Triple Whammy Celebration Alert

This coming weekend brings much cause for rejoicing around here: 

it's the celebration of

America's

Independence Day

 we're participating in the Freedom Giveaway Hop 

 AND...AND...AND it's the One Book Shy of a Full Shelf's1ST BLOGIVERSARY 

There will be a prize for the Freedom Hop giveaway and a prize for the Blogiversary giveaway!  BUT WAIT, I've also decided that IF we reach the 1000 follower milestone during this week-long celebration, I will add a third prize & winner to the mix!  Lots of fun to be had - don't miss out.  It all starts on July 1st.............


 
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - The Bronze and The Brimstone by Lory S. Kaufman

What could go wrong in the 14th century for three time-traveling teens?
How about EVERYTHING?

TITLE:    The Bronze and the Brimstone
AUTHOR:    Lory S. Kaufman
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 334 pages
PUBLISHED:   The Fiction Studio, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review and Book Tour

  

Pump Up Your Book Tours

FROM THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:  Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln, three teens from the 24th-century, are trapped in 14th-century Verona, Italy. They’ve survived many deadly experiences by keeping their wits about them and by introducing futuristic technology into the past. Principal among these inventions is the telescope, which brought them to the attention of the rich and powerful.But standing out can get you into unexpected – situations. The nobles of Verona now believe Hansum is a savant, a genius inventor, especially after he brings them plans for advanced cannons and black powder. Being the center of attention is great, but the potential for trouble is now exponentially greater because people are watching Hansum’s every move.

Meanwhile, artistic genius Shamira has fallen for a Florentine artist with bloody and disastrous consequences. Lincoln, considered an incompetent back home in the 24th-century, has blossomed – at least until he’s shot in the head with an arrow. And Hansum, after secretly marrying his new master’s beautiful daughter, Guilietta, is offered the hand in marriage of lady Beatrice, daughter of the ruler of Verona. To refuse could mean calamity for all the teens.

Amazingly, none of this is their biggest challenge. Because a rash illness is spreading across Verona – and it is threatening to consume everyone.

Do they have a future in this past?

MY TAKE:    I had the good fortune to be on the book tour for The Lens and The Looker which is the first book in this Verona Trilogy.  You can read my review HERE. I was hooked and was very fortunate that I didn't have to wait for this second book to arrive as I already had it on hand.  I pretty much read them back to back.  It was very easy to dive right into the past with these three teens.

The Bronze and The Brimstone picks up right where we left off in the first book.  I did really like how the author briefly reintroduced us to the characters and their situation.  It is helpful to remind the familiar reader of the storyline and could very easily pull a person who is just starting the series with this book right into the story. 

I am still amazed by the obviously extensive amount of research that Lory Kaufman has put into these stories.  He is very detailed and thorough.  I have learned a lot about Verona and the fourteenth century.  I've picked up interesting information on the creation of optical lenses, gunpowder, cannons and much more.  The best part is that it was enjoyable and unexpected learning that was not from a dry textbook. 

The characters are all growing up a bit more and are easing into their life in the Verona of the past.  They each adapt to their situations and are learning to roll with the punches a bit more.  The relationships they form with the people around them really reflect this move towards maturity for all three of them.  While we still deal mostly with Hansum, Lincoln and Shamira are both getting more time to shine in this book.  I especially enjoyed reading about Lincoln.  He has grown up quickly and taken on quite a bit of responsibility.

I highly recommend this story and the entire series. The Lens and the Looker  and The Bronze and the Brimstone are both available NOW.  Lory tells us he is working on The Loved and The Lost which will wrap up this brilliant trilogy and the story of Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln.  Looking forward to this highly anticipated book!

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon and The Book Depository

You can learn more about the author and the Verona Trilogy by visiting:
History-Camp
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - The Wedding Wager by Jane Feather

The Blackwater Brides Trilogy continues.....

TITLE:    A Wedding Wager
AUTHOR:    Jane Feather
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 447 pages
PUBLISHED:   Pocket, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review and Book Tour

FROM GOODREADS:  New York Times bestselling author Jane Feather again delights with her new book in this entrancing Georgian trilogy featuring three noble brothers who are offered a preposterous opportunity to restore their family’s mortgaged lands. An eccentric uncle promises a lavish inheritance, but only if each marries—thus redeeming—a fallen woman. And if even one brother fails to fulfill the old man’s decree, none will gain the windfall.

Lady Serena Grantley was born to the nobility, but fortune's whim placed her in control of her gamester stepfather, who uses her beauty to lure young men to his gambling tables. Serena even dismissed her first love, the Honorable Sebastian Sullivan, at her stepfather's command. But when he attempts to force her into a liaison with a dissolute earl, Serena resolves to do his bidding no more. Sebastian is the only man who ever captured her heart, and it is to him she turns. . . .


Torn between family loyalty and the woman he loves, Sebastian faces a devilish dilemma. His uncle is ailing, and time is running short. Desperate to find a solution, Sebastian conceives a dangerous plan—a wager that could bring him and Serena happiness at last . . . or separate them forever.

MY TAKE:    This second installment of the Blackwater Brides Trilogy is an enjoyable, stand alone read.  The premise of the series is that three noble, almost impoverished brothers are directed to find and marry three "unacceptable" women.  They are told to find fallen women who have taken the wrong path and try to redeem them and bring them into society.  This directive is from their dying uncle who promises to bequeath each of them a small fortune if they can accomplish their task. 

The first book, Rushed to the Altar is the story of the oldest brother Jasper.  He does his part finding his beloved Clarissa.  The catch is that ALL three of them must accomplish this before the old man dies.  This part of the story begins with Sebastian reminiscing about his lost love Serena. Things start turning upside down for him when he runs into her in person after three long years apart.  Some things have changed while others are still the same.
  
I enjoyed this story, quickly finishing it in an afternoon while I was hiding inside under the air conditioner.  Even though it is part of a series, there was plenty of background information provided to become fully immersed in the story.  While the main plot of the story/series is the three brothers in a race against time to find "suitable" women to marry, there are several other subplots occurring as well.  It makes for a fun read as you try to figure out exactly what some of the characters are really up to.

The characters were likable and easy to get to know.  It was refreshing that they were also all different.  Jane Feather doesn't create cookie-cutter characters.  She writes stories about individuals who all have their own agendas and concerns.  Besides Sebastian and Serena, I got a kick out of young Abigail.  She was another girl with a mind of her own.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it: 

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon and The Book Depository

 

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

One Book Shy is Growing ~ Welcome Bec!

I was very excited today when my BFA (that's Best Friend Always for you BFF folks ~ we've been saying it for 30+ years) agreed to come on board here at One Book Shy as a guest reviewer.  Please welcome Bec to the fabulous world of book blogging:

 

Bec and I have been best friends since we were 7 years old ~ a long, long time ago..  We credit both of our mothers for our love of reading and for corrupting us at a young age with all of those fabulous and sweet Harlequins or Harleys as we called them.  Our book addiction has only grown right along with our friendship so it seemed natural to ask Bec to join me in my quest to find that one missing book!  She'll be stopping by with her thoughts and feelings on some of the great books that have been coming her way.

Where I've been reading a lot of historical fiction lately, one of Bec's favorite genres is contemporary romances.  We both love paranormal and YA books as well so I think we'll be mixing things up a bit more than I have been on my own.

In the near future, I would like to do an interview post with her so you can get to know her just a bit better.  I'm sure you'll love her almost as much as I do.  So I hope you're all looking forward to Bec's first review.  It'll be coming soon ONLY here at One Book Shy of a Full Shelf.  Yay Bec!

  

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Some Winners...

 

I have been beyond lax in posting winners for my giveaways.  Like months worth.....UGH!

 

I've notified winners and they've been shipped their prizes, I've just neglected to post the names of the lucky ducks here for all of the world to see.  So I'm starting with the two most recent contests for now.  I promise to do a big recap winner post shortly so you can see who really did win some goodies..  Here's the latest:

 

#15 is SusanB

#23 is Sin_na_mon

~~~~~

#9 is Judy

Congratulations to the winners!  I have emailed all three of you so be sure to get back to me with those mailing addresses.

 

 
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner

TITLE:    The Confessions of Catherine de Medici: A Novel
AUTHOR:    C.W. Gortner
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction,  418 pages
PUBLISHED:  Ballantine Books , 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review and Book Tour  The truth is, none of us are innocent. We all have sins to confess.

FROM GOODREADS:  

So reveals Catherine de Medici in this brilliantly imagined novel about one of history’s most powerful and controversial women. To some she was the ruthless queen who led France into an era of savage violence. To others she was the passionate savior of the French monarchy. Acclaimed author C. W. Gortner brings Catherine to life in her own voice, allowing us to enter into the intimate world of a woman whose determination to protect her family’s throne and realm plunged her into a lethal struggle for power.

The last legitimate descendant of the illustrious Medici line, Catherine suffers the expulsion of her family from her native Florence and narrowly escapes death at the hands of an enraged mob. While still a teenager, she is betrothed to Henri, son of François I of France, and sent from Italy to an unfamiliar realm where she is overshadowed and humiliated by her husband’s lifelong mistress. Ever resilient, Catherine strives to create a role for herself through her patronage of the famous clairvoyant Nostradamus and her own innate gift as a seer. But in her fortieth year, Catherine is widowed, left alone with six young children as regent of a kingdom torn apart by religious discord and the ambitions of a treacherous nobility.

Relying on her tenacity, wit, and uncanny gift for compromise, Catherine seizes power, intent on securing the throne for her sons. She allies herself with the enigmatic Protestant leader Coligny, with whom she shares an intimate secret, and implacably carves a path toward peace, unaware that her own dark fate looms before her—a fate that, if she is to save France, will demand the sacrifice of her ideals, her reputation, and the passion of her embattled heart.
From the fairy-tale châteaux of the Loire Valley to the battlefields of the wars of religion to the mob-filled streets of Paris, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici is the extraordinary untold journey of one of the most maligned and misunderstood women ever to be queen.

MY TAKE:    I became a major fan of C.W. Gortner's a while back when I had a chance to review The Tudor Secret.  His skill in manipulating words to draw the reader in and keep them glued to a story is impressive.  Intensive research is also very apparent in his books as he brings his characters to life and makes them relatable to modern readers.  Fans of historical fiction as well as those who enjoy great writing will love his books.

That first line in the intro grabbed me and held on to the very last page: 

The truth is, none of us are innocent. We all have sins to confess. 

I admit that I knew absolutely nothing about Catherine de Medici before reading this book and that line is a fantastic hook.  I wanted to know more.  Because of the fascinating story that Mr. Gortner has created, I found myself looking things up about her both during and after reading the book.  To me this is a sign that an author has done his job well - he's entertained, educated and peaked my interest to learn more about his subject. 

I've mentioned before that I'm a Tudor buff.  I enjoy reading about that era and the people that lived in it.  It was very refreshing for me to become completely engrossed in a story that was happening at the same time and included many of the same characters, but wasn't about the Tudors. I had of course, heard of Catherine de Medici, but didn't have a clue how she fit into history.  It was quite enlightening to find out just how big of a role she played and how many other "big names in history" she was associated with.  The fact that she was a friend of Nostradamus and used his skills to aid her decisions was unexpected.  Her reputation as an evil ruthless queen who dealt in the black arts and poisoning may have been blown out of proportion.  This book may help shed light on some of these issues and give the reader a better understanding of this powerful woman.

The author has taken historical facts and turned this story into an entertaining tale.  He brings out the entire range of emotions when it comes to Catherine.  You begin with the empathy and tears as Catherine is taken from a privileged life to one of despair and cruelty.  You then cheer for her as she is rescued and goes back to a life of ease, for a while.  Mr. Gortner makes it very easy to see where this woman developed her steel backbone.  I would imagine she was a bit of a scary lady if you crossed her.  It's also clear why she did many of the things she did to protect her own children.   I am just really really glad that this woman was not MY mother-in-law.  I am very happy with the one I have. 
  
I highly recommend this book. It now has a place on my keeper shelf (next to The Tudor Secret). It was one of those books that I couldn't put down.  I had to keep going because I just had to know what happened next and next and...

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon and The Book Depository

I'd like to thank Cheryl at Pump Up Your Books and the fabulous C.W. Gortner for including me on this tour. 

    

 
~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.