The Spymistress by Jennifer Chiaverini

Good morning! Today I'm a stop on the TLC book tour for Jennifer Chiaverini's historical thriller, The Spymistress.

When Richmond seceded from the Union in 1861 and joined forces with the Confederates, Elizabeth Van Lew was beyond distraught. As a women who'd worked to free and educate her own slaves, she stood steadfastly on the side of Lincoln and had hoped that logic would prevail amongst her fellow Virginians. With the nation splitting at the seams and war inevitable, it would seem all hope was lost. But Elizabeth was well placed to help the Union cause. She and her mother began by volunteering at the Libby Prison. From that point on, Elizabeth's name and efforts would go down in history. 

What a fascinating woman! Jennifer Chiaverini's latest is indeed based on a very real person and her very real efforts to support Lincoln and the Union in the Civil War. The real Elizabeth Van Lew was awarded (posthumously) a place in the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame and according to a quote in this piece from Smithsonian.com was "... the most successful Federal spy of the war."

Chiaverini deftly outlines Elizabeth's most noted actions - as can be found in historical note - while also fleshing her out and bringing her quite believably to life in The Spymistress. It's interesting to note too that Mary Bowser (who was the focus of Lois Leveen's The Secrets of Mary Bowser) worked alongside Elizabeth. While the book is again fiction, and there is undoubtedly some creative license involved, Chiaverini does both women great justice.

To see more stops on the tour be sure to check out the official TLC tour page here.

For more on the author and her work you can find her on the web here. You can also like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

One Night in Winter by Simon Sebag Montefiore

Good morning, readers! Today I'm a stop on the TLC book tour for Simon Sebag Montefiore's latest, One Night in Winter.

It was supposed to be a game. A group of students - almost all children of high ranking members of Russian society - who call themselves the Fatal Romantics. The game was nothing more than a reenactment of Pushkin's duel. But on the evening of the Victory Parade, the day they were set to play, two of them died. Stalin's investigators have been ordered to show no favoritism - not to the children and certainly not to their parents; they are to set an example. And what at first seems like a simple investigation soon becomes a terrifying ordeal.  

I was just a kid in the 80s and not a very observant one when it came to politics, so I have almost no memory of the Cold War itself. But I did grow up in a time when there were many pop culture references to the long running issue. I think it's this that has left me so fascinated by Russian history and historical fiction based around such.

Simon Sebag Montefiore uses real events as the inspiration behind this tale. There was an actual Children's Case, one he discusses in an afterword outlining the history behind the story. The Fatal Romantics and the game are fiction as are many of the characters (a lot of whom are based on real people). The plot is very well built and the story flows immaculately. This is not a heavy, fact-laden historical that reads more like a textbook than fiction. Not at all. This is a captivating and thrilling story that reads fabulously.

I found the kids in particular to be of great interest: Andrei - the son of a State enemy. Andrei's father's crimes aren't detailed to the reader when we meet the son, but his shadow hangs over everything the boy does; Serafima - the daughter of a famous Russian actress (and connected to Montefiore's previous release, Sashenka); George - the son of one of Stalin's closest advisors. George's brother is a pilot whose observances about the planes' tendency to crash aren't welcome in this new Russia... Like Andrei, each of the children lives in their parents' shadows. Of course when those same parents are faced with their children's imprisonment many of them are forced to face hard truths about the government and leader in which they've placed their faith.

Stalinist Russia is a terrifying setting for any story. The kids toe the line because of who their parents are but they are always dangerously close to upsetting the fine balance between what their status allows them and what is really allowed by the government (and by Stalin). And perhaps that's why I found this story and those characters in particular so interesting. They are on the cusp of adulthood but don't truly understand the world around them. Their game - all in fun but with the added allure of the possibility of danger - pushes them over the edge and forces them to face this new horrifying reality.

And there's a mystery of course - what really happened the night of the Victory Parade?

Rating: 4/5

To see more stops on the tour be sure to check out the official TLC tour page here.

For more on the author and his work you can find him on the web here. You can also like him on Facebook.

Petals on the Wind by VC Andrews

They're back! The Dollangangers, that is.

Whew - Lifetime fast tracked that one! Flowers in the Attic just aired in January and now the sequel is airing May 26.

And in honor of the airing of Petals on the Wind Pocket Books is holding a Flowers in the Attic/Petals on the Wind sweepstakes. Go to the Pocket Books Facebook page beginning May 20th to enter for a prize pack of Flowers in the Attic and Petals on the Wind, and the Flowers in the Attic DVD.

Petals on the Wind picks up immediately where Flowers in the Attic left off, with the three remaining Dollanganger siblings on the bus to Florida as planned. When Carrie's illness becomes overwhelming they're forced to stop short to seek medical attention. They're fortunate enough to cross paths with Henrietta Beech, whose employer is a doctor. Paul Sheffield not only treats the siblings' ailments but takes them under his wing. And thus the new chapter in their saga begins. 

So in the wake of everything that happened in the attic, apparently Cathy's mental health has suffered more than just a little bit. I was confused by this new temptress Cathy who revels in her newfound power over the opposite sex while also chastising the same men who fall under her spell.

As I'd expected, this sequel is every bit as outrageous as it's predecessor. (I'll surely be tuning in for the movie even if it will be to mainly to follow all the Twitter action that'll no doubt accompany it. The tweets that went with the airing of Flowers in the Attic made it a highly memorable experience!)

And of course it only marks the halfway point with the story since there are two additional titles and a prequel in the series.

*New Dollanganger news! According to this piece from The Hollywood Reporter there are going to be two spinoff titles hitting shelves soon.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Almost Put Down But Didn't

I've decided to jump on board with Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week the topic is: Top Ten Books I Almost Put Down But Didn't.

I have a hard time abandoning books - oftentimes, when I do, I tell myself I'll come back to it (and I have a stack of those!). Here are some I kind of had to force myself to stick through and was so glad that I did:

1. London Falling by Paul Cornell - I'd been really looking forward to this one so it was fortunate that I came across a review by another blogger who'd made some of the same observances I did in the beginning of the book and promised that readers who stuck it out would be rewarded. It was true, the book was spectacular and I'm so glad I didn't give up on it!

2. The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison - this one came with a lot of buzz but I just wasn't loving it - at least not until the very end!

3. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson - I wasn't necessarily going to give up on this one but I did have a few false starts. It started to seem as though I'd never make it through. It is such a wonderful series, though, and one that I highly recommend to anyone looking for clever mysteries with great characters.

4. Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin - the first time I tried to read this I swore it just wasn't for me. It took me over five years to come back to it and now I'm a HUGE fangirl. We'll just say the first try wasn't the right time for me to read it.

5. Jonathan Strange &  Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke - this is seriously one of my favorite books but I struggled with it for a while. My biggest issue was having enough downtime to get through the first part without feeling like I was getting nowhere. But oh, how the book moves after that!

And here are some that I did stick through to the end but would have been better off abandoning:

1. The Witching Hour by Anne Rice - I'd dropped this one with just 100 pages to go. When I finally went back to it I realized I didn't particularly like the way it actually ended. 

2. The Pillow Friend by Lisa Tuttle - I'm almost ashamed at how much I disliked this book because I've read other works by Tuttle and really enjoyed them. 

3. Violets are Blue by James Patterson - I've liked some Patterson and been underwhelmed by others, but this was the one that made me decide not to read him anymore. I know he has a massive, massive following but he's just not my thing.

4. Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin - when I read this, it was because the movie was due out and a coworker raved about this author. I really did not like this book or the movie one bit. 

5. In the Dark of Night by John Saul - sadly I've outgrown Saul. I just don't enjoy his work the same way I did when I was a teen. 

One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern

Hi, everyone! Today I'm a stop on the TLC book tour for Cecelia Ahern's latest, One Hundred Names.

Kitty Logan screwed up and it could mean the end of her career. Bombarded by sources she believed to be truthful, Kitty ran with a story that ruined a man's life, and now she's suffering the consequences. Worse yet, her mentor - and one of the few people who still supports (and employs) her - is dying. 

Constance has been Kitty's rock, her moral support, and her guide from the beginning of her career. During their last visit, Constance mentions a story, one she'd hoped to write but never had the chance. She directs Kitty to a file simply called "names" and says she'll explain everything on their next visit. But Constance passes away before that happens. Now Constance's magazine wants to run an homage to her and has given Kitty permission to run with her last story. But when Kitty opens the file all she finds is a list of 100 names. 

From the start of her career, Ahern has been known for her warm and heartfelt stories. P.S. I Love You; Love, Rosie; A Place Called Here... every one of them has a magical element (figuratively,  though some literally) and I've enjoyed each of them. One of the things I love best is that each new book is completely different from the last. Whether it be a story about dying wishes, invisible friends, a strange place to get lost in, each book is a gem that shows great range and talent on the part of the author.

One Hundred Names is certainly no exception. Here we have a mysterious list of 100 names and Kitty's attempts to connect them - to tease out the story that her best friend always intended. And along the way she learns a little bit about herself as well. One Hundred Names is a wonderful feel good story, one I guarantee you'll love! (After my own heavy reading of late it was exactly what I needed and I gobbled it up in one sitting!)

Rating: 5/5

To see more stops on the tour be sure to visit the official TLC tour page here.

For more on Cecelia Ahern and her work you can find her on the web here. You can also like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joël Dicker - a giveaway

It's a countdown to the release of Joël Dicker's debut! You may recall my mentioning this release last month in a Pre Pub Book Buzz post. We're now exactly two weeks from the book's release and I get to offer up a copy to one of you fine folks!

But first, here's the author to tell you a little about the book:



The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair hits shelves Tuesday, May 27.

And now for the giveaway - to enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below before Monday, May 26. US/Canada only please.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Dirty Book Murder by Thomas Shawver + a giveaway

Good morning, readers! Today I'm a stop on the TLC book tour for Thomas Shawver's The Dirty Book Murder. There's a tour wide giveaway here so be sure to read through to the bottom to enter.

Michael Bevan is a bookman. A former lawyer and Marine, Bevan lost his license after he turned to drugs and alcohol in the wake of his wife's tragic death. He managed to pick up the pieces of his life and, with the help of a friend, opened Riverrun Books, a popular used bookstore. But Bevan hopes his used bookstore will soon be able to boast a good collection of rare and collectible titles as well. It is this hope that prompts him to attend an auction advertising "lots of erotic books (includes Shakee Hen)," which he believes may be a collection of rare Japanese art. Sure enough, the collection on auction does indeed contain the piece he'd hoped for - along with a number of other quite valuable titles. Sadly, Bevan and his fellow antiquarian dealers are outbid. One fellow colleague is not to be deterred, however, and Bevan witnesses the man steal a volume from the lot before its new owner claims them. When the same man turns up murdered soon after, with Bevan the most likely suspect, he has no choice but to find out the truth. 

I was a bit surprised at this one. Shawver's debut has a bit of a goofball side to it: Bevan and some of his friends are all a bit humorous and lighthearted, especially at the beginning. The crime itself, though, is much darker than that would have led me to believe. I'm sure some will feel the style and the plot are a bit at odds with one another but I actually found it quite appealing.

The Dirty Book Murder is to be the first in a new series featuring Bevan. I like the idea of the antiquarian book dealer as an unofficial investigator, and found that it wasn't as unlikely as it would seem. Shawver does a good job of building Bevan up as a character whose various capabilities are quite convincing: ex lawyer, ex Marine, and the grandson of the town's former chief of police as well.

All in all, while The Dirty Book Murder did have some minor flaws I associate with first outings (just some general issues with fluidity), it was a great start to a new series - one that I definitely intend to read more of down the line!

Rating: 3.5/5

And now for the giveaway. As I mentioned this is a tour wide giveaway. To enter simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To see more stops on the tour be sure to check out the official TLC tour page here.