s Wife: A Novel of Alexander the Great” will hit the shelves in December 2015.


For more information please visit Stephanie Thornton’s website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

 

Buy the Book

 

 

AMAZON (KINDLE) | AMAZON (PAPERBACK) | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | INDIEBOUND

 

 

Giveaway Time!! 

 

 

I am thrilled that, thanks to wonderful Amy at HF Virtual Book Tours, I have one paperback copy of The Conqueror's Wife up for grabs! This giveaway is open to US residents only and all you have to do is enter your name and email address on the giveaway form HERE. Please be sure to enter BOTH your name and email address so I can contact you if you are the winner.

 

If you would like extra entries you can follow me on various social  media sites (links are on the right hand sidebar) just be sure to leave the name/email address you follow with on the giveaway form (I check!).

 

That's it! I'll pick a winner on December 9th and the winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email before I have to pick another winner.

 

Good Luck!!

 

 

Giveaway Rules 

 

You must be 18 years old to enter

 

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.

 

 

The Conqueror's Wife Blog Tour Schedule

 

 

Monday, November 23

Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages

Tuesday, November 24

Review at Layered Pages
Interview & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair
Spotlight & Excerpt at What Is That Book About

Wednesday, November 25

Review at A Bookish Affair
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews

Thursday, November 26

Review at Historical Readings & Reviews

Friday, November 27

Spotlight & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More

Monday, November 30

Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Review & Giveaway at 100 Pages a Day

Tuesday, December 1

Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee
Guest Post at Book Lovers Paradise

Wednesday, December 2

Review at leeanna.me
Review & Giveaway at A Literary Vacation

Thursday, December 3

Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway at Just One More Chapter
Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway at Unshelfish
Excerpt at A Literary Vacation
Spotlight at The Reading Queen

Friday, December 4

Review & Giveaway at The True Book Addict

Monday, December 7

Review at The Maiden’s Court

Tuesday, December 8

Review at Reading the Past
Review at Let Them Read Books

Wednesday, December 9

Review at CelticLady’s Reviews

Thursday, December 10

Review at The Lit Bitch
Interview & Giveaway at Reading Lark
Guest Post at Historical Fiction Connection

Friday, December 11

Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views

Saturday, December 12

Review & Giveaway at Genre Queen

Monday, December 14

Review at Book Babe
Reivew, Excerpt, & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick

Tuesday, December 15

Review at Bookramblings

Wednesday, December 16

Review at Book Nerd

Thursday, December 17

Review at Flashlight Commentary

Friday, December 18

Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective
Interview at Flashlight Commentary