GIVEAWAY & REVIEW of In The Dark: A Novel by Loreth Anne White

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

A secluded mountain lodge. The perfect getaway. So remote no one will ever find you.

The promise of a luxury vacation at a secluded wilderness spa has brought together eight lucky guests. But nothing is what they were led to believe. As a fierce storm barrels down and all contact with the outside is cut off, the guests fear that it’s not a getaway. It’s a trap.

Each one has a secret. Each one has something to hide. And now, as darkness closes in, they all have something to fear—including one another.

Alerted to the vanished party of strangers, homicide cop Mason Deniaud and search and rescue expert Callie Sutton must brave the brutal elements of the mountains to find them. But even Mason and Callie have no idea how precious time is. Because the clock is ticking, and one by one, the guests of Forest Shadow Lodge are being hunted. For them, surviving becomes part of a diabolical game.

my thoughts:

I love when writers pay homage to other authors - its seriously the best form of flattery.  So, I was thrilled to receive a copy of Loreth Anne White's novel, In The Dark.  First off, its a mystery thriller, which you all know I LOVE.  And secondly, its heavily influenced by Agatha Christie's book, And Then There Were None.  How cool and exciting!?!  I was super chuffed and couldn't wait to dive right in. 

In The Dark tells the story of a eight individuals who have been invited to a luxury spa lodge in the mountains.  How exciting, right? Except, when they arrive they realize that the luxury spa isn't exactly as luxurious as they had seen in the photos they found online. In fact, the whole scenario appears rather creepy...leading them to wonder why they were brought together to this location.  Hmm...and do they know each other? What's their connection? And, what secrets are they hiding? Looks like a mystery is about to get unraveled, but at who's cost?

Talk about a fun and suspenseful story that kept me on the edge of my seat. I just loved trying to figure out who knew who and how. Such a great read!! I would say that In The Dark is a captivating and thrilling whodunit that you won't want to miss out on.

I would most definitely recommend In The Dark to fans of Loreth Anne White and anyone looking for their next read - you will fall in deep with this delectable mystery! In fact, if you want the chance to win a copy of your own, check out this link - GIVEAWAY!!

GIVEAWAY of The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson

GIVEAWAY!! Woo hoo! I am so excited that the lovely people from Penguin Books have allowed me to give away a copy of my new favorite book:

Talk about cool beans. This book! Oh my! If you read my last post then you know how much I LOVED it. And, you know that you MUST read it ASAP.  So, if you want a chance to win a copy, just leave me a comment.  Oh, and don't forget to include your email address, so I can contact you if you are the lucky winner.  US only.  Last day to enter 7/12/19.  Good luck!!

GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: The Gypsy Moth Summer: A Novel by Julia Fierro

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about books:

It is the summer of 1992 and a gypsy moth invasion blankets Avalon Island. Ravenous caterpillars disrupt early summer serenity on Avalon, an islet off the coast of Long Island–dropping onto novels left open on picnic blankets, crawling across the T-shirts of children playing games of tag and capture the flag in the island’s leafy woods. The caterpillars become a relentless topic of island conversation and the inescapable soundtrack of the season.

It is also the summer Leslie Day Marshall–only daughter of Avalon’s most prominent family–returns with her husband, a botanist, and their children to live in “The Castle,” the island’s grandest estate. Leslie’s husband Jules is African-American, and their children bi-racial, and islanders from both sides of the tracks form fast and dangerous opinions about the new arrivals.

Maddie Pencott LaRosa straddles those tracks: a teen queen with roots in the tony precincts of East Avalon and the crowded working class corner of West Avalon, home to Grudder Aviation factory, the island’s bread-and-butter and birthplace of generations of bombers and war machines. Maddie falls in love with Brooks, Leslie’s and Jules’ son, and that love feels as urgent to Maddie as the questions about the new and deadly cancers showing up across the island. Could Grudder Aviation, the pride of the island–and its patriarch, the Colonel–be to blame?

As the gypsy moths burst from cocoons in flocks that seem to eclipse the sun, Maddie’s and Brooks’ passion for each other grows and she begins planning a life for them off Avalon Island.

Vivid with young lovers, gangs of anxious outsiders; a plotting aged matriarch and her husband, a demented military patriarch; and a troubled young boy, each seeking his or her own refuge, escape and revenge, The Gypsy Moth Summer is about love, gaps in understanding, and the struggle to connect: within families; among friends; between neighbors and entire generations.

my thoughts:

I love the 90s and I love books that are set during that time decade.  So, I was super excited to read Fierro's latest novel, The Gypsy Moth Summer.  Unfortunately, the book did not work out for me.  As much as I wanted to love the story, I just didn't.  I found all of the moth referencing to be too much for too little - I get the point of including references, but I think it could have been toned done quite a bit.  As for the unlikeable characters - ugh! I couldn't stand them, which meant I didn't care to get to know them.  And to be honest, Fierro tackles way too many subjects and I just felt that it was a bit overloaded.  I found myself skimming through the book instead of reading it.  In the end, the book just wasn't my cup of tea.  Now, I don't want to deter anyone from reading the book, because there are so many bloggers who seem to LOVE the story.  So, definitely check out what they have to say. 
Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: The Gypsy Moth Summer

And, don't forget to enter my giveaway for the chance to win a copy and experience the book for your self.  Good luck!!

GIVEAWAY:  Thanks to the publisher I am able to give away one (1) copy of this book! All you have to do to enter the giveaway is leave me a comment. Don't forget to include your email address - that way I can contact you, if you win the book.  Last date to enter is July 3rd.  US/Canada residents only. 

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

GIVEAWAY of A Hundred Thousand Worlds: A Novel by Bob Proehl

Out in paperback this week:

"Valerie Torrey took her son, Alex, and fled Los Angeles six years ago—leaving both her role on a cult sci-fi TV show and her costar husband after a tragedy blew their small family apart. Now Val must reunite nine-year-old Alex with his estranged father, so they set out on a road trip from New York, Val making appearances at comic book conventions along the way.

As they travel west, encountering superheroes, monsters, time travelers, and robots, Val and Alex are drawn into the orbit of the comic-con regulars, from a hapless twentysomething illustrator to a brilliant corporate comics writer stuggling with her industry’s old-school ways to a group of cosplay women who provide a chorus of knowing commentary. For Alex, this world is a magical place where fiction becomes reality, but as they get closer to their destination, he begins to realize that the story his mother is telling him about their journey might have a very different ending than he imagined.

A knowing and affectionate portrait of the geeky pleasures of fandom, A Hundred Thousand Worlds is also a tribute to the fierce and complicated love between a mother and son—and to the way the stories we create come to shape us."

How great does that sound?! I know that I can't wait to get hold of a copy and dive right in.  I love family dramas and I love the geekiness of comic book conventions - talk about the perfect combination for a story!

Luckily, I'm able to give away one (1) copy of A Hundred Thousand Worlds thanks to the publisher.  All you have to do is leave me a comment telling me what types of books you geek out over.  Last day to enter is 6/14/17.  Open to US residents only.

Good luck!!

GIVEAWAY: The Last Days of Magic: A Novel by Mark Tompkins and a Tarot Card Deck

The latest must-read is all about magic, faeries, the Vatican, Ireland, mythology and history - what more could you ask for in a book?!  Check out Mark Tompkins' debut novel,  The Last Days of Magic:

"Spanning the forests and villages of 14^th-century Ireland, the lavish courts of France and England, the Vatican’s inner chambers and present-day mysteries, THE LAST DAYS OF MAGIC (Penguin; On sale: March 7, 2017; ISBN: 9780143110019; $16), which is now available in paperback, blends historical, fictional, and mythical events to create a richly imagined world and an exhilarating story of adventure and enchantment. Ireland is the last magical outpost on Earth, its Middle Kingdom—home to faeries and otherworldly beings—still strong in the face of the Vatican’s ever-expanding influence, its armies, exorcists and mercenaries.  But when an ancient treaty between the Celts and faeries is broken, leaving them vulnerable to the machinations of the power-hungry Roman Church, the very existence of magic in the world is threatened. 

 

In Ireland, the reincarnated Morrígna twins are goddesses in human form and the chosen rulers charged with keeping the uneasy peace between the human Celts and Ireland’s faeries, the Sidhe. When one twin is assassinated in an act of defiance by a sect of tree faeries, her sister Aisling, is left weakened and alone, struggling with human desires and a goddess’s destiny.

 

The Vatican, meanwhile, is plotting the eradication of all magic from Europe takes the opportunity to strike. Jordan is a Vatican commander tapped for the invasion, but he’s plagued with doubts of his own. With budding magical abilities and a growing attachment to the enchantress Najia, he’s torn between desire and duty. As the Celts, Sidhe, and Vatican forces prepare for the battle ahead, Jordan must decide who he stands with—a decision that will have repercussions centuries later, when a graduate student named Sara Hill stumbles unknowingly into the thick of the mystery."

How awesome does that sound? Sounds pretty exciting and fun to me.  I know that I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of The Last Days of Magic - I just know that its going to quite the reading adventure.  And, thanks to the publisher, I get to offer one (1) lucky reader the chance to get lost in Tompkins' world.  Yep, I'm giving away a copy of the book and a deck of tarot cards - how cool is that?!  Just leave me a comment that includes your email address and I'll throw your name in the hate.  This giveaway is open to US residents only.  The last day to enter is 3/24/17 - Good Luck!!

GIVEAWAY & REVIEW of Fudge & Jury: A Bakeshop Mystery by Ellie Alexander

(Thank you to TLC Book Tours and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

about book:

Welcome to Torte–a friendly, small-town family bakery where the pastries are delicious…and, now, suspicious.

It’s almost spring in Ashland, Oregon, and the town is preparing for the Shakespeare and the annual Chocolate Festival. Business is cookin’ at Torte, and the store is expanding as Jules’ team whips up crèpes filled with mascarpone cheese and dark chocolate. Torte stands a chance of being this year’s confectionery belle of the ball! Life couldn’t be sweeter—unless murder taints the batter.

Evan Rowe, of Confections Couture, makes a chocolate fountain that would put Willy Wonka to shame, and his truffles are to die for—literally? Yes, the world-renowned chocolatier has just turned up dead…right after sampling a slice of Jules’ decadent four-layer chocolate cake. Now all eyes are on Jules as she tries to find the mysterious ingredient in her own recipe. Can she sift out the truth before another contestant bites the buttercream?
my thoughts:

Cozy mysteries are quickly becoming my go-to reads when I'm looking for something light and fun to read.  They are the perfect antidote to a grey and rainy day, especially when the winds are howling like mad.  Imagine my delight when this little tome found its way into my hands during one of the very rare cold fronts South FL has experienced this winter.  I grabbed me a cuppa, a warm blanket and settled in for the afternoon with Ellie Alexander's latest book in her popular Bakeshop Mystery series, Fudge & Jury.  Talk about bliss!  I devoured this book in one sitting and wished that I had more to read.  I just fell in love with Ashland, Oregon and its quirky inhabitants - they truly made for quite an entertaining read.

In this fifth book (in a six-book series), I met Jules, baker and owner of her family's bakery, Torte.  She's gearing up for the annual Chocolate Festival, while simultaneously getting her kitchen in order.  After saving up enough money, Jules and her mom are finally able to purchase new ovens for Torte.  Plus, they plan on painting and installing a new register.  They are excited and thrilled to refresh their bakery.  Of course, their top priority is getting everything made for the festival - they are one of the four showcase vendors, so they have to be ready in time.  Talk about stress and excitement combined. Unfortunately, Jules and Torte get thrown in the 'hot seat' when Evan, one of the other showcase vendors, dies after sampling Jules' confections.  Ack!  Death by chocolate?!  Well, nuts to be exact - seeing as he was allergic to them.  Uh oh!  What is Jules to do?  Apparently, she'll put on her sleuthing cap and get to figuring out what really happened to Evan.  Who killed him and why?

Alexander has written an engaging and rather delicious 'whodunit' story.  Filled with choco-tastic sweets, this book had my mouth watering non-stop.  I couldn't help but find myself craving all of Jules' yummy desserts.  Luckily, Alexander has included the recipes at the back of the book - hurrah!  Of course, I also found myself trying to figure out who was behind Evan's murder - I enjoyed all the twists and turns woven throughout the story.  Fudge & Jury was truly a fun read.  I plan on reading all of the other books in the series and can't wait to learn more about Jules and her sleuthing adventures.  I just know that I'm in for quite a treat.

I would happily recommend Fudge & Jury to fans of Ellie Alexander's, A Bakeshop Mystery series, and fans of cozy mysteries with a foodie bent - you will DEVOUR this book!!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: Fudge & Jury

GIVEAWAY:  Thanks to the publisher I am able to give away one (1) copy of this book! All you have to do to enter the giveaway is leave me a comment. Don't forget to include your email address - that way I can contact you, if you win the book.  Last date to enter is January 20th.  US/Canada residents only.  Good luck!!

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

GIVEAWAY & REVIEW of The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen

about book:

The lifeblood of the village of Ivy Hill is its coaching inn, The Bell. When the innkeeper dies suddenly, his genteel wife, Jane Bell, becomes the reluctant landlady. Jane has no idea how to manage a business, but with the town's livelihood at stake and a large loan due, she must quickly find a way to save the inn.

Despite their strained relationship, Jane turns to her resentful mother-in-law, Thora, for help. Formerly mistress of The Bell, Thora is struggling to overcome her losses and find purpose for the future. As she works with Jane, two men from her past vie for her attention, but Thora has promised herself never to marry again. Will one of them convince her to embrace a second chance at love?

As pressure mounts from the bank, Jane employs new methods, and puzzles over the intentions of several men who seem to have a vested interest in the place, including a mysterious newcomer with secret plans of his own. With the help of friends old and new, can Jane restore life to the inn, and to her empty heart as well?

Visit talesfromivyhill.com to find a map of the village, character profiles, a book giveaway, and more!

my thoughts:

As a huge fan of The Secret of Pembrooke Park, I was delighted to review Klassen's latest novel, The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill - the first in a new series titled, Tales From Ivy Hill.  How exciting! I just knew that I would be in for quite a treat.  And how right I was!  I absolutely LOVED The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill!!  It was the perfect book to settle down with this holiday season - heartwarming with a bit of mystery, which I just love. And the writing was top notch, filled with rich and vivid details that bring the village of Ivy Hill to life.  Oh, and the characters - I couldn't help but fall in love with them. Seriously, this book is amazing! 

So what exactly is The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill about?  Set during the Regency era, this novel tells the story of Jane Bell and the village of Ivy Hill.  Jane was married to John who ran the inn, The Bell.  After he suddenly passes away it is up to her to take over and become the new innkeeper - a job that she is not prepared for.  Jane is not a business woman in the least and finds herself struggling to figure out how to keep the inn running and pay off the huge loan her husband had taken out before he died.  A loan that no one knew anything about and where exactly did the money go?  Hmm...John had some secrets after all.  Of course, as Jane is trying to figure things out, her mother-in-law Thora makes things more complicated. She has no confidence in Jane and sees her more as a trophy wife than an innkeeper.  The Bell is important to Thora and the village and she hates the idea that Jane is now running it - what if she lets it fall to ruin (which is exactly what Thora is sure will happen)?  Talk about stress for Jane - not only does she have to learn the ins and outs of running an inn and pay off her husband's loan, but she has to contend with her prickly and resentful mother-in-law. Ack! What a nightmare!  Will Jane be able to get Thora off her back?  Will she be able to pay off that loan and figure out what it was for?  What about The Bell, will she be successful or run it to the ground?  

Let me just say that The Bell will thrive - thanks to Jane, Thora, family and friends from Ivy Hill.  This book is all about community and what we make of it.  With the help of those around her, Jane will indeed manage to figure things out.  Of course, it won't be easy and along the way there will be some mysteries to figure out - such as that loan (what was it for?)  Is Patrick Bell truly trying to help the Inn or not? And who exactly is Gabriel Locke?  Along with these mysteries, we get to know some of the women of Ivy Hill through their knitting group where they discuss matters of the heart and matters of business.  We learn about property laws and how women were never given credit for their hard work.  It helps in understanding why Thora was so resentful of Jane.  And it shows us how Jane finally realizes that she too wasn't as open-minded when it came to the fairer sex.  Talking with these women helps to open Jane's eyes to so much and I just loved it.  As for Thora, she begins to understand where Jane is coming from and watches as her daughter-in-law grows into a businesswoman.  Oh, and she also manages to capture the attention of two suitors along the way.  And that is all I will say about this fantastic novel.  I think I've shared more than enough details about the story, now its time for you to read it for yourself and find out the rest. Believe me, you will LOVE The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill.  There is mystery, drama, and a spot of romance - all the right ingredients for an unputdownable story.  I absolutely enjoyed it to bits and can't wait for the next one in the series.

I would happily recommend The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill to fans of Klassen's books and anyone looking for a new great read - you will LOVE getting lost in Julie Klassen's words and world!  In fact check out the details below regarding Klassen's amazing giveaway!! You may just be lucky enough to win a copy of this book and more.  Good luck!!!

GIVEAWAY:
Be sure to enter the giveaway before you leave - the winner will receive a $20 Teavana gift card and a package of four inspirational British romances from four different eras (The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen, A Haven on Orchard Lane by Lawana Blackwell, The Lost Heiress by Roseanna M. White, Not by Sight by Kate Breslin).  The winner will notified on December 22.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GIVEAWAY: Dogs and Their People by BarkPost

Just in time for the holidays - Dogs and Their People!  Talk about the BEST gift for dog lovers everywhere.  An awesome book filled with photos and stories about pooches and the people they LOVE.  How cute and fun does that sound?  I know that I'm going to love gifting this tome to my loved ones who are obsessed with their sweet and loyal canine friends.  They are going to flip over Dogs and Their People: Photos and Stories of Life with a Four-Legged Love - "the first official BarkBook from the humans over at BarkPost."

Here's what you'll find in this super cool book: 

"A collection of community-sourced and never-before-told anecdotes, stories, photos, and intimate insights, Dogs and Their People captures the depth, spirit, and power of the extraordinary bond between humans and their pups and spotlights more than two hundred unique and remarkable dogs.  Some are celebri-dogs (oh hello, Tuna Melts My Heart and Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund) while others are just making their debut (like Putnam publicist Katie’s Newfoundland, Hank, on page 228!); some will make your heart ache while others will make it soar; and others simply look dapper in color.

But this book isn’t just about the dogs; it’s about celebrating the crazy, consuming, unconditional love we feel for them. It’s about the songs you’ve made up for them, the hugs you’ve given them on bad days, and all the outfits that—let’s be honest—you forced them into. It’s about the lightness they’ve brought to our lives just by being there—and having smushy faces. We hear you, dog people; this one is for you."

Talk about a must-read for dog lovers! Dogs and Their People is bow-WOW!  

GIVEAWAY:

Thanks to the publisher I'm allowed to giveaway one (1) copy of this awesome book! Just leave me a comment (don't forget to include your email address) and I'll throw your name in the hat.  Open to US residents only.  Last day to enter is 11/27/16.  Good Luck!!

GIVEAWAY & REVIEW of When Watched: Stories by Leopoldine Core

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book: (On Sale August 9th)

The provocative, lyrical, and wonderfully introverted stories in Leopoldine Core’s debut story collection, WHEN WATCHED (Penguin Paperback Original; ISBN: 9780143128694; On-sale: August 9; $16.00), possess something permanent at their heart. Chronicling characters of all stripes and sexual orientation, Core, a 2015 Whiting Award winner and author of the poetry collection Veronica Bench, has delivered a wise and deeply intimate collection, one that bravely tunnels straight to the center of human suffering and longing. In Core, the quiet, the strange, the cast-aside have found their literary chronicler. 

In these domestic yet almost otherworldly stories set in and around New York City, you never know where you might end up. Populated by sex workers, artists, and recovering addicts, lovers, friends, and nontraditional families, Core’s wholly realized characters are endlessly striving to understand each other. While they may seem to operate at the margins, there is something eminently relatable, even elemental about their romantic relationships, their personal demons, and the strange shapes their joy can take. Battling and balancing their innermost thoughts and fears with greater forces out of their control—a cross country road trip ending in a crash, a child imagining her own kidnapping, a hallucination of George Harrison—the characters in WHEN WATCHED absorb the world around them—its quiet reverberations, its dark contours, the imperceptible yet transformative moments. 

Dirty and squalid, poetic and pure, dark but always illuminating, these carefully crafted stories ruminate on and explore the strange ways in which we experience the world, as it is and as it could be. Refusing to turn away from the place felt from within, Core takes what we know of identity and smashes it. Her characters and stories are belief systems all their own. Reminiscent of the writings of Jane Bowles, Deborah Eisenberg, and Miranda July’s No One Belongs Here More Than You, WHEN WATCHED announces the arrival of a distinct, daring, and deeply sensitive new voice in American fiction.

my thoughts:

Short stories are my jam! I am seriously getting hooked on these amazing little ditties that pack such a powerful punch in such a short amount of pages. They are simply the BEST. Not only do they make dipping in and out of a book easy-peasy, but they have you constantly craving more. Leopoldine Core's debut collection of shorts, When Watched,  is the perfect example of what I am talking about. It is chock full of dark, raw, complicated, and fascinating stories.  They are all so damn good, that I couldn't help but fall in love with each one.  The way she writes about relationships and people's emotional and inner struggles is just fantastic. She's direct and to the point in her language and I found her exploration of issues to be honest and real.  My two most favorite stories from the collection are: Orphans and The Trip. Talk about short stories at their best!!  

I absolutely loved reading When Watched. It was a mix of quirky, relatable, and unputdownable stories that I won't soon forget. I would happily recommend this book to fans of the short story and anyone looking for something great to read next - you will not want to miss out When Watched!!


GIVEAWAY: Thanks to the publisher I'm able to give away three (3) copies of this book!  All you have to do to enter the giveaway is leave me a comment telling me the name of your favorite collection of short stories. Don't forget to include your email address, so that I can contact you in case you win the giveaway.  Last date to enter is August 10th!  Open to US residents only.  Good Luck!!

Tote Bag Giveaway to Celebrate #5PeculiarYears

What a fun and exciting way to celebrate the 5th year anniversary of Ransom Riggs' bestselling novel, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children!! 


You know the story:(from Goodreads)

"A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of curious photographs.

A horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive."

How amazing does that sound, eh?  I know that I enjoyed reading the story and flipping through the photos - talk about a terrific reading experience!  I'm actually planning on re-reading the book before the film version comes out this September.  I want to get  reacquainted with Jacob, Emma, and the other peculiar children before I see them on the big screen. 



Check out the film's trailer:

Pretty cool, eh?  I can't wait to see it!

As for Quirk Books' celebration of the 5th year anniversary - I am loving it! Its so much fun seeing all of the fan art being created - they are all pretty peculiar pieces.  Plus, I get to give away one of the 
awesome tote bags that Quirk Books has created for this celebration: 

 How cool is that tote bag? I know that I'm loving mine. I use it to cart around books in my car - that way I always have something to read. To enter the giveaway for a tote bag, just leave me a comment and remember to include your email address.  Open to US residents only.  Last date to enter will be July1st.  Good luck!!

GIVEAWAY & REVIEW of Jane and the Waterloo Map: Being a Jane Austen Mystery by Stephanie Barron

Amateur sleuth Jane Austen returns in Jane and the Waterloo Map, the thirteenth novel in Stephanie Barron's delightful Regency-era mystery series.

Award winning author Stephanie Barron tours the blogosphere February 2 through February 22, 2016 to share her latest release , Jane and the Waterloo Map (Being a Jane Austen Mystery).  Twenty popular book bloggers specializing in Austenesque fiction, mystery and Regency history will feature guest blogs, interviews, excerpts and book reviews from this highly anticipated novel in the acclaimed Being a Jane Austen Mystery series.  A fabulous giveaway contest, including copies of Ms. Barron's book and other Jane Austen-themed items, will be open to those who join the festivities.

How fun and exciting!  I know that I'm thrilled to be a part of the celebration of such an amazing author and her wonderful Being a Jane Austen Mystery series.  I'm positive that fans of Stephanie Barron and Austen will LOVE the latest book, Jane and the Waterloo Map - I certainly did!

about book:

Jane Austen turns sleuth in this delightful Regency-era mystery.

November, 1815.  The Battle of Waterloo has come and gone, leaving the British economy in shreds; Henry Austen, high-flying banker, is about to declare bankruptcy - dragging several of his brothers down with him.  The crisis destroys Henry's health, and Jane flies to his London bedside, believing him to be dying.  While she's there, the chaplain to His Royal Highness the Prince Regent invites Jane to tour Carlton House, the Prince's fabulous London home.  The chaplain is a fan of Jane's books, and during the tour he suggests she dedicate her next novel - Emma- to HRH, whom she despises.  

However, before she can speak to HRH, Jane stumbles upon a body - sprawled on the carpet in the Regent's library.  The dying man, Colonel MacFarland, was a cavalry hero and a friend of Wellington's.  He utters a single failing phrase: "Waterloo map"...and Jane is on the hunt for a treasure of incalculable value and a killer of considerable cunning.

my thoughts:

Jane Austen is the new Sherlock Holmes! How cool is that?! I absolutely loved Jane the investigator - determined to solve a mystery, no matter the cost!  She's brave, strong, smart, and extremely capable when it comes to clues, danger, and everything in between.

In the latest installment of the Being a Jane Austen Mystery series, Jane finds herself in London.  Her brother, Henry, is ill and she's come to care for him.  She's also in town to look over the proofs for her latest novel, Emma.  Having recently been revealed to be the author behind P&P and Mansfield Park, Jane is invited by HRH's chaplain to view the Prince's library.  Though she despises the Prince, she goes on the tour.  Whilst in his home she finds the body of a hero from the Battle of Waterloo - a Colonel MacFarland.  He's been poisoned and his final words are "Waterloo map".  Talk about unexpected!  With a new mystery to solve, Jane sets out to find the meaning behind MacFarland's words and the mastermind behind his death.  

Filled with twists and turns, intrigue, and red herrings, Jane and the Waterloo Map makes for quite a captivating read.  I found myself staying up til the wee hours just to get to the end of the story - it was unputdownable!!  I absolutely loved reading about Jane the sleuth, alongside her life as a writer.  The deeper she gets involved with this new mystery, the more time she needs to set aside to edit her novel.  Plus, she has to deal with her brother's disapproval of her gumshoe ways - he thinks its all rather unladylike.  Oh, and then there is the artist, Mr. West.  Jane can't seem to help feeling more and more attracted to the man - oh my!  What's a gal to do?  In  Jane's case, "Keep Calm and Carry On". 

Talk about a fun, witty, and adventurous read!  Jane and the Waterloo Map is an absolute gem.  It falls perfectly in line with Stephanie Barron's creative and smart series, Being a Jane Austen Mystery.  Fans will love it!!  And readers looking for a new-to-them series to get obsessed with need to check out this wonderful series - they will be so happy they did!!

GIVEAWAY:

GRAND GIVEAWAY CONTEST

WIN ONE of THREE FABULOUS PRIZES

In celebration of the release of Jane and the Waterloo Map, Stephanie is offering a chance to win one of three prize packages filled with an amazing selection of Jane Austen-inspired gifts and books!

To enter the giveaway contest, simply leave a comment on any or all of the blog stops on Jane and the Waterloo Map Blog Tour starting February 2, 2016 through 11:59pm PT, February 29, 2016.  Winners will be drawn at random from all of the comments and announced on Stephanie's website on March 3, 2016.  Winners will have until March 10, 2016 to claim their prize.  Shipment is to US addresses.  Good luck to all!!

How awesome is that?  So, don't forget to leave a comment!!  And, check out the Blog Tour schedule for: Jane and the Waterloo Map