*[Blog Tour Review & Giveaway] Milk Fever by Lissa M. Cowan

 

Summary:

 

In 1789, Armande, a wet nurse who is known for the mystical qualities of her breast milk, goes missing. Céleste, a cunning servant girl who Armande once saved from shame and starvation, sets out to find her. A snuffbox found in the snow, the unexpected arrival of a gentleman and the discovery of the wet nurse’s diary, deepen the mystery. Using Armande’s diary as a map to her secret past, Céleste fights to save her from those plotting to steal the wisdom of her milk. Milk Fever is a rich and inspired tale set on the eve of the French Revolution- a delicious peek into this age s history. The story explores the fight for women/s rights and the rise in clandestine literature laying bare sexuality, the nature of love and the magic of books to transform lives.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 262 pages (Paperback)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Available Formats: Print/E-book

Publication Date: October 18th 2013 by Demeter Press

 

 When I first got the invitation for Milk Fever I had no idea it was written by a Canadian author until later when I googled Lissa M. Cowan and that is what made me sign up for the tour since I'm all about promoting Canadian authors, plus I've grown rather fond of historical fiction set in France so how could I resist?

I really enjoyed the way that the author told Celeste's story which was intertwined with that of her best friend, the nursemaid Armande who along with her father took in the young Celeste and taught her to read, write and most importantly use her mind in an era where intelligent women were frowned upon. I thought it was very interesting that she touched on the political undertones of the time with the French Revolution brewing in the background.

I also really enjoyed Celeste and Armande's characters. They were very different but were very well written and they seemed so close they were almost like sisters in many of the ways that they interacted with one another. I envy the bond that they have and found them to be very well developed and I enjoyed they're backstories very much. I also thought that the whole idea of Armande going missing was a good one though since I don't want to give anything away I'm going to refrain from mentioning any of the events that happen after she disappears, that my friends you'll just have to find out what Celeste is willing to do to find her beloved friend. I will say however, that she pulled out all the stops and used what meager resources she had to rise above her station as a meager peasant through the use of reading and writing.

Captivating and engrossing, I thought Milk Fever was a very well researched, well written novel that transported me to the late 1700's and had me reading late into the night in order to find out what would happen next.

I would recommend Milk Fever to any and all fans of historical fiction especially historical fiction set in France with a likable set of characters and an equally strong plot.

Really Enjoyed It!
★★★★

 

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 Giveaway:
 

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*[Blog Tour Review & Giveaway] The Thing With Feathers by Anne Sweazy-Kulju

 

 

Summary:

 

As the inhabitants of Cloverdale, Oregon, welcomed in the twentieth century, they were not unaccustomed to hard times and thorny situations.
Small communities banded together for protection and hope. Heroes and villains were often difficult to decipher.

When an itinerate Baptist preacher arrived with his baby daughter and a wife lost on the trail, there was no one prepared to suspect what lurid
secrets and heartbreak he might be concealing. As the preacher sets his sights against those who might oppose him, the names and the lives of the
good people of Cloverdale may not be spared.

Yet in the midst of the machinations of a mad man, virtue and valor can persist. The Thing with Feathers is known to fly through wars, depressions,
and natural disasters. Will the Marshall clan and the good people of Cloverdale find it in time?

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 328 pages

Source: Review Copy

Available Formats: Print & E-book

Publication Date: September 11th 2012 by Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC

 

I'm not a huge fan of novels set in the 20th century but as soon as I saw the beautiful cover of The Thing With Feathers and read the summary I had to sign up for the tour especially since the title is almost the same title of the famous Emily Dickinson poem "Hope Is The Thing With Feathers" and give the book a shot and I'm really glad I did.

 

I didn't really know what to expect when I first started The Thing With Feathers but somehow I knew that it would turn out to be an interesting and enjoyable read and I was completely right. While the novel started off with a but of confusion and I was a little bit lost for a little bit things worked themselves out and the story really started to flow.

 

I thought the setting of the novel was perfect, I really got a feel for what life was like during the time The Thing With Feathers took place and the author did a good job of creating a story line that brings the reader into the story which was really enjoyable. I liked Anne Sweazy-Kujul's writing style a lot and I have to say she has a really unique and interesting literary voice that I'm really glad to have discovered.

 

I thought that the characters while they were certainly interesting left me with a lot of questions and they were really well developed and were all different. I liked how she created such wonderful dynamics between certain characters and while some were brutal they were well done. I liked the historical aspect of the novel best of all and I think that's where the author's true strength lies.

 

While I did enjoy the novel I didn't connect to the characters as much as I wanted to and I feel like I was left with many more questions than answers when I finished the novel which isn't a bad thing at all it just gives me the perfect excuse to re-read the book in a couple months and see unravel it's secrets again and find new ones along the way.

 

I would recommend this novel to people who enjoy historical fiction that is less fluffy and more literature based. I highly recommend giving this author a try and I hope she comes out with another book soon!

 

* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. I was not compensated in anyway to give a positive review and all thoughts and opinions herein are my own.

I read this book for the following challenges:

2013 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

2013 150+ Books Reading Challenge

Liked It!
★ ★ ★ 1/2

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Author Bio

ANNE SWEAZY KULJU has won awards for editorials and honors for short stories, but now she writes historical fiction adventures, exclusively. Her debut novel, “the thing with feathers,” was released by Tate Publishing in September 2012. Her book, “Bodie,” a total thrill ride, is expected to release in early 2013, and she is currently busy on her next book, “Grog Wars,” set in 1850’s Portland, Oregon, the Shanghai capital of the world. Anne lives near Pacific City, Oregon, and divides her free time between the beach and Mount Bachelor. Readers may learn more about Anne and correspond with her on her website at www.AnneSweazyKulju.com .

 

 

Giveaways:

 

TOUR WIDE GIVEAWAY:

 

  Winners Choice for a Kindle paperWhite or Nook Book Glowlight Character Name chosen by one lucky winner Rafflecopter:

 

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GIVEAWAY #2

 

Anne has graciously offered to give away a swag pack (pictured below) that is up for grabs!

 

Leave your name, and e-mail address where you can be reached in the event you win.

Giveaway ends FEBRUARY 5th 2013.

Open to US/CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY

You will have 48 to respond to the e-mail notifying you of your winning the giveaway, if you do not respond within 48 hours another winner will be selected.

 

 

 

 

*[Blog Tour Book Feature & Excerpt] Goal Driven Women by Yales Smith

Goal Driven Women

by Yales Smith

Hello my name is Yales Smith I am originally from Fort Worth, Texas however; I have resided in Houston, Texas for the last seven years. I am an educator, father, veteran, supporter of Breast Cancer Awareness, and a lover of life. I believe that everyone has a purpose in life and you are either living your purpose or you are still trying to find yourself.

Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

This is a inspirational and motivational book written to help anyone achieve their goals by applying the WAVA process. In addition, this book has a secret code that can be cracked and you could win $1000.00 if you are the first to crack the code. Also each book that is sold part of the proceeds will go towards Breast Cancer Awareness don't wait any longer if you want to be successful.

Genre: Self-Help

Release Date: September 24, 2012

Amazon

Giveaway: There will be surprise gift cards $10 - $20 awarded during tour

for Amazon & Starbucks Gift Cards during the tour, so please let your readers know and encourage them to comment and share.

In Addition - if you crack the secret code in the book, you could also win $1000

Part of the Proceeds of this book go to Breast Cancer Awareness
Leave a review on Amazon for an extra entry (hosts welcome) and don't forget to click the "Like" button while you're there :). Just add GDW at the end of your review and it will be included as an extra entry when tallying total reviews.

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Excerpts:

 

You have the ability to create whatever life you want if you are willing to work hard (pg 1).

Over the next several years women will make significant educational accomplishments, and I believe that you will be one of them (pg 19).

One of the most transformational events that will take place over the next few years will be women assuming more leadership roles (pg 29).

It is important that women have a life outside of work and family so that they will be able to have a healthy state of mind (33).

As women continue to advance they will be able to make their mark in whatever new technological changes that will shape their future (pg69).

Women today can no longer put of investing in order to get a pedicure or manicure (pg 85).

Whenever two people come together, there needs to be some honest discussion about what their expectations are for marriage (pg106).

 

*[Author Interview] Q & A with Teresa Trent & Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome author Teresa Trent to Turning the Pages. I'd also like to thank her for taking time out of her busy schedule to allow for this interview to take place. Thanks so much Teresa!!

 

Author Bio

 

 

Teresa Trent wasn't born in Texas but after a few glasses of sweet tea and some exceptional barbecue she decided to stay. With a father in the Army, she found herself moved all over the world, settling down for a while in her teens in the state of Colorado. Her writing was influenced by all of the interesting people she found in small towns and the sense of family that seemed to be woven through them all. Teresa is a former high school teacher and received her degree from The University of Northern Colorado. Teresa is presently working on the third book in her Pecan Bayou Series. Her second book, Overdue For Murder, came out in June of 2012. 

 

To visit Teresa's Blog CLICK HERE

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To purchase A Dash of Murder via Itunes CLICK HERE 

 

  

GIVEAWAY

 

One RANDOM commenter will be win an e-copy of A Dash for Murder by Teresa Trent!

 

Just leave your name and e-mail address in a comment.

 

Interview

 

 

 

 

1. Tell us a little about yourself

I am an indie author and a preschool teacher. I have lived in Texas for the last 17 years and aside from a hurricane here and there, have really enjoyed it. I also write picture book curricula for preschoolers-a very different writing job!

2. Did you plan to be a writer or did it just happen?

 

 I think it just happened. I started writing in my twenties as a hobby. Sometimes I wrote for fun and sometimes I wrote to work through something going on in my life. All of the writing, while sometimes exhausting, created a peace in me.

3. What is your favourite non-writing pastime?

 

 This is where I put in something like bungee jumping, but I have to say, I'm a homebody. I love spending time with my family, sewing, reading, and laughing with my husband.

4. What inspired the idea behind your book?

 

When my daughter was in middle school we would set aside every Wednesday night and watch all of those ghost hunting shows on cable. We loved it when they used the gadgets and walked around in the dark. Funny, but most of the time the ghost hunters really didn't find too much. From that I thought about what it would be like to actually be on a ghost hunting paranormal investigation and all of the murderous things that could happen.

5. Do you have a favorite character in A Dash of Murder? Who and why?

 

 In A Dash of Murder it's probably, Howard, because he is the paranormal investigator who deep down would be terrified to actually meet up with a ghost.

6. Without giving it all away, please tell us a little something about how Betsy is going to get through her biggest challenge.

Betsy is a single mom who was abandoned by her con-man husband while she was pregnant with their son. Many years have passed since his rejection and even though she is a successful columnist, she feels inadequate in many things. She has to get beyond the destructive criticism her long-gone husband left in her thoughts and realize the one with the problem ... was him.

7. What is your favorite scene in A Dash of Murder?

 

The first time Betsy and Maggie go down the dead tunnel.

8. Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

 

 Pure imagination!

9. What has been your greatest pleasure in writing this book?

 

 A Dash of Murder was my first book and when I set out to write it I wanted so much to create a town full of characters that readers would want to come back to in each successive book. Books written by Jan Karon, Phillip Gulley, and Fannie Flagg all do a beautiful job in taking you to a place you might want to stay in for a while. Pecan Bayou became my version of this place and with each book I imagine another street, another business and another quirky character who resides there.

10. Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?

Yes! A Dash of Murder was my first book and I am promoting it during October because it takes place on Halloween. Since then, I have written Overdue for Murder, a story that centers around writers doing a book talk and features lots and lots of cupcakes. At this time, I am working on my third book that will take place over the Fourth of July. I can't say much about it yet, but Betsy and all the characters come back and take a "slice" out of the incredibly high crime rate in this tiny town.

11. What do you have in store next for your readers?

 

 A Dash of Murder was followed by Overdue for Murder which came out in June of 2012. Betsy is the center of a murder investigation after telling off a fellow writer who then ends up dead. My third book is currently in the rewrite stage and I totally enjoyed writing this Fourth of July- centered book. In researching for this book I watched You Tube videos on how to blow up a port-a-potty, child beauty pageants and read about hundreds of ways to serve watermelon!

12. What has been your greatest pleasure or personal success as an author?

Any time someone comes back to me and tells me they liked a certain scene or a character or they enjoyed trying to figure out "who dunnit" I'm so pleased!

13. Is there any place and time in the world and in history that you would like to visit?

 

 As a teenager I fell in love with the 20s and the 30s. I couldn't get enough of The Great Gatsby.

14. What is your favorite scene in A Dash of Murder?

Going down the "dead tunnel" of course.

15. How do you unwind after a long writing session?

 

I would love to tell you about relaxing by my pool drinking herb tea, but if I've been lucky enough to get a long writing session, I've put off all the other things in my life. So I guess I would have to answer-laundry?

16. Who or what has most influenced your writing?

 

Probably Dianne Mott Davidson and a little Stephen King. I guess from both authors I loved their gifts of creating characters. These are people you know, but not really. I have tried to create characters like that and I am still learning. I was pleased the other day when a friend and reader asked me if one of my villains was really somebody we knew. It wasn't!

*[Blog Tour Review] Phoenix (Phoenix Elite #1) by Melissa Starr

 

Summary:

Elora Rae Gannon believes her life is over. On her sixteenth birthday she receives news that she is a mythical monster of hellish proportions and if that's not bad enough, she receives this information in the form of a letter from her dead mother who also informs her that she must become part of an elite secret society of others like herself or die. Sucky birthday, huh? And just when she thinks she's got it all figured out, her new-found family in the Elite forces her to break ties with her human BFF shortly before her BFF just up and vanishes. With her world in utter upheaval, Elora makes the move to a new school- Marlind Prep, with full intentions of finding out exactly what is going on behind the scenes and why her best friend has vanished- all while trying to figure out how to successfully make out with her boyfriend without sucking the very life out of him!
Summary & Photo provided by Virtual Book Tour Cafe
Length: 189 pages
Source: Review Copy
Publication Date: May 27th 2012 by Fire & Ice Imprint of Melange Books LLC         

Finally! A decent example of mixing old world mythology with a healthy dose of modernity! I was beginning to wonder if I would ever find a really great take on the tales of old so I was really happy when I got invited to join the blog tour for Phoenix.

I really enjoyed the plot of this book. At only 189 pages the book is rather short but the author managed to make it seem like a much longer novel with the way that she created the story of those who are a Phoenix. There was a lot of depth to the book that I wasn't really expecting but I love when a book surprises me like that.

Plus, the fact that Elora wasn't a stuck up pain in the behind character made the book an easy and enjoyable read. Nothing bothers me more than a book where the main character is unlikeable. Elora is your average teenager, minus the whole being a mythological monster thing that is. She's kind, loyal and is really sweet but she has an inner strength to her that really comes out the more you read the book.

Overall the book was really good. It was fast paced, intriguing and entertaining. The genre mixing is what really did it for me in terms of what I loved most about this book because it was done in a unique way. I can't wait to read the next book in this series and I have a feeling the next one will be even better.

I would recommend this book to all YA fantasy fans especially those who love their YA fantasy novels based on mythology. If this book is any indicator, than this is a must read debut with a bright future.

*I received a free copy in exchange for my free and honest review. I was not compensated in any way and all thoughts and opinions expressed therein are my own.

Really Liked It!
★ ★ ★★

 

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Author Bio:

Melissa Starr is a small town, country gal from deep in southern Oklahoma. Born in Altus and raised in Frederick, it only seemed right to put down roots there with her own family; a husband, two sons and two daughters. She resides and writes from her home in Frederick where she spends her free time attending her children’s various sporting activities and just enjoying being a mom.

Melissa is also a freelance photographer who enjoys camping and riding ATV’s when the weather permits and snapping a million and one pictures of her family and friends against much protest. *Smiles*

*[Blog Tour Review/Author Guest Post] On a Foreign Field: A Story of Loyalty and Brotherhood by Hazel B. West

Summary:

Sir Reeve Montgomery is an Englishman born and bred, proud of his heritage and the right to serve his country fighting against the Scottish rebels. But when the tide is turned unexpectedly during the Battle of Stirling Bridge, he is wounded by an English arrow, left for dead by his comrades, and taken captive by Wallace's army. Wounded, and alone on a foreign field, he knows he should expect nothing but torture and death at the hands of the Scottish rebels who are known to be complete savages.

But as he comes to know this tight brotherhood better, and sees Wallace's utter devotion to his men and the cause of freedom, Reeve begins to wonder whether the English are right to oppress them.

Faced with these troubling thoughts, Reeve must decide whether he will stay true to his king, or join this brotherhood of freedom fighters, thus turning his back on everything he has ever known or believed in.

This new novel by Hazel West is a thought-provoking, heartfelt read about the true meaning of loyalty and brotherhood.
Summary & Photo taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 360 pages
Source: Review Copy
Publication Date: July 25th 2012 by Createspace

Ahh, it was so nice for me to immerse myself in my favourite genre; historical fiction. Since I've started blogging I haven't had the opportunity to read as many historical fiction novels as I've wanted so I was really pleased when I got the book tour invite for On a Foreign Field. Plus the book is set in the time of William Wallace or as many of us have come to know him as "Braveheart". This is not another retelling of his life and times no siree. In this book Wallace is surprisingly not the main character. I know right? However, just because he isn't the main character it doesn't mean that the book is any less great.

I loved the writing style that the author implemented in telling this story. I've always been a fan of narrative style writing even though I know that it isn't always everyone's cup of  so this one worked out really great for me.

Right away I was sucked into the story and the way that the characters were laid out. The story was very engrossing and I felt that the characters were very well developed, I have to say I really enjoyed the fact that the story was not so much about William Wallace but the people who aided him in his struggle.

This book had it all. There was romance, political intrigue, espionage, war and murder. I loved the war bits because I feel that the author did such a great job bringing the battle to life I felt as though I were inside the book while the story was going on.

I truly enjoyed this historical fiction novel. You can tell that the author made a real effort to thoroughly research her novel and this came through in the writing. The night that I read this I kept nodding off, not out of boredom mind you but because I kept myself up until 4 am reading "just one more chapter". Needless to say one more chapter turned into me finishing the book and crashing until 11 am the next morning. I loved this book and I do hope more people give it a try. The book is so detailed and well written that I can't wait to see more from the author. I'd love to read more of her work.

I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy historical fiction with a bit of everything added in. It makes for a great read on a rainy day and will absolutely help the hours go by faster.

*I received a free copy in exchange for my free and honest review. I was not compensated in any way and all thoughts and opinions expressed therein are my own.

 

Awesome, I loved it!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

To become a fan of Hazel on Goodreads CLICK HERE

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Also One RANDOM commenter on the tour will win a $25 AMAZON GIFT CARD

 

 

I'm pleased to have Hazel West onTurning the Pages discussing the:

Ten (Unofficial) Things You Should Know About Becoming a Published Author

1 There’s the moment you realize that ‘hey, this is my actual job now! Wait, does that mean I can’t goof off anymore and I HAVE to meet my deadlines?’ That of course all depends on whether you’re published through a company who WILL expect you to meet your deadlines or if you’re an indie author, where you will be able to make your own rules. But yes, you will have to work harder because fans will expect a second book. And a third. And if you’re really popular, a fourth!

2 The fan(s). Yes, you will get fan(s)! You know that one devoted fan who buys all your books (A.K.A, Grandma)? Well you have a duty to them (her) now. You have to keep writing!

3 The Coffee. This is especially true for self-published writers. I am going to warn you now that your coffee intake when you were brainstorming and writing is nothing compared to what it will be when you decide to publish your work. And if you didn’t drink coffee before, you can bet your best writing pencil that you will after all the hours of formatting and editing.

4 The beauty products you might have to invest in (which I didn’t). Don’t you love those glamor shots all those romance writers have on the backs of their books? Well, this is a sorry lie, no author really looks like this unless they have little elves to do all the hard work for them. Try doing five hours of formatting with Word and tell me you don’t look like a zombie in the morning. Eye drops are a writer’s best friends.

5 Having to write more and more books about a character you have grown to hate because all your fan(s) won’t shut up about him. This happened to Doyle with Holmes and to Agatha Christie with Poirot, it can happen to you too, so either prepare yourself to bite the bullet, or just make a character you love SOOOOO much! Either that or your can bribe the fan(s) with coffee and doughnuts/Pringles. And if bribery doesn’t work, remember my sign: “Please do not annoy the Writer. She may put you in a book and kill you.”

6 The frustration and sadness when no one buys your books. Yeah, it will take a while to get famous. Maybe your grandma might not even like the first book you write. I’m sorry, but that’s just the way it is sometimes. We can’t all be J.K. Rowling (Whose books I have never read, by the way ;-P)

7 The decisions. One book or two a year--one every three years? What should the cover look like (epic background or angsty guy will bloody sword--or both?) What kind of advertising should you do? Keep it real or add an odious e-book? Should I send Grandma a copy, or should I make her buy her own? See, there’s a lot to think about…

8 When all else fails, your books make great birthday presents for friends and family… Just make sure they give you a good review on Amazon and Goodreads or remind them to remember your sign as afore mentioned.

9 Make good friends. Some serious advice now. Find other people who write the kinds of books you do, they will be a great source of help in editing. For free. (Just kidding, you should totally pay them in coffee and free copies of your book!) And they might give you a good review. (Wait a second. Who REALLY wrote that terrible anonymous review?) They are also there so you know you’re not going insane when you have people talking in your head. Because every other writer understands what you’re going through whereas your normal friends and family might not…

10 And finally… well, how amazing it feels to hold your book in actual print and binding for the first time! It’s almost better than your first child because it doesn’t cry and keep you up at night--though that might be a controversial thought after you go through all the editing and formatting…

Goodreads Book Giveaway

On a Foreign Field

by Hazel B. West

Giveaway ends October 03, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win