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Have you visited The Book Review Crew blog? We're shining the bookish spotlight on this delightful blog run by dedicated readers who love to read. Really, is there anything better? They aren't kidding when they say they enjoy a wide variety of genres, so no matter what you enjoy, you're sure to find a great book there. You can learn more about them by visiting their blog: https://thebookreviewcrew.com And get more info about what they review in our book blogger directory .

“A magnificent book! This masterful culmination of Patricia Bracewell’s epic Emma of Normandy trilogy could rival any Norse saga.” —Anne Easter Smith, author of This Son of York The Steel Beneath the Silk A breathtaking conclusion to Bracewell’s Emma of Normandy Trilogy, brimming with treachery, heartache, tenderness and passion as the English queen confronts ambitious and traitorous councilors, invading armies and the Danish king’s power-hungry concubine. In the year 1012 England’s Norman-born Queen Emma has been ten years wed to an aging, ruthless, haunted King Æthelred. The marriage is a bitterly unhappy one, between a queen who seeks to create her own sphere of influence within the court and a suspicious king who eyes her efforts with hostility and resentment. But royal discord shifts to grudging alliance when Cnut of Denmark, with the secret collusion of his English concubine Elgiva, invades England at the head of a massive Viking army. Amid the chaos of war, Emma must outwit a fierce enemy whose goal is conquest and outmaneuver the cunning Elgiva, who threatens all those whom Emma loves. AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOKSHOP | INDIEBOUND | KOBO Meet the Author Q&A with Patricia Bracewell Books & Benches: Please join us in welcoming Patricia Bracewell to the B&B blog. We've read rave reviews for her fascinating works of historical fiction, but let's hear directly from the author on her writing and a little something extra about the book. Who are your main characters? Tell us a little about what makes them tick. Emma of Normandy has been bound in a political marriage for ten years to a man she neither loves nor respects. Intelligent and deeply religious, her strongest character trait is loyalty, so she is loyal to the king despite her dislike for him, her outrage at his brutal acts, even despite her love for another man. She has to walk a very fine line, though, between her loyalty to the king for the sake of her children, her belief in what is right and wrong, and her resentment at the king’s efforts to marginalize her. She is protective of those in her care. She knows who her enemies are and does whatever she must to thwart them. She has suffered great loss, and that has matured and even hardened her. She can be self-reproachful and sometimes doubts herself. Elgiva is an English noblewoman who is convinced that she is destined for queenship. She is tortured by the fate that has made her a woman in a man’s world, but she uses her sexuality to get what she wants. She is determined to be the spinner of her own fate. She loves intrigue, but only to pursue her own ends. She is not very perceptive. She only really understands people who are just like her—driven by a desire for power. She is a risk-taker, afraid of almost no one. Her conviction of her own invincibility gives her courage to face just about anything….even death. Do you have to be alone or have quiet to write? Yes, I have to be alone and quiet. It’s a mystery to me how other very fine writers can listen to music while they work. I would find it utterly distracting. Nor is there any question of going off to a coffee shop to write—something that I did ages ago before I decided to write a historical novel. I’d have to bring several shelves of books along with me in case I wanted to verify something. Horribly impractical. Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book? I want each of my novels about Emma of Normandy to stand on its own. This gets harder with each book, though. The early drafts of The Steel Beneath the Silk leaned heavily upon events that happened in Shadow on the Crown and The Price of Blood , but I needed it to stand on its own two feet. An editor went through it and suggested where I could bring in just a line or two of back story—enough to give a reader new to the trilogy necessary information, yet not so much that readers familiar with the first two books would be bored. Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones? Yes, I read my book reviews. Once a book is out in the world, it doesn’t really belong to the author any more. It belongs to readers, and because each reader brings different life experiences to the book, it strikes different readers in different ways. I’m sometimes astonished at the insights that readers give me to my own work. Of course I appreciate the positive reviews. As for the ones that are critical, well, everyone is entitled to an opinion. Novelists have to be thick-skinned, which is not to say that negative reviews don’t bother me, but I try not to read them more than once. If you were to genre-hop, which genres would you most like to try writing? It would be fun to try my hand at medieval fantasy. A reviewer wrote that The Steel Beneath the Silk is like Game of Thrones without the dragons and I thought, “Hmm. Maybe I should add some dragons sometime.” The trouble is, George Martin, Tolkien and Anne McCaffrey have already done it, and brilliantly. Still, that northern European, mythic world has always appealed to me. I would enjoy immersing myself in it for a time. Want more? Read an excerpt from chapter one. The Author Patricia Bracewell grew up in Los Angeles where her love of stories led to college degrees in Literature, a career as a high school English teacher, and a yearning to write. Her first novel, Shadow on the Crown , about the 11th-century queen of England, Emma of Normandy, was published in 2013. Its sequel, The Price of Blood , appeared in 2015. The final book of her Emma of Normandy Trilogy, The Steel Beneath the Silk was published March 2, 2021. Patricia lives with her husband in Oakland, California. Visit her website at http://www.patriciabracewell.com FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM Genre: Medieval/Historical Fiction Type: Novel Publisher: Bellastoria Press Publication Date: March 2, 2021 Series: Emma of Normandy, book 3 Content Rating: PG-13 View our rating system Tour Giveaway During the Blog Tour, the author is giving away two paperback copies of The Steel Beneath the Silk ! The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on March 30, 2021. You must be 18 or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law. This giveaway is sponsored by the author and hosted by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

Meet the Thompsons of Locust Street, an unconventional family taking Philadelphia high society by storm… The Bareknuckle Groom 1869 Bareknuckle champion, James Thompson, is confident his future continues with beautiful women and victories in the boxing ring. Men admire his skills, power, and quick fists, and are more than willing to bet their hard-earned coins on his name. Women admire his handsome face, his undaunted confidence, and his powerful body. Nothing will change his successfully plotted course, until… Lucinda Vermeal arrives on the Philadelphia social scene when her father moves them to the city in the hopes that his only daughter will find a suitable partner. After all, her husband will be intimately involved with Vermeal Industries whose business interests and political connections touch France, England and all of the United States. Lucinda’s pale statuesque beauty attracts the finest of Philadelphia’s young men, but her cool and reserved attitude keep them at arm’s length. Until she meets a man willing to challenge her at every turn. Will James Thompson expose Lucinda’s passionate nature like no other man ever could? AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | APPLE | KOBO Add to Goodreads Enjoy an Excerpt from The Bareknuckle Bride The Author Holly Bush’s historical romances are set during the turbulent and transformative years of the late 1800’s. The first two books in her newest series, The Gentrys of Paradise , released in the spring of 2017 and began with the novella Into the Evermore where readers meet Virginia horse breeders, Eleanor and Beauregard Gentry. The following books feature their children, Adam, Matthew, and Olivia. For the Brave is Matthew’s story and is the first full length book of the series. Olivia’s book, For This Moment , released in the spring of 2018. The final book, For Her Honor , is now available. Holly makes her home with her husband, one happy Labrador Retriever and a clever Jack Russell rescued from the pound, and two difficult cats in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Connect with Holly at www.hollybushbooks.com , on Twitter @hollybushbooks, and on Facebook at Holly Bush. Follow Holly on her Amazon author page to receive new release updates and on BookBub to check out her reviews and get sale information. Genre: Historical Romance Type: Novel Publication Date: March 9, 2021 Series: The Thompsons of Locust Street, Book #2 Content Rating: 5 Hearts View our rating system Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

We're thrilled to welcome Christy Barritt, author of Mountain Survival , on her tour hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours ! Mountain Survival An injured victim has disappeared… Can a park ranger and her K-9 find him? When search-and-rescue park ranger Autumn Mercer and her K-9 partner, Sherlock, meet a stranger in the mountains whose brother is injured, they drop everything to help. But all they find where Derek Peterson last saw his sibling is a trail of blood—and men who want them dead. With gunmen closing in, can Autumn and Derek survive long enough to save his brother? Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | Christianbook Add to BookBub | Goodreads More Books in the K-9 Search & Rescue Series Courage and optimism unite on the pages of Love Inspired Suspense. Find strength and determination in stories of faith and love in the face of danger. Discover all Love Inspired Suspense has to offer here ! Enjoy an Excerpt from Mountain Survival “It’s up to you, Sherlock,” Autumn Mercer murmured as she knelt beside her dog. “You have to find her.” Sherlock barked, his tongue hanging from his mouth as he panted with excitement. Autumn held a sweater belonging to one of her coworkers beneath her dog’s nose. Sherlock sniffed it before sitting at attention and waiting patiently for her command. The dog was practically salivating to get to work. Autumn paused a beat before saying, “Search!” At once, Sherlock tugged at his leash and started toward the thick forest on the edge of the small, secluded parking lot. The dog never looked as happy as when he had a job to do. The Australian shepherd, a red merle with striking blue eyes, was always a sight to behold. In the three years since Autumn had been training him for search and rescue missions, the canine had become like a family member. She followed behind him, careful to track her steps so she could find her way back later. Every month, Autumn did these exercises with her dog so they could be prepared when needed. Just last week, she and her team had to track down a missing fourteen-year-old who’d wandered away from his family on a camping trip. Sherlock had also helped with search and rescue missions involving the elderly, hikers who explored off the marked trail and once an entire family who’d gotten lost while geocaching. Sherlock paused near a tree and sniffed. Then he veered to the left, deeper into the wilderness. “Good job, boy,” Autumn said. “Keep going.” Autumn pulled her jacket closer as she tramped between hemlock and oak trees. Even though it was October, a chill lingered in the air today. It didn’t help that the sun was obscured behind gray clouds overhead. A massive storm system was coming this way, but she had at least two hours until it arrived. She planned to make the most of her time. As Sherlock pulled her, she glanced around. The leaves on the trees around her were gorgeous. There was nothing like fall in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. At least, in her estimation. End of Excerpt Copyright © 2021 by Christy Barritt. Shared with permission. TOUR GIVEAWAY (1) winner will receive a print copy of Mountain Survival ! Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight March 10, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 17, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here . Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops! The Author Christy Barritt loves stories and has been writing them for as long as she can remember. When she’s not working on books, Christy writes articles for various publications. She’s also a frequent speaker at various writers groups, women’s luncheons and church events. She’s married to Scott, a teacher. They have two sons, two dogs and a houseplant named Martha. For more information, visit her website at www.christybarritt.com . Connect with Christy: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Title: Mountain Survival Series: K-9 Search and Rescue #3 Type: Novel Author: Christy Barritt Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense Release Date: February 1, 2021 Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense Content Note: 2 Hearts View our rating system Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

We're welcoming thriller writer Allan Evans, author of Abnormally Abbey and Killing Time . Allan gives us a behind-the-scenes look at Killer Blonde, a "knockout book" set in the Twin Cities. Killer Blonde Every serial killer has a type. But what if that type is part of a larger, more dangerous agenda? With virtually identical women being murdered in Minnesota, panic is causing huge political pressure to get the killer off the streets. Celebrated investigator Cade Dawkins is given the hot potato case and hopes to get it wrapped up before the governor has his head. But the killer has his own agenda—one that goes beyond simply murdering knockout blondes. As it becomes a cat and mouse game between killer and investigator, Dawkins begins to realize he just may be the mouse. Amazon | Add to Goodreads In the author's words . . . Killer Blonde was a labor of love. Setting the book in the Twin Cities and writing the characters was surprisingly fun—even with such a dark subject. Q&A with Allan Evans What is your favorite scene in Killer Blonde ? I love writing the interaction between characters. As cool as having a loner main character sounds, it makes for a better story when characters argue, tease and have fun together. For an example, take one of my favorite scenes with Cade, his boss Capt. Rejene and his partner Rob: Capt. Rejene’s head swung around from Rob to Cade. “Really? You picked this time to get involved with the most prominent newsperson in the entire city? The same one who has a source within our investigation?” Lt. Rejene did not look pleased. At all. “Look, it just happened. I wasn’t looking for anything from her, but sometimes things happen. And just so you know, she isn’t getting anything from me.” “Information, you mean,” Rob interjected. Cade shook his head and held up a finger. “Reynolds isn’t getting information from me. Her source is someone else.” Which writer(s) inspire you? Without a doubt, I wouldn’t be writing if it wasn’t for John Sandford. His amazing storytelling in his Prey series featuring Lucas Davenport has thrilled me for decades and inspired me to write my own books. How do you select the names of your characters? The main character, Cade Dawkins, is named after my son Cade. Most of my characters are based on people I know. Some, I simply borrow a name, while others may have a few more traits thrown in. But, to paraphrase a common legal disclaimer: any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is meant to be a compliment. Do you have to be alone or have quiet to write? I may be the oddball among writers, but I prefer people and anything but quiet when I write. As I type this, I’m in a Starbucks with plenty of people (spaced appropriately apart) with louder music playing. I find I’m bopping my head to Payphone by Maroon 5 If you were to genre-hop, which genres would you most like to try writing? I’m a sucker for a good time travel story—and who says you can’t mix a thriller with time travel? Imagine a police officer with a found cell phone. It’s an odd looking cell, but it seems like there’s new models coming out weekly. When he redials the last number called to find out whose phone he has, a series of tones from the phone sends him reeling with vertigo as he hangs onto his squad car. When he comes out of it, he’s not by his squad, but instead he finds himself in an alley. Outside of the alley he’s drawn by a large crowd and follows them into the downtown area. Surprisingly, there’s mass chaos. There are demonstrators, police in full riot gear and helicopters buzzing overhead, and television cameras everywhere. Just like a week ago when there was a massive political event. Just like a week ago… Examining the phone, he wonders if the unbelievable has happened: did he just make a call to the past that brought him here? If so, he wants it to end and he pushed the red END button. The tones and the vertigo return, doubling him over. And he finds himself at his squad car once again. Curiouser and curiouser. See? It can work. Want more? Read Chapter One on the author's website >> The Author As the son of a prominent jazz musician, Allan Evans grew up surrounded by music, art and literature. Since he was named after Edgar Allan Poe, it isn’t surprising he became a writer. While most of his career has been working as an advertising copywriter, it was John Sandford’s brilliant storytelling in his Prey series that inspired Evans to begin writing his own novels. He is also the author of Abnormally Abbey (Immortal Works). Learn more at https://www.evanswriter.com . Genre: Mystery/Thriller - Not Romance Specific Type: Novel Publication Date: February 2, 2021 Immortal Works Press Content Rating: PG-13 (1): Non-Descriptive Sex; Some Violence View our rating system Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

Three heart-pounding, action-packed e-books in the Kyndall Family Thriller series are free or on sale for a limited time! A romantic suspense series filled with spine-tingling thrills and alluring romance. Set against some of America’s most beautiful landscapes, from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and the Highlands of Maine, to the sweeping peaks of Alaska. You’re bound to fall in love with the characters—and their surroundings. "Blade of Death" The short story prequel (non-romance) Free Feb 21 - 25, 2021 (e-book) Get the Book >> He'll strike when she least expects it. Alexa Kyndall, an FBI special agent, has seen too many vile and unrepentant people escape justice. After coming off a harrowing kidnapping case, she visits her hometown of Stewart’s Crossing while on a two-week vacation. Set in the wilderness of Alaska, "Blade of Death" will leave readers on edge and grasping for clues in this short story prequel to the Kyndall Family Thrillers. Join Alexa and her brothers as they track down a killer before an old friend becomes his next victim. The Dragon's Staircase Book One (stand alone) Only 99 cents Feb 21 - 27, 2021 (e-book) Get the Book >> A woman haunted by her past. A man willing to do whatever it takes to save her. A killer closing in. FBI Agent Alexa Kyndall devoted eight years of her life to the search for justice, showing no mercy to the guilty and depraved. When she joins a special task force to bring down a serial killer, Alexa encounters the most unexpected criminal of her career. When a child witnesses a brutal slaying, Alexa's life becomes intertwined with Craig Pierson's, a man with his own haunted past. They join forces, only to discover they must put everything on the line in a pulse-pounding struggle to protect and survive. Nestled in a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, The Dragon's Staircase is an intriguing, nonstop adventure that will keep readers enthralled from start to finish. Shadow of the Forgotten Book Two (stand alone) Only 99 cents Feb 21 - 27, 2021 (e-book) Get the Book >> A woman preyed upon by corruption. A man who won’t abandon her. An obsession that could destroy them both. Heather York’s investigative career with the U.S. Marshals Service is neither glamorous nor dangerous, but when she’s thrust to the precipice of an unexpected threat, she has no choice but to wonder if she was meant to be collateral damage or the intended victim. At a luxury lakeside lodge in Maine, Jordan Kyndall’s plans to celebrate the wedding of his college roommate go awry before the happy couple has a chance to say “I do.” Jordan anticipated a good time with old friends. Instead, he stumbles upon a gruesome scene in the picturesque woods of the woman whose lifeless body unexpectedly stirs his protective nature. As the threat against them grows and the questions multiply, they’ll have to trust each other—and their feelings—if they’re going to survive. From a quaint and unsuspecting town in northern Maine comes Shadow of the Forgotten , the second book in the Kyndall Family Thrillers series, a contemporary suspense series filled with gripping intrigue, riveting romance, and nonstop adventure. Praise for the Kyndall Family Thriller series “That’s the way to do it - keep the reader hooked and reading and thinking they have it all figured out ... only to discover that they don’t. A nice bit of romance, a good deal of “whodunit” tension, and a satisfying conclusion make Shadow of the Forgotten a great read on a weekend away. Enjoy!” – Readers' Favorite “The Dragon’s Staircase is a mind-boggling adventure that will keep you guessing until the last page.” – Night Owl Reviews, Top Pick “Holy smokes! This is one suspenseful, anxiety-ridden, skin-crawling tale of murder, mystery, and psychological creepiness. Looking for a hard-to-figure-out mystery with a side order of nail-biting? Then look no further!” – InD'tale Magazine on The Dragon's Staircase “The well-defined characters combined with the suspenseful storyline make this a must-read and one that I will be recommending to all of my bookworm friends. I’m amazed at how smooth these two authors have combined their talents into one fabulous story.” – Linda Thompson, Host of AuthorsShow.com “WOW, what a read! The plot was intense, powerful and thrilling and held me captive all the way through! The characters fairly leaped off the page, and the tension was palpable. If you are looking for a book that you just CAN’T put down, then this is DEFINITELY the book for you!” —BookBub review on The Wicked Cries Wolf “I was literally at the edge of my seat. The suspense level is amazing.” – My Life, One Story at a Time "OMGOODNESS!! This book was a suspenseful thriller. I couldn't put it down!! I won't repeat the blurb. I will tell you that I recommend this book to lovers of suspense. My heart was racing like crazy while reading this book... who is the gruesome murderer and will he/she be caught before another murder is committed!? I can't wait to start reading the next book in this exciting series." - Goodreads review on "Blade of Death" Meet the Author McKenna Grey writes romantic suspense and thrillers, including the Kyndall Family series, and heartwarming, small-town romance to break up the murder and mayhem. She lives and plays in the northern Rocky Mountains where she manages to stay out of the trouble her characters can't seem to avoid . Visit her online at mckennagrey.com. The Dragon's Staircase and Shadow of the Forgotten were co-authored with Everly Archard. The Dragon's Staircase and Shadow of the Forgotten Genre: Romantic Suspense Type: Novel Heat Level: 3 (not applicable to "Blade of Death" Language Level: 3 Violence Level: 3 Click here to learn more about content ratings.

“A perfect read to escape the world.” —Miriam Parker, author of The Shortest Way Home Minus Me Her life turned upside down by a grim diagnosis, a small-town Maine woman sets about writing a "How To" life manual for her handsome yet hapless husband in a novel Elinor Lipman ( Good Riddance, On Turpentine Lane ) calls "smart, funny-quirky, and so very satisfying." Annie and her devoted but comically incompetent childhood sweetheart Sam are the owners and operators of Annie's, a gourmet sandwich shop, home to the legendary Paul Bunyan Special Sandwich—their "nutritionally challenged continual source of income and marital harmony and local fame." But into their mostly charmed marriage comes the scary medical diagnosis for Annie--and the overwhelming challenge of finding a way to help Sam go on without her. Annie decides to leave Sam step-by-step instructions for a future without her, and considers her own replacement in his heart and their bed. Her best-laid plans grind to a halt with the unexpected appearance of Ursula, Annie's Manhattan diva of a mother, who brings her own brand of chaos and disruption into their lives. Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | BAM! | BookShop | More Buy Options Enjoy an Excerpt from Minus Me 1. Your mother’s birthday is June 28th; she wears a size ten. Your father’s is May 18 and a bottle of single malt always works. Annie pulls up outside Michaud’s Quik-Basket. She’s too near the hydrant, but for once she doesn’t care. She turns off the engine and tries to slow her breathing. She pictures the all-too-cheerful and all-too-serene yoga instructor in the video Sam gave her at Christmas. “Made for Type A’s,” he explained. She watched only half. She’s lousy at relaxing. The harder she tries to breathe from the diaphragm, the faster and more shallow her breathing becomes. So what, she thinks, and opens the car door. Nothing matters now. She leaves the key in the ignition; she leaves the door unlocked; she climbs over the ice bank rather than mincing her way along the skimpily shoveled path. To hell with everything. Let her slip, splayed like a snow angel on the filthy sidewalk. Perfect simile. Raoul, the father, and not the son, Ralphie, who sat behind her in high school social studies, is in front of the cash register—her first stroke of luck. Ralphie would want to yack about their classmates, analyze hockey scores, ask about her mother. Not that it matters either. But today, of all days, she does not want to talk about Ursula. Mr. Michaud is watching the weather report. It’s February first. Will Punxsutawney Phil come out of his hole tomorrow, grins the lumber-jacketed, suspiciously orange-skinned weatherman. His teeth are five degrees whiter than fresh snow, shaming the dirty brown and yellow mounds polka-dotting her hometown. “Whatja think, Annie?” asks Raoul, his Canadian vowels harsh against the weatherman’s broadcasting-school diction. “Don’t know,” she says. Don’t care either. Six more weeks of winter or an early spring mean nothing to her now. Annie points to the racks behind the dusty cash register, its fading photos of Ralphie and his sister Marie in their confirmation clothes, twenty years out of date, scotch-taped to it. “A pack of Marlboros, please.” She reconsiders. “Actually, a carton.” If Mr. Michaud disapproves, she can’t tell. His face is turned to the TV. She pays. He counts out the change. “You want a bag with that?” he asks. “Don’t bother,” she says. Let the whole town see evidence of her vice. Her public relapse. But no witnesses are on the sidewalk when she exits. No one to ask how she’s doing, whether she’ll be at the city council meeting tomorrow night, if the new pickle suppliers for the Paul Bunyans are up to snuff, and what about that enchanting mother of hers. There’d be a pause, then a glance at the carton, followed by is everything okay? Lucky for her, not a single car passes along the street to see her leaning against the steering wheel as she lights up. Oh, happy day. Hunky-dory day! Of course, the lighter is broken. Of course, she doesn’t have a match. With the car still running, she gets out and goes back inside. “Matches?” she asks. He doesn’t look up. “Over there.” He points to a Whitman’s Sampler filled with matchboxes from Gus’s Gas across the road. “Have a good one,” he says. She drives around the block to the high school. She turns into the last row of the parking lot, territory once claimed by the tough guys who used to smoke their unfiltered Camels and rolled their joints over by the pine trees. It’s the exact spot, too, where the fast girls unhooked their bras, where she and Sam used to make out—how quaint—in his father’s old Chevy when they were teenagers and the movie had ended. By nine, the whole town closed down. At that hour, when the glow from living room televisions dimmed one by one along Grove Street, you could almost hear the words, “Good-night, John Boy, Good night, Jim Bob,” from The Waltons reruns she used to watch as a kid. Nobody’s around. Hardly surprising since teenagers have birth control and the comfort of their own beds for overnights. “Better at home than in the back of the car or some cheap motel, since they’re going to do it anyway,” explained her best friend, Rachel, whose daughter had a boyfriend with weekly sleepover privileges. Not that Annie has that problem. But the problem she does have is a big one. The biggest. The central theme of literature and music and philosophy—not of cigarettes and teenage sex and municipal taxes. Or of narcissistic mothers or bland pickles. It’s the major enigma slash obsession of all time. End of Excerpt Excerpt © Mameve Medwed. Shared with permission. The Author Mameve Medwed is the author of six novels— Mail, Host Family, The End of an Error, How Elizabeth Barrett Browning Saved My Life (2007 Massachusetts Book Award Honors in Fiction), Of Men and Their Mothers , and Minus Me (January 2021). Her short stories, essays, and book reviews have appeared in The New York Times , Gourmet, Yankee, Redbook, Playgirl, The Boston Globe, Ascent, The Missouri Review, Confrontation, The Readerville Journal, Newsday , and The Washington Post . She has taught fiction writing for many years at The Cambridge Center for Adult Education, has been a mentor in the writing program at Lesley University, read papers for the English Department at Simmons College, and has taken part in writing festivals across the country, serving on panels and teaching seminars. Learn more at https://mamevemedwed.com. Genre: Women's Fiction Type: Novel Publication Date: January 12, 2021 Alcove Press Content Note: No Sex; No Violence View our rating system Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

"Lighthearted, funny, punny, romantic and with fantastic characters, The Duke Heist is my new favorite book by Erica Ridley!" — (un)Conventional Bookworms The Duke Heist A NYT bestselling author kicks off a new Regency series of "irresistible romance and a family of delightful scoundrels" as a woman looking to recover a stolen painting accidentally kidnaps a duke instead. (Eloisa James) Chloe Wynchester is completely forgettable -- a curse that gives her the ability to blend into any crowd. When the only father she's ever known makes a dying wish for his adopted family of orphans to recover a missing painting, she's the first one her siblings turn to for stealing it back. No one expects that in doing so, she'll also abduct a handsome duke. Lawrence Gosling, the Duke of Faircliffe, is tortured by his father's mistakes. To repair his estate's ruined reputation, he must wed a highborn heiress. Yet when he finds himself in a carriage being driven hell-for-leather down the cobblestone streets of London by a beautiful woman who refuses to heed his commands, he fears his heart is hers. But how can he sacrifice his family's legacy to follow true love? E-Book Kindle | Apple Books | Kobo | Nook | Google Play Paperback Barnes & Noble | Amazon | IndieBound | Chapters/Indigo | Target | Walmart The Author Erica Ridley is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of witty, feel-good historical romance novels, including the upcoming THE DUKE HEIST, featuring the Wild Wynchesters. Why seduce a duke the normal way, when you can accidentally kidnap one in an elaborately planned heist? In the 12 Dukes of Christmas series, enjoy witty, heartwarming Regency romps nestled in a picturesque snow-covered village. After all, nothing heats up a winter night quite like finding oneself in the arms of a duke! Two popular series, the Dukes of War and Rogues to Riches, feature roguish peers and dashing war heroes who find love amongst the splendor and madness of Regency England. When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found riding camels in Africa, zip-lining through rainforests in Costa Rica, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest. Website: EricaRidley.com Genre: Historical Romance Type: Novel Series: The Wild Wynchesters, book 1 Publication date: February 9, 2021 Content Rating: 5 Hearts View rating system

Duke of Renown Who doesn’t love a duke? How about five of them? Welcome to bestselling author Alexa Aston’s new Regency romance series, the Dukes of Distinction! These five aristocrats all come with nicknames Polite Society has bestowed upon them. Renown. Charm. Disrepute. Arrogance. Honor. A woman with a broken heart . . . A soldier who never dreamed he’d become a duke . . . Phoebe Smythe, Countess of Borwick, suffers a tragic miscarriage when she learns her husband and young son have been killed in a carriage accident. The grieving widow retreats to an isolated cottage on the coast of Cornwall, where she finds a smuggler who’s washed ashore, blood leaking from a bullet wound. Captain Andrew Graham returns home from the Napoleonic Wars after the death of his older brother, finding his father on his deathbed. Soon he becomes the Duke of Windham and must deal not only with numerous responsibilities but his wayward half-brother, who has amassed a mountain of debt and then shoots Andrew so he can become the new duke. Andrew awakens to an angel of mercy, Mrs. Smith, a middle-class widow who nurses him back to health. She thinks he’s a criminal, which amuses him, but he soon falls in love with her beauty and spirit. On the day he decides to ask for her hand in marriage, she disappears and he has no way to find her—until he spies her across a London ballroom. Though her heart belongs to the Cornish smuggler she left behind, Phoebe places herself once more on the Marriage Mart. She yearns to be a mother again—which means finding a husband. What will Phoebe do when she learns that her Mr. Andrew is none other than the famous Duke of Renown? Find the answer in The Duke of Renown, Book 1 in the Dukes of Distinction . Each book in Dukes of Distinction is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order and can be read for free in Kindle Unlimited. Amazon The Author Award-winning and internationally bestselling author Alexa Aston lives with her husband in a Dallas suburb, where she eats her fair share of dark chocolate and plots out stories while she walks every morning. She’s a binge fiend (The Crown and Ozark are favorites) who enjoys travel, sports, and time with her family. Her historical romances bring to life loveable rogues and dashing knights, while her contemporary romances are light and flirty and sometimes contain a bit of suspense. Her series include Soldiers & Soulmates, Hollywood Name Game, and The St. Clairs. Website: alexaaston.com Genre: Historical Romance Type: Novel Series: Dukes of Distinction Publication date: February 9, 2021 Content Rating: 5 Hearts View rating system

“Cleverly plotted, the action is fast paced and full of twists and turns, surprises, and suspense.” —Historical Novel Society on The King's Justice, book one of the Stanton and Barling Mysteries The Canterbury Murders A fire-ravaged cathedral. An ungodly murder. Easter, 1177. Canterbury Cathedral, home to the tomb of martyr Saint Thomas Becket, bears the wounds of a terrible fire. Benedict, prior of the great church, leads its rebuilding. But horror interrupts the work. One of the stonemasons is found viciously murdered, the dead man’s face disfigured by a shocking wound. When King’s clerk Aelred Barling and his assistant, Hugo Stanton, arrive on pilgrimage to the tomb, the prior orders them to investigate the unholy crime. But the killer soon claims another victim–and another. As turmoil embroils the congregation, the pair of sleuths face urgent pressure to find a connection between the killings. With panic on the rise, can Barling and Stanton catch the culprit before evil prevails again—and stop it before it comes for them? THE CANTERBURY MURDERS is the third book in E.M. Powell’s Stanton and Barling medieval murder mystery series. Combining intricate plots, shocking twists and a winning–if unlikely–pair of investigators, this series is perfect for fans of Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael or C. J. Sansom’s Shardlake. AMAZON | PAPERBACK Add to Goodreads | Add to BookBub Enjoy an Excerpt from The Canterbury Murders Shortly after Stanton and Barling hear of the murder of Peter Flocke, Stanton has an unsettling encounter with a stranger . . . The cathedral bells were sounding for Compline, but the streets were still thronged. Stanton couldn’t help a twinge of regret for the merrymaking he’d looked forward to but was not to be. It didn’t matter. What mattered was working with Barling to solve the murder of that unfortunate stonemason as quickly as possible. Then Stanton could leave Canterbury, putting many miles between him and the city. He would never be able to abide the rejoicing at Henry’s arrival, the praising of the man’s piety. Not when his Rosamund, his love, lay cold in her grave because of the King. A pastry seller stood on a corner, doing a brisk trade as folk made the most of the last of Palm Sunday. He hurried over, as the woman was down to the last one. ‘Any chance I could have that excellent-looking crust, goodwife?’ He gave her his best smile, his stomach growling at the smell of warm, yeasty dough. He got the usual blush in return. ‘A pleasure, sir.’ They exchanged coin and pastry and he took a deep bite of his prize as he walked off, the sweetness of the apple it contained flooding onto his tongue. How Barling could choose to sit in his room, scratching away at his tablet, over devouring good food, Stanton would never know. He took another huge mouthful, feeling a bit better. Somebody collided hard with his aching back, sending him lurching to one side. The remains of his pastry flew from his grasp and splattered into the street muck. ‘A plague on it.’ He turned to tell off whoever had done it. A wild-eyed man in a threadbare pilgrim’s tunic stared back at him, his hair and long beard clogged with greasy dirt and all of him covered in layers of filth. ‘Praise the Martyr,’ said the stranger. ‘Praise him!’ ‘I was praising my pastry,’ said Stanton. ‘Now look at it, fellow.’ The man banged the battered, badge-covered staff he held in his left hand on the ground in front of Stanton. ‘Open your heart to the Lord our God. Before death comes for thee.’ He thrust his right hand in Stanton’s face. Stanton recoiled. The man’s hand curled over in a twisted claw, his stained fingers and long, dirty fingernails tangled worse than a bundle of tree roots. A group of laughing, jostling men of Stanton’s age pushed past, sending the man bumping into him. ‘Be watchful, be watchful.’ The stranger stank worse than the spoil underfoot. Stanton stepped back. ‘On your way, fellow.’ The man staggered away again, into the path of a burly carter. ‘Thou livest and are dead!’ he wailed at the carter. He got a string of curses for his trouble. Stanton shook his head as he watched the man stagger on, shouting and gesturing all the while. Time for that ale. God’s eyes, he needed it. And once he’d finished it, he’d have another. And another. It would be the only way he’d sleep tonight. God rot the King. Excerpt © E.M. Powell. Shared with permission. The Author E.M. Powell’ s historical thriller and medieval mystery Fifth Knight and Stanton & Barling novels have been #1 Amazon and Bild bestsellers. The third Stanton & Barling mystery, THE CANTERBURY MURDERS, will be released in November 2020. Born and raised in the Republic of Ireland into the family of Michael Collins (the legendary revolutionary and founder of the Irish Free State), she lives in northwest England with her husband, daughter and a Facebook-friendly dog. E.M. Powell is represented by Josh Getzler at HG Literary. Find out more by visiting www.empowell.com . You can also find him on Facebook , Twitter , and Goodreads . Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery Type: Novel Publication Date: November 12, 2020 Crosshaven Press Series: Stanton & Barling, #3 Content Rating: View our rating system Enter to win a paperback copy of The Canterbury Murders by E.M. Powell! Two copies are up for grabs! The giveaway is open to US only and ends on February 5, 2021. You must be 18 or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law. This giveaway is sponsored by the author and hosted by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

Congratulations to E.M. Powell, author of The Canterbury Murders , winner of the February 2021 Readers' Choice Cover Contest! Thank you to all those who voted and supported the wonderful authors and their books. Vote in the new cover contest >

Congratulations to J'Nell Ciesielski, author of Beauty Among Ruins , winner of the January 2021 Readers' Choice Cover Contest! Thank you to all those who participated and voted. Vote in the new cover contest >