Welcome to Book Lovers Paradise

Welcome to my attempt at blogging. I am a true to heart bibliophile. Here I will discuss and review books as I read them. You are welcome to do the same. The only rules are no profanity, no politics, no religion, and have fun!
Donna

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

WEALTH AND PRIVILEDGE


                          02_Wealth and Privilege_Cover

Please join author Jeanette Watts as she tours the blogosphere with HF Virtual Book Tours for Wealth and Privilege, from June 16-July 17.

Ebook Release Date: 2013 Paperback Release Date: 2014 CreateSpace Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

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Money. Family. Love. Hate. Obsession. Duty. Politics. Religion - or the lack thereof. Sex -- or, once again, the lack thereof. Thomas Baldwin finds himself married to a woman he can't stand, while head-over heels in love with another woman he can't have. Talk about bad planning. He is something of a kite, buffeted by circumstances which blow him not only through personal crises, but also through some of the most significant events of the late 1800s, including the railroad riots of 1877, the creation of the Homestead Steel Works, the assassination of President Garfield, and the Johnstown Flood. Over time, and with the help of his muse, who dances maddeningly just beyond his reach, he takes control of his life, wresting it from the winds attempting to control him. A carefully-researched historical novel about life among the privileged class of Pittsburgh during the Industrial Revolution.

Praise for Wealth and Privilege

"Thomas Baldwin is like a Rorschach inkblot test. Some people love him, some people find him unlikeable. Most people can't stand his wife. Others feel sorry for her. I take the fact that people have such a huge variety of reactions to my characters as a sign I succeeded in writing full, rich personalities." - Kirkus Reviews

 "Wealth and Privilege is an exceptionally provoking read. The real romance is between the author and the reader" - Page Traveler

Wealth and Privilege Available at

Amazon Kindle Barnes & Noble Nook CreateSpace (Paperback)

About the Author03A_Jeanette Watts_Author

Jeanette Watts couldn't help but notice that all romances seemed to be set in the American West or the South. A staunch Yankee girl, she asked what is unromantic about the North or the East? After living for four years in Pittsburgh, and falling deeply in love with southwestern Pennsylvania, she found it the perfect location for a love story. Besides writing, she is also a dance instructor, an inveterate seamstress, the artistic director for several dance companies, an actress, and a history buff. Wealth and Privilege took her 10 years to write, because she felt the research needed to be thorough. Everything from big events and famous people to little details like dog breeds and women's fashions have been carefully researched. For more information visit Jeanette Watt's website, and follow the Wealth and Privilege Facebook Page.

Wealth & Privilege Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, June 16 Spotlight & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Wednesday, June 17 Spotlight at What Is That Book About Friday, June 19 Review & Giveaway at Unshelfish Monday, June 22 Review at Book Nerd Tuesday, June 23 Guest Post at I Heart Reading Wednesday, July 1 Review at Book Lovers Paradise Thursday, July 2 Spotlight at A Literary Vacation Monday, July 6 Review at A Chick Who Reads Tuesday, July 7 Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews Friday, July 17 Spotlight at Passages to the Past


my thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book.  It was like riding a raft down a long winding river.  That river was the late 1800's.  As the rider of the raft I witnessed several important events while following the lives of Thomas and Regina.  I grew to love both characters.  Both have heart, style and kind natures.  I felt sorry for Thomas' wife.  Yes, she asked for all she got, and more...but things didn't turn out the way she planned.   Throughout the book, I kept waiting for Thomas and Regina to get together.

The research that must have gone into this novel is staggering.  Jeanette Watts brings these events to life for us.  We seem to have a front seat view of history, and it's amazing to watch.

All I can say, the ending was not as I expected.  I admit, it left me with feeling of rage.  Not just anger, but pure rage.  Without going into the reasons for my rage, and giving away the ending, I'd just like to say to the author...I HOPE YOU HAVE A SEQUEL IN THE WORKS.   





04_Wealth and Privilege_Blog Tour Banner_FINAL

Monday, June 29, 2015

Roman Mask Release Day Blitz


Publication Date: June 29, 2015
CreateSpace
Formats: Kindle & Paperback
Pages: 388
Genre: Historical Fiction/Adventure/Action

What is it we normally expect of the leading character in our books? Self-sacrifice? Bravery? Strength of character? Possibly with a hint of self-deprecation? Well, Cassius doesn’t have any of those. Cynicism – yes. Cowardice – possibly. Prepared to live a lie in order to further his own ends – absolutely!

It is Rome AD 9 and Augustus Caesar rules Imperial Rome at the height of its power, as the Roman Empire stretches across the known world. Cassius, son of one of her most powerful families, is the personification of Rome’s imperial strength: wealthy, popular, a war hero with a decorated military career. None of Rome’s fashionable parties are complete without him.

But he hides a secret.

After his nerve is broken in Germany, even the thought of genuine armed combat is enough to send him into a cold sweat. But this doesn’t dissuade him from living off a false reputation so he can continue a life of womanising, wine and wild parties, as he is seduced by the many vices of Rome. However, his scandalous life is interrupted by a summons from the emperor’s wife. It ends his happy decadent life and returns him to Germany to assist the Roman legions in their greatest ever trial. The events will resound through history, in the dark forests of the Teutoburg …

I have researched the calamitous history of the doomed legions that marched into the Teutoburg Forest in AD 9, using a wide range of historical sources including the classical works of Tacitus and the more recent archaeological findings of the early 1990s in Kalkriese. I have put my complicated hero, who clearly suffers from the post-traumatic stress of his last encounter with the German tribes, at the centre of the events that rocked Rome to its foundations. How can a man, so flawed in so many respects, possibly impact on these terrible events? By his humanity, by coming to terms with his flaws, and learning to stop hating himself for them. It is a tale of betrayal and hardship, but also personal redemption.

Roman Mask Available At


About the Author



Thomas Brooke lives in London where he works in the exciting, and sometimes crazy, fashion world. He is also a committed writer and he spends as much time as he can in his beloved Northumbrian hills, where up until recently could be seen walking with his black Labrador Fergus, who sadly passed in January 2015. Fergus was a constant companion to the writing of the novel and prevented many writers’ tantrums.

Roman Mask is Thomas Brooke’s second novel, although this will be the first available for sale.

As well as writing novels, he also writes a blog on both historical and fantasy genre novels.

For more information on Thomas M D Brooke, visit www.thomasmdbrooke.com and www.romanmask.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.