The Oracle...Sarah Weston is back!

The Oracle (The Sarah Weston Chronicles, Book Three) by D.J Niko

Publication Date: November 10, 2015 Medallion Press Paperback; 456p ISBN-13: 978-1605426273 Genre: Historical/Archaeological Adventure

   

   In Delphi, the mountain city deemed by the Greek gods to be the center of the Earth, a cult of neo-pagans re-create with painstaking authenticity ancient rituals to glorify the god Apollo and deliver oracles to seekers from around the world. When antiquities are stolen from a museum in nearby Thebes, British archaeologist Sarah Weston and her American partner, Daniel Madigan, are drawn into a plot that goes beyond harmless role-playing: someone's using the Delphian oracle as a smoke screen for an information exchange, with devastating consequences for the Western world. Pitted against each other by the cult's mastermind, Sarah and Daniel race against time and their own personal demons to uncover clues left behind by the ancients. Their mission: to find the original navel stone marked with a lost Pythagorean formula detailing the natural events that led to the collapse of the Minoan Empire. But will they find it in time to stop the ultimate terrorist act?


my thoughts:
I've grown quite fond of Sarah and Daniel.  This book continues their exciting "Indiana Jones" like lifestyle.  It's a fun and exciting story full of twists and turns.   I like the manner in which the author keeps bringing us from the past to the present.  We understand the importance of the relics being sought by not only Daniel and Sarah but by some less scrupulous individuals.  All in all, a fun and exciting novel.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | INDIE BOUND

About the Author

Daphne
 Nikolopoulos, photography by Lauren Lieberman / LILA PHOTO      Daphne Nikolopoulos in an award-winning journalist, author, editor, and lecturer. Under the pen name D.J. Niko, she has written two novels in an archaeological thriller series titled The Sarah Weston Chronicles. Her debut novel, The Tenth Saint (Medallion Press, 2012), won the Gold Medal (popular fiction) in the prestigious, juried Florida Book Awards. Her follow-up release, The Riddle of Solomon, continues the story of British archaeologist Sarah Weston as she seeks the relics and mystical secrets left behind by the biblical King Solomon in remote Israel.   Also slated for publication in 2015 is her first historical novel, The Judgment, which is set in Israel and Egypt in the tenth century BCE. In addition to writing fiction, Daphne is editor in chief of Palm Beach Illustrated magazine and editorial director of Palm Beach Media Group. Prior to that, she was a travel journalist who logged hundreds of thousands of miles traveling across the globe, with emphasis on little-known and off-the-beaten-path locales, many of which have inspired her novels. Daphne frequently lectures about her research on the ancient world. She is an instructor at Florida Atlantic University's Lifelong Learning Society, teaching on the subject of archaeology. She has also spoken to audiences at the Jewish Community Center of the Palm Beaches' Academy for Continuous Education, and several libraries and private groups throughout Florida. Born and raised in Athens, Greece, Daphne now resides in West Palm Beach with her husband and twin son and daughter. You can find her on the Web at djnikobooks.com and connect with her on Facebook (AuthorDJNiko) and on Twitter: @djnikobooks.

Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, December 1 Review at Kristin Un-Ravelle'd

  Wednesday, December 2 Review at Book Lovers Paradise

Friday, December 4 Spotlight at Diana's Book Reviews

  Thursday, December 10 Review at One Book Shy of a Full Shelf

  Friday, December 11 Guest Post & Giveaway at One Book Shy of a Full Shelf Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews

THE CONQUERORS WIFE...BY STEPHANIE THORNTON

I LOVE THIS COVER!!!!!

The Conqueror's Wife: A Novel of Alexander the Great by Stephanie Thornton

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


my thoughts:

WOW. This is seriously one of the best books I have read in a very long time.  Every book by Stephanie Thornton is better than the previous one, and this is no exception.  I read this in a day!

The characters are amazing.  Nike, Olympias, Drypetis, Roxana, and all the other women who surrounded Alexander.  Hephaestion was a fabulous character.  Everything Alexander wasn't.  Interesting, down to earth, charming... As you can tell, I much preferred him to the larger than life Alexander the Great.   

This book focuses on the women and the men who surround the great ruler, rather than Alexander himself.  We see the effects these people have on Alexander.  These people are real.  You, the reader, will love some of them, feel pity for many, and distaste for others.   Personally, I absolutely adored Drypetis, daughter of Darius of Persia.   She is a hoot! Full of spice and vinegar!.   Even though Olympias has always had a bad reputation, I enjoyed reading about her machinations and behind the scenes attempt to hold power while Alexander was away at battle.   SPOILERS...........(Can you have spoilers in a historical fiction novel...this happened centuries ago)...........
Olympias's death was satisfying to read.  She needed to pay for her evil ways.  I wish Roxana's death had been played out more in the novel.  I didn't dislike Roxana.  I disliked her actions, but I saw her as an unfortunate character attempting to escape her horrible upbringing.  She did what she had to, to escape her life.  

I could rave for hours about Stephanie Thornton's writing style and this book, but  just know, when you begin reading you will feel compelled to read until you finish.  It is non stop action.  From the battlefields to the bedrooms.  

The best yet by this amazing author!

AMAZON (KINDLE) | AMAZON (PAPERBACK) | 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. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

 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

Blog Tour Hosted By

MEDICI'S DAUGHTER

   Winter, 1564. Beautiful young Princess Margot is summoned to the court of France, where nothing is what it seems and a wrong word can lead to ruin. Known across Europe as Madame la Serpente, Margot's intimidating mother, Queen Catherine de MÈdicis, is a powerful force in a country devastated by religious war. Among the crafty nobility of the royal court, Margot learns the intriguing and unspoken rules she must live by to please her poisonous family. Eager to be an obedient daughter, Margot accepts her role as a marriage pawn, even as she is charmed by the powerful, charismatic Duc de Guise. Though Margot's heart belongs to Guise, her hand will be offered to Henri of Navarre, a Huguenot leader and a notorious heretic looking to seal a tenuous truce. But the promised peace is a mirage: her mother's schemes are endless, and her brothers plot vengeance in the streets of Paris. When Margot's wedding devolves into the bloodshed of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, she will be forced to choose between her family and her soul. MÈdicis Daughter is historical fiction at its finest, weaving a unique coming-of-age story and a forbidden love with one of the most dramatic and violent events in French history.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | INDIEBOUND

Advance Praise

"This is Renaissance France meets Game of Thrones: dark, sumptuous historical fiction that coils religious strife, court intrigue, passionate love, family hatred, and betrayed innocence like a nest of poisonous snakes. Beautiful Princess Margot acts as our guide to the heart of her violent family, as she blossoms from naive court pawn to woman of conscience and renown. A highly recommended coming-of-age tale where the princess learns to slay her own dragons!" --Kate Quinn, Bestselling author of LADY OF THE ETERNAL CITY

 "The riveting story of a 16th century French princess caught in the throes of royal intrigue and religious war. From the arms of the charismatic Duke of Guise to the blood-soaked streets of Paris, Princess Marguerite runs a dangerous gauntlet, taking the reader with her. An absolutely gripping read!" --Michelle Moran, bestselling author of THE REBEL QUEEN

 "Rising above the chorus of historical drama is Perinot's epic tale of the fascinating, lascivious, ruthless House of Valois, as told through the eyes of the complicated and intelligent Princess Marguerite. Burdened by her unscrupulous family and desperate for meaningful relationships, Margot is forced to navigate her own path in sixteenth century France. Amid wars of nation and heart, MÈdicis Daughter brilliantly demonstrates how one unique woman beats staggering odds to find the strength and power that is her birthright." --Erika Robuck, bestselling author of HEMINGWAY'S GIRL



my thoughts:

Brilliant.  This is what I call a "WOW" book. 

  I've read several novels about the unscrupulous Valois family, most of which make Margot a lesser character.  This book centered on her and her various relationships with her difficult family members.   This is a well written historical fictional tale of French history.   Sophie Perinot has created a wonderful tale revolving around an incredibly dysfunctional family, led by Queen Mother Catherine de Medici, (aka la Serpente..yes THE SNAKE)   

 Unlike many historical fiction novels, this book doesn't read like a history book, but like a fantastic tale.  We have a front row seat to several sixteenth century events, including the St. Bartholemew's Day Massacre and the religious upheaval in France.  We glimpse life inside the French court during the reign of the Valois.

 Interesting story, but not a quick read, plan to spend a great deal of time reading this absorbing novel.  The time spent will not be wasted.  You will become enthralled as you read, I promise.  

 As a reader, and a lover of history, I was fascinated by this novel.
I give it 5/5 teacups. 
PS.  I have re-read this book not once but TWICE, it's that good!!!

About the Author

SOPHIE PERINOT is the author of The Sister Queens and one of six contributing authors of A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii. A former attorney, Perinot is now a full-time writer. She lives in Great Falls, Virginia with her three children, three cats, one dog and one husband. An active member of the Historical Novel Society, Sophie has attended all of the group's North American Conferences and served as a panelist multiple times. Find her among the literary twitterati as @Lit_gal or on Facebook.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, November 16 Review at The Mad Reviewer Review at Peeking Between the Pages Tuesday, November 17 Review at Just One More Chapter Wednesday, November 18 Review at The Maiden's Court Thursday, November 19 Review at The Eclectic Reader Friday, November 20 Review at The True Book Addict Monday, November 23 Review at Broken Teepee Guest Post at A Literary Vacation Tuesday, November 24 Review at Book Lovers Paradise Wednesday, November 25 Review at A Literary Vacation Friday, November 27 Spotlight at Historical Fiction Connection Monday, November 30 Review at leeanna.me Tuesday, December 1 Review at To Read, Or Not to Read Wednesday, December 2 Review at Bibliophilia, Please Thursday, December 3 Review at The Book Binder's Daughter Friday, December 4 Guest Post at Bibliophilia, Please Monday, December 7 Review at Flashlight Commentary Tuesday, December 8 Interview at Flashlight Commentary Wednesday, December 9 Review at Curling Up By the Fire Thursday, December 10 Review at The Readers Hollow Friday, December 11 Review at Reading Lark Monday, December 14 Review at A Book Geek Tuesday, December 15 Review at The Lit Bitch Wednesday, December 16 Review at CelticLady's Reviews Friday, December 18 Review & Interview at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book Monday, December 21 Review at Bookish Tuesday, December 22 Spotlight at Passages to the Past Wednesday, December 23 Review & Guest Post at Historical Fiction Obsession Monday, December 28 Review at Unshelfish Tuesday, December 29 Interview at Unshelfish Thursday, December 31 Review at The Reading Queen

IMPOSTERS OF PATRIOTISM

Paperback, 348 pages

Published June 15th 2014 by Createspace

ISBN 1499175884 (ISBN13: 9781499175882)

edition languageEnglish

seriesMatt Hawkins #1

characters:Matt Hawkins, Sarah Gordon, Buzz Penberthy, Hank Gordon, James Fox

about the book:

Savannah, Georgia antiques store owner Matt Hawkins discovers a two-hundred-year-old journal containing a stunning accusation. The journal claims that America's most revered hero, George Washington, wrote a secret surrender letter to the British during the Revolutionary War-a seditious act that would have ended America's fight for independence. Meanwhile, the present-day race for president of the United States is a dead heat. The Republican nominee, a direct descendant of Washington's family, has shamelessly exploited his ties to the Founding Father-a strategy that has worked brilliantly to eliminate a once wide gap in the polls. As the past collides with the present, Hawkins and lovely historian Sarah Gordon are determined to unearth the truth about the journal's remarkable claim. But they must avoid a shadowy adversary who has a billion dollars riding on the election's outcome-and who will stop at nothing to ensure that Washington's surrender letter remains a secret. Ted Richardson's debut novel can perhaps best be described as historical fiction wrapped inside a modern-day mystery. Richardson ingeniously blends actual historical events with innovative mystery to create a fast-moving, well-plotted tale of suspense. 

my thoughts

I just finished this book.  Imagine, George Washington surrendering to the British.  (It doesn't really happen, the letter of surrender is never sent...but just think, how different would our lives be if Britain won the war?)

Imagine the consequences to any of Washington's descendants if such a letter was ever discovered.

A fantastic, well written book.  

If you have any interest in history, revolutionary history, or American history, this book is for you!!!

TENDING BRIGID'S FLAME

Paperback, 288 pages

Expected publication: November 8th 2015 by Llewellyn Publications

ISBN 0738740896 (ISBN13: 9780738740898)

Brigid is worshiped worldwide as a source of inspiration, protection, and blessing. In Tending Brigid's Flame, Lunaea Weatherstone presents the beloved Celtic goddess as a true soul-friend for women today, exploring her legends and lore, attributes and allies, holidays, symbols, and sacred places. Filled with rituals, exercises, and meditations, Tending Brigid's Flame shows how to welcome Brigid into your home and make sacred all the activities of everyday life, from food magic to faery traditions, and from scrying to personal healing. Using the symbolism of fires that burn in hearth, temple, and forge, this breathtaking book sends you on a journey through the transformative power of one of the world's most revered goddesses.

With illuminating reflections and real-world inspiration from nineteen wisewoman devotees of Brigid

my thoughts:

I became interested in the Goddess Brigid after reading several celtic themed books with Brigid as a main character.   This fascinating book by Lunaea Weatherstone increased my knowledge of Brigid as well as Celtic legend.  The author seemed to have a unique connection with Brigid, and this connection was relayed throughout the book.

Brigid is a complex and multidimensional Celtic Goddess, and this book greatly enhanced my understanding of her.   On a personal level, I am still seeking a path and exploring all avenues.   I am drawn to the Celtic goddess and wish to learn even more.  I will look for more writings by Lunaea Weatherstone.

This is a well written, highly enjoyable book.