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Rhapsody
By Mitchell James Kaplan

Publication Date: March 2, 2021
Gallery Books
Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook; 352 pages

Genre: Biographical/Literary/Historical

 

 

One evening in 1924, Katharine “Kay” Swift—the restless but loyal society wife of wealthy banker James Warburg and a serious pianist who longs for recognition—attends a concert. The piece: Rhapsody in Blue. The composer: a brilliant, elusive young musical genius named George Gershwin.

Kay is transfixed, helpless to resist the magnetic pull of George’s talent, charm, and swagger. Their ten-year love affair, complicated by her conflicted loyalty to her husband and the twists and turns of her own musical career, ends only with George’s death from a brain tumor at the age of thirty-eight.

Set in Jazz Age New York City, this stunning work of fiction, for fans of The Paris Wife and Loving Frank, explores the timeless bond between two brilliant, strong-willed artists. George Gershwin left behind not just a body of work unmatched in popular musical history, but a woman who loved him with all her heart, knowing all the while that he belonged not to her, but to the world.

Available for Pre-Order

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indiebound

Praise

“Mitchell James Kaplan pens a lilting, jazzy ballad as catchy as a Gershwin tune, bringing to vibrant life the complicated relationship between classically trained composer Kay Swift and free-wheeling star George Gershwin. Their musical bond is as powerful as their passion, and jazz-soaked gin-drenched Broadway is their playground through the tumultuous years of the Great War and Prohibition. Rhapsody will have you humming, toe-tapping, and singing along with every turn of the page.” –Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of THE ALICE NETWORK and THE HUNTRESS

“We all know Gershwin, but how many know he was ‘the man behind the woman,” the conflicted, extraordinary Katherine ‘Kay’ Swift? Mitchell James Kaplan illuminates her in Rhapsody, bringing his impressive knowledge of history, composition, and the heart’s whims to bear on this shining rendition of Swift and Gershwin’s star-crossed love.” –Therese Anne Fowler, New York Times bestselling author of Z and A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD

“In Rhapsody, Mitchell James Kaplan brings to lyrical life the romance between Kay Swift and George Gershwin. A gifted musician in her own right, Kay was no mere accompanist to Gershwin’s genius; she was a true partner, unfortunately little remembered today. Kaplan’s vivid prose and empathetic characterization shines a spotlight on this remarkable woman who contributed so much to American music.” –Melanie Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue and Mistress of the Ritz

“Mitchell James Kaplan’s Rhapsody shines a blazing light on the celebrated George Gershwin, uncovering the man behind the legend through the story of the woman he loved, Kay Swift, a brilliant musician caught in the swiftly moving mores of New York’s Jazz Age. Rich with history and packed with intricate detail, Rhapsody soars.” –Randy Susan Meyers, bestselling author of THE WIDOW OF WALL STREET and WAISTED

“Mitchell James Kaplan has captured a whole world in his luminous journey through the jazz age in fast-paced New York City with this love story of composer Kay Swift and the brilliant but elusive George Gershwin. Kay first heard him playing his Rhapsody in Blue, but she was married to a wealthy man and Gershwin could be faithful only to his own genius. Through Broadway theaters and concerts, he was rising so fast that neither the Great Depression, nor the darkening rise of Hitler across the sea, nor the impossible difficulties of writing the first black folk-opera Porgy and Bess could stop him. Through their love affair, Gershwin and Kay gave fire to each other’s music until nothing could derail his meteoric success but time.” –Stephanie Cowell, American Book Award-winning author of CLAUDE AND CAMILLE and THE PHYSICIAN OF LONDON

About the Author

Mitchell James Kaplan graduated with honors from Yale University, where he won the Paine Memorial Prize for Best Long-Form Senior Essay submitted to the English Department. His first mentor was the author William Styron.

After college, Kaplan lived in Paris, France, where he worked as a translator, then in Southern California, where he worked as a screenwriter and in film production.

He lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with his family and two cats.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Cover Reveal Schedule

Monday, October 26
Novels Alive

Tuesday, October 27
Gwendalyn’s Books

Wednesday, October 28
The Lit Bitch

Thursday, October 29
Locks, Hooks and Books

Friday, October 30
Donna’s Book Blog

Sunday, November 1
Passages to the Past

Monday, November 2
Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

Tuesday, November 3
Pursuing Stacie

Wednesday, November 4
History from a Woman’s Perspective

Thursday, November 5
Crystal’s Library

Friday, November 6
Jessica Belmont

Sunday, November 8
Older & Smarter

Monday, November 9
Books, Cooks, Looks

Tuesday, November 10
Reading is My Remedy

Wednesday, November 11
Coffee and Ink

Thursday, November 12
CelticLady’s Reviews

Friday, November 13
A Darn Good Read
Tangents and Tissues

The Bachelor’s Bride
by Holly Bush

Publication Date: November 17, 2020
Holly Bush Books
eBook; 244 pages

Genre: Romance/America/Victorian
Series: The Thompsons of Locust Street, Book One

 

 

Meet the Thompsons of Locust Street, an unconventional family taking Philadelphia high society by storm…

1868 Elspeth Thompson is the middle daughter in a family with tightly held secrets. While she loves her family, she longs to break out from their overprotective hold, to find herself, to be noticed for who she is rather than as chaperone to her beautiful younger sister, Kirsty, or underling to her elder sister, Muireall. A chance meeting under scandalous circumstances offers her the opportunity to be seen for herself, but the repercussions could lead to the downfall of her family.

Confirmed bachelor Alexander Pendergast enjoys his position as the right-hand man of one of the most influential and powerful politicians in Philadelphia. Heir to the largest textile mill on the east coast, Alexander is handsome, charming, and the ultimate catch on high society’s matrimonial market. But he has no interest in settling down with a pampered debutante. He doubts the perfect woman for him actually exists…until he meets Elspeth Thompson.

But the Thompsons and Pendergasts move in different circles, and Elspeth has no desire to be judged and found wanting by Philadelphia’s first families. Though she tries to resist Alexander’s charms, when he comes to her family’s rescue, she knows there’s more to him than she’d first thought. But Alexander realizes that his ambitions may have placed Elspeth and her family in grave danger. With an unseen enemy determined to uncover the Thompson family’s secrets, Alexander grapples with secrets of his own, secrets that could cost him the only woman he’s ever truly cared about.

When Elspeth finds herself in terrible danger, can she muster the inner strength of her ancestors to save herself and her family and find the courage to meet love head on?

Available for Pre-Order on Amazon & Barnes and Noble

About the Author

“Love always has something to say. Sometimes it shouts from the highest hill, and sometimes it whispers so softly one must listen closely to hear. Do not turn away. It is a rare and precious commodity. Treasure it.” The Gentrys of Paradise

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.

The Crawford Family Series following the fortunes of the three Boston born Crawford sisters and includes Train Station Bride, Contract to Wed, Her Safe Harbor, and companion novella, The Maid’s Quarters. Cross the Ocean and Charming the Duke are both British set Victorian romances. Fan favorites stand-alone historical romance novels include Romancing Olive and Reconstructing Jackson. Holly’s books are described as ‘emotional, with heartfelt, sexy romance.’

She also writes General Fiction under the name of Hollis Bush.

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.

Book Blast Schedule

Tuesday, October 27
Probably at the Library

Wednesday, October 28
Books & Benches
Locks, Hooks and Books

Thursday, October 29
Novels Alive
Carole’s Ramblings

Friday, October 30
Books, Cooks, Looks

Saturday, October 31
Passages to the Past

Monday, November 2
Coffee and Ink
Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

Tuesday, November 3
Rajiv’s Reviews

Wednesday, November 4
History from a Woman’s Perspective

Thursday, November 5
What Is That Book About

Friday, November 6
CelticLady’s Reviews

Saturday, November 7
Nursebookie

Monday, November 9
Donna’s Book Blog

Wednesday, November 11
The Book Junkie Reads

Thursday, November 12
A Darn Good Read

Friday, November 13
Gwendalyn’s Books
Tangents and Tissues

Sunday, November 15
WTF Are You Reading?

Monday, November 16
The Lit Bitch
Jorie Loves a Story

Giveaway

Enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on November 16th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Bachelor’s Bride

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

HFVBT Presents The Bachelor Duke Book Blast, October 26-November 6

Posted By amy @ 7:32 am | No Comments

The Bachelor Duke
by Cecilia Rene

Publication Date: July 25, 2020
Paperback & eBook; 296 pages

Series: The Bachelor Series, Book 1
Genre: Historical Romance

 

 

The Bachelor Duke meets a beautiful, curvaceous lady.

Remington Warren, The Duke of Karrington, lives his life by the name society has thrust upon him. Having witnessed cruelty against the fairer sex with his own eyes, he vows never to marry to prevent himself from becoming like the monster who raised him. After ten years of being The Bachelor Duke, his life is irrevocably changed when he sees Lady Olivia St. John across the ballroom floor.

Having lived a sheltered, pampered life, surrounded by her loving family, Lady Olivia St. John longs to know passion and love. She is beautiful, bold, and has a rather large dowry. According to society, she would be a diamond in the first water of this season if it wasn’t for her one flaw.

Will she find all she longs for and more in the arms of The Bachelor Duke, or will heartbreak be her demise?

Available on Amazon

About the Author

Cecilia Rene is a creative, happy, and outgoing Detroit native who majored in Broadcast Communication at Grambling State University. Immediately following her graduation, she started her new life in New York City. As a self-proclaimed New Yorker, her stimulating and diverse career in advertising sparked a drive for hard work and dedication. Her love and passion for writing followed her from childhood through adulthood, where she wrote short stories, poems, and screenplays. Always an avid reader, she stumbled across a book that ignited a deeper need for more and joined a fandom of like-minded individuals. Cecilia and her family made a huge move five years ago to the great state of Texas, where she currently lives with her loving husband, wonderful son, and spoiled fur baby, Sadie. Cecilia Rene loves romance, humor, and all things spicy. For this reason, she will always give you a Happily Ever After.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Newsletter

Book Blast Schedule

Monday, October 26
Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

Tuesday, October 27
Passages to the Past

Wednesday, October 28
What Is That Book About

Thursday, October 29
Coffee and Ink

Friday, October 30
The Book Junkie Reads

Monday, November 2
Donna’s Book Blog

Tuesday, November 3
Tangents and Tissues

Wednesday, November 4
Rajiv’s Reviews

Friday, November 6
Jorie Loves A Story

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a $15 Amazon Gift Card! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on November 6th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Bachelor Duke Blast

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Regan Walker on Blog Tour for Summer Warrior, October 19-30

Posted By amy @ 11:31 am | No Comments

Summer Warrior
by Regan Walker

Publication: October 7, 2020
eBook; 282 pages

Series: The Clan Donald Saga, Book 1
Genre: Historical Fiction

 

 

Somerled’s parentage was noble, of the Kings of Dublin, the royal house of Argyll and the great Ard Ri, the High Kings of Ireland. But when the Norse invaded Argyll and the Isles, his family’s fortunes fell with those of his people. When all hope seemed lost, he rose from the mists of Morvern to rally the Gaels, the Scots and the Irish.

Sweeping across Argyll and the Isles like a fast-moving storm, brilliant in strategy and fearless in battle, Somerled began retaking his ancestral lands, driving away the invaders and freeing the people from the Norse stranglehold. In doing so, he would win the title Somerle Mor, Somerled the Mighty, Lord of Argyll, Kintyre and Lorne and, eventually, Lord of the Isles.

This is the unforgettable saga of his path to victory that forged the Kingdom of the Isles and won him the heart of a Norse king’s daughter.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CAN

About the Author

Regan Walker is an award-winning, #1 Amazon bestselling author of Regency, Georgian and Medieval romances. She writes historically authentic novels with real historical figures along with her fictional characters. Among the awards she has won are the International Book Award for Romance Fiction, the San Diego Book Award for Best Historical Romance, the RONE Award for her medievals and the Gold Medal Illumination Award.

You can sign up for her newsletter on her website and get the “Reader Extras” there, too. Regan loves to hear from her readers. Join Regan Walker’s Readers on Facebook. Visit Summer Warrior on Pinterest.

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

E.W. Cooper on Blog Tour for The Jade Tiger, October 14-November 6

Posted By amy @ 11:02 am | No Comments

The Jade Tiger
by E.W. Cooper

Publication Date: October 14, 2020
Ink Dog Press

Series: A Penelope Harries Mystery, Book 1
Genre: Historical Mystery

 

 

NEW YORK, OCTOBER 1928. The Big Apple teems with the glitter of Bright Young Things, Prohibition, and scofflaws-the perfect place for Penelope Harris to start her life over. As a former opera singer turned Shanghai nightclub owner, she’s seen and done a lot, maybe too much. With any luck, she’ll leave more than The Jade Tiger casino behind her-a murdered husband, a blackmailing torch singer, and Thom Lund, the ex-cop who stole her heart. But Penelope has never had that kind of luck; her past is already waiting for her in New York.

When someone murders her chiseling blackmailer at an out-of-control party and Thom is accused of the crime, Penelope must face down her darkest memories to prove his innocence. Is the murderer her cousin Charles, suckered into a hasty marriage by Penelope’s blackmailer? Or is it Penelope’s over-protective mother, who can’t remember a thing after a blow to the head? Or was it Thom after all, ready to commit murder to save Penelope from the blackmailer’s wicked plans?

Among the opulent mansions of the obscenely wealthy and the grit of a Hell’s Kitchen speakeasy, Penelope and Thom must navigate double-crosses, bad liquor, bootleggers, and dark, obsessive love to find the murderer before the past reaches out to put a noose around both their necks.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

About the Author

A lifelong fan of mysteries of all kinds, but especially those from the Golden Age of Mystery, it made sense that the first book Elizabeth published would be a historical mystery set in the early twentieth century. Using her background in historical research the characters took shape – a soprano, a Danish former policeman, and an illicit Shanghai nightclub in the French Concession.

As one might expect of an author whose main character dreams of singing opera, Elizabeth does her best writing while listening to the Metropolitan Opera’s weekly live broadcast. Hard at work on the next book in the series, E assures her readers that more opera, society scandal, illegal liquor, and murder lie ahead. Her first novel The Jade Tiger will publish in October 2020.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Lona Manning on Blog Tour for Shelley and the Unknown Lady, October 5-13

Posted By amy @ 7:41 am | No Comments

Shelley and the Unknown Lady
By Lona Manning

Publication Date: October 5, 2020
eBook; 177 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

 

 

Percy Bysshe Shelley’s brief and turbulent life was as passionate and haunting as his poetry.

Romantic, idealistic and impulsive, Shelley had several intense love affairs.

When Shelley drowned at sea, he took his secrets with him.

Did a beautiful, lovelorn lady really follow him throughout Europe, as he claimed? Did Mary Shelley ever learn about this rival for her affections?

Shelley and the Unknown Lady is a carefully researched imagining of the true-life tragedy behind the mystery.

This novella is a stand-alone story excerpted from Lona Manning’s Mansfield Trilogy.

Available on Amazon

Praise for Lona Manning’s Writing

“Many try to emulate [Jane] Austen; not all succeed. Here, Manning triumphs.” -Blue Ink Reviews

“Manning’s books are… maniacally well-researched, gorgeously written, and wholly accurate in character. I can’t wait for the next one! I wholeheartedly recommend her books…” -Goodreads reviewer

About the Author

Lona Manning loves reading, choral singing, gardening and travel. Over the years, she has been a home care aide, legal secretary, political speech writer, office manager, vocational instructor, non-profit administrator and ESL Teacher. She has also written true crime articles for www.CrimeMagazine.com. She began writing A Contrary Wind, her award-winning debut novel, while she was teaching English in China. Manning and her husband raised their family in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada. You can follow her on Twitter or Goodreads or at her Facebook page, “A Contrary Wind” where she posts on all things Jane Austen.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, October 5
Review at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, October 6
Interview at Novels Alive
Excerpt at Probably at the Library

Wednesday, October 7
Review at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals

Thursday, October 8
Guest Post at Novels Alive

Saturday, October 10
Feature at Reading is My Remedy

Sunday, October 11
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books

Monday, October 12
Guest Post at Coffee and Ink

Tuesday, October 13
Review at Novels Alive
Interview at Bookish Rantings

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on October 13th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Shelley and the Unknown Lady

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Melina Druga on Blog Tour for Those Left Behind, October 12-21

Posted By amy @ 6:29 am | No Comments

Those Left Behind
by Melina Druga

Publication Date: October 12, 2020
Sun Up Press

Series: WWI Trilogy Book 2
Genre: Historical Fiction

 

 

Change isn’t always for the best. Just ask the Stewards.

1914. The Steward family is eagerly preparing for the event that will forever bind them to the Bartlettes: the wedding of Hettie and Geoffrey. Little do the families know that the winds of war brewing in Europe soon will rip them apart.

Hettie and her brother, Freddie, join the Canadian Army Medical Corps. This decision is met with resistance and disapproval, causing a rift in the siblings’ relationship with their parents.

Meanwhile, a decades-long friendship is tested, two other daughters’ marriages are in tatters, and the scourge of influenza sweeps through the civilian population.

Will the Stewards bend under pressure or become stronger and more resilient?

Those Left Behind is the second in a trilogy following Hettie and her family as they navigate the challenges and heartbreak World War 1 brings. Each novel is a standalone story. Those Left Behind is the home front story. It is a collection of slice-of-life pieces that collectively tell the story of what happened in Canada while the events in Angel of Mercy were occurring. They are based on Hettie’s letters.

Also available: Angel of Mercy, the warfront story. Adjustment Year, the homecoming story, coming in April 2021.

Available on Amazon

About the Author

Creating fictional people since 1989.

Most kids have an active imagination. My imagination has stayed strong into adulthood, and I’ve funneled that creativity into a successful writing career. I write history, both fiction and nonfiction, because although your school history classes may have been boring, the past is not. My goal is to bring the past to life in all its myriad of colors.

Experience the past through Angel of Mercy, Heinous: Forgotten Murders from the 1910s, and A Tale of Two Nations: Canada, U.S. and WW1.

I write with the assistance of a furry writing buddy – AKA the family cat who often sits with me while I work.

When not researching, writing or editing, I’m wife to a wonderful man who also is my copy editor and mother to a budding baker/guitarist/architect.

The portion of my brain that isn’t filled with fictional people is filled with song lyrics. I listen to hard rock daily and find entertainment, inspiration and comfort in it.

Namaste. I practice yoga daily for a balanced body and mind. But, no, I can’t do a headstand.

Another way I express my creativity is through the camera lens. I especially enjoy nature and architecture photography.

I cook most meals from scratch. I’m a healthy cooking advocate, much to my husband’s chagrin.

To learn more about me, visit my website at http://www.melinadruga.com.

Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram

Sunday, September 13, 2020

L. Marrick on Blog Tour for Heralds of the Fall, October 19-November 4

Posted By amy @ 6:51 am | No Comments

Heralds of the Fall: A Novel of the Fall of Rome
by L. Marrick

Publication Date: July 24, 2020
Bowker
Paperback & eBook; 317 pages

Series: The Age of the Fall, Book 1
Genre: Historical Fantasy

 

 

The age of the fall of the Roman Empire begins!

In 374 CE, the death of a bishop plunges the capital of the Roman Empire, Mediolanum, into violence as Christian sects battle for power.

Governor Ambrose must bring peace to his torn city, overcoming high-level conspirators who seek to starve the people and seize power. Despite a debilitating physical condition, Ambrose may be clever enough to outwit the conspirators. But the staunchly Christian Ambrose wrestles with inner demons—balancing his loyalty to God with his love for his pagan friends . . . including a beautiful, philosophical widow. When the chance for peace finally comes, it will challenge everything Ambrose holds dear.

On the other side of the empire, General Theodosius defends Rome’s borders against invading Visigothic tribes. Theodosius has won many battles, but the crafty leader of the Visigoths tests his strength, wit, and courage.

Theodosius’s wife, a prophetess, foretells victory (and a glorious future for him in the highest office of the empire). But if his new slave—the nine-year-old Visigothic prince Alaric—has anything to say about it, that future won’t come about. Theodosius won’t even live to lead his men into battle.

Available on Amazon

About the Author

L. Marrick fell in love with ancient history by accident, while researching a fantasy series she was attempting to write in the library of her Catholic high school. Her love affair with 2000-year-old dead people was on-again/off-again over the next few decades—during which time she started an online copywriting business, traveled the United States as a digital nomad, settled in Colorado for over 10 years, wrote a stack of novels and screenplays, and experienced several spiritual awakenings that transformed her understanding of life, the universe, and everything.

She eventually settled in Kentucky (where she was born and raised), where she continues to meditate and write. Find her at www.LMarrick.net.

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Friday, September 11, 2020

Debra Doxer on Blog Tour for Where Butterflies Go, October 12-November 13

Posted By amy @ 7:23 am | No Comments

Where Butterflies Go
by Debra Doxer

Publication Date: October 7, 2020
Paperback & eBook; 270 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

 

 

Meira Sokolow had the misfortune of being born to Jewish parents in Warsaw, Poland, in 1912. Before she took her first breath, her fate had been sealed.

Residing in the Jewish Quarter of the city, Meira’s early life was typical. She fell in love with a local boy, got married, and had a daughter. Then the German army marched into Warsaw and everything changed. Forced into the ghetto with her family, she found survival to be a daily struggle. Hunger, disease, and unimaginable cruelty were her stark realities. When the ghetto was purged and she was sent to a concentration camp, Meira still had her family, and that was all that mattered. Then the camp was liquidated, and only a handful of survivors remained out of thousands. Meira Sokolow was one of them.

No longer a wife or mother, Meira emigrated to New York City. After World War II, the world wanted to move on and start a new chapter, but Meira couldn’t turn the page so easily. She walked through her days alone, like a ghost with nothing to tether her to the earth. Then she met Max, a handsome American, who first mistook her for one of the boring socialites he encountered every day. He soon learned she was unlike anyone he had met before, seeing her strength and resilience, even when she couldn’t. Max knew he could breathe life into her again, if only she would let him.

Tragic and heartfelt, Where Butterflies Go is based on the harrowing true story of one woman’s survival during the Nazi occupation of Poland, and her struggle to find meaning in the aftermath.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Author

Debra Doxer was born in Boston, and other than a few lost years in the California sunshine, she has always resided in the Boston area. She writes fiction, technical software documents, illegible scribbles on sticky notes, and texts that get mangled by AutoCorrect. She writes for a living, and she writes for fun. When not writing, she’s walking her Havanese puppy and forcing her daughter to listen to new wave 80s music.”

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Newsletter

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, October 12
Review at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, October 13
Review at Amy’s Booket List

Wednesday, October 14
Guest Post at Novels Alive

Monday, October 19
Excerpt at Coffee and Ink

Tuesday, October 20
Review at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals

Thursday, October 22
Review at Books, Writings, and More
Feature at Books In Their Natural Habitat

Saturday, October 24
Review at Reading is My Remedy

Monday, October 26
Feature at I’m All About Books

Wednesday, October 28
Review at Robin Loves Reading
Review at Tangents and Tissues

Friday, October 30
Interview at Novels Alive

Sunday, November 1
Review at YA, it’s Lit

Thursday, November 5
Review at Girl Who Reads

Friday, November 6
Feature at The Lit Bitch

Monday, November 9
Review at History from a Woman’s Perspective

Tuesday, November 10
Feature at CelticLady’s Reviews
Interview at Books & Benches

Thursday, November 12
Review at Novels Alive

Friday, November 13
Review at Bookramblings

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away three $25 Amazon Gift Cards! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on November 13th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Where Butterflies Go

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Martha Engber on Blog Tour for Winter Light, October 6-13

Posted By amy @ 4:45 am | 2 Comments

Winter Light
by Martha Engber

Publication Date: October 6, 2020
Vine Leaves Press
Paoerback & eBook; 260 pages

Genre: YA/Historical Fiction

 

 

WINTER LIGHT is the story of 15-year-old Mary Donahue of suburban Chicago, a kid on the cusp of failure during the brutal blizzard winter of 1978-79, the end of a hard luck, hard rock era sunk in the cynical aftermath of the Vietnam War.

The language of WINTER LIGHT is simple and stark as Mary’s internal landscape. Though a smart, beautiful kid, she’s a motherless girl raised by an uneducated, alcoholic father within an extended family of alcoholics and addicts. Aware that she’s sinking, she’s desperate to save herself and so reaches out to an unlikely source, Kathleen, a nice, normal kid from English class.

Though initially bleak, this story of redemption combines literary with historical fiction and is aimed at anyone who loves classics such as To Kill a Mockingbird and Catcher in the Rye where youths struggle at the abyss of a brutal adult world.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

Praise

“Winter Light tugs at your heart, reminding you of what it’s like to be a young person growing up, unsure of what to wear, how to behave, who and what to care about. Unsure of anything. The story is a ride through Class V rapids that will keep you hanging on white-knuckled till the end. A great read.” Jana McBurney-Lin, author of My Half of the Sky

“Winter Light is the extraordinary and intricate story of Mary Donahue, a teenager from the darker side of life whose struggles, resilience, and courage will be forever seared in your brain and your heart.” Joylene Nowell Butler, author of Broken But Not Dead, Matowak: Woman Who Cries and Dead Witness

“Martha Engber has crafted a well-paced, thoughtfully structured, insightful novel that draws the readers’ compassion for Mary and the motley collection of ‘burnout’ teens that are Mary’s friends. We witness Mary’s heartrending struggles to break free of economic and social class boundaries, the effects of careless parenting, and the low expectations of others, subjects the author handles with great skill and subtlety.” Paulette Boudreaux, author of Mulberry

About the Author

A graduate of the University of Missouri – Columbia School of Journalism, Ms. Engber is the author of the author of The Wind Thief, a literary novel that received a 5-star “original and highly recommended” rating from the Midwest Book Review. She’s also the author of Growing Great Characters From the Ground Up: A Thorough Primer for the Writers of Fiction and Nonfiction. She’s had a play produced in Hollywood and fiction and poetry published in the Aurorean, Watchword, the Berkeley Fiction Review and other journals. She’s also a freelance editor, workshop facilitator and speaker who lives in Northern California with her husband, bike and surfboard.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads