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

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Presenting....STEPHANIE THORNTON..author of THE CONQUEROR'S WIFE

A few days ago, I featured the book THE CONQUEROR'S WIFE, by Stephanie Thornton (One of my ALL TIME favorite authors).  Today we have the privilege of having a guest post by Ms. Thornton.  So,  welcome Stephanie... and a special thank you to Amy Bruno of Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for allowing me to be part of this tour and for introducing me to the fabulous works of Stephanie Thornton.




It’s said that behind every strong man is a strong woman.

Well, there was a veritable army of fearsome (and sometimes downright terrifying) women flanking Alexander the Great.

The first, his mother Olympias, reputedly slept with snakes and eventually helped govern Macedon while Alex was off campaigning at the ends of the earth. Before Alexander became king, his father had threatened to make a younger son by a lesser wife his heir. Strangely enough, Philip soon dropped dead of an assassin’s blade and even more shocking, Olympias later congratulated and crowned that same assassin. People suspected Olympias’ involvement in the murder, but her son now sat on the throne so it wasn’t as if anyone was going to put her on trial. And if you can get away with murder once…

Well, let’s just say Olympias was the original Tiger Mom.

Next we have Roxana, Alexander’s Persian wife. It might come down to a coin toss to see who was more devious and cruel: Olympias or Roxana. Lovely Roxana was the daughter of a minor Persian noble and caught Alexander’s eye after he stormed the fortress at Sogdian Rock. The two were soon married and eventually Roxana birthed Alexander’s one and only legitimate son. (Too bad Alexander had dropped dead only months before, thus ushering in a bloody civil war.) Perhaps in a quest to outdo even Olympias’ brutality, Roxana was willing to commit any crime to keep her power.

Pretty, young Roxana could have given Lizzie Borden a run for her money.

Finally we have Thessalonike, Alexander’s sister. Ancient sources are fairly silent until Thessalonike made a power marriage, but she was daughter to one king, sister to another, and wife to a third. Her mother died shortly after her birth, leaving her to be raised by Olympias. (Poor unfortunate soul!) Yet rather than let her evil stepmother scar her for life, Thessalonike seemed to have learned political maneuvering at Olympias’ elbow. She bided her time until after Alexander’s death and helped quell the raging civil war as everyone fought for control of Alex’s empire. She went on to bear three sons and have a city, Thessaloniki, named after her.

So what’s the moral of the story if you’re mother, sister, or wife to one of the world’s greatest conquerors?

Be ready to play dirty, or hide on the sidelines until everyone else is dead.



Don't miss these other exciting novels by STEPHANIE THORNTON


The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora
by Stephanie Thornton 

Where Theodora went, trouble followed…

In sixth century Constantinople, one woman, Theodora, defied every convention and all the odds, and rose from being a common theater tart to become empress of a great kingdom, the most powerful woman the Roman Empire would ever know. But the woman whose image was later immortalized in glittering mosaic was, in fact, a scrappy, clever, conniving, flesh-and-blood woman full of sensuality and spirit whose real story is as surprising as any ever told…

When her father dies suddenly, Theodora and her sisters face starvation on the streets. Determined to survive, Theodora makes a living any way she can—first on her back with every man who will have her, then on the stage of the city’s infamous amphitheater in a scandalous dramatization of her own invention. When her daring performance grants her a back-door entry into the halls of power, she seizes the chance to win a wealthy protector—only to face heartbreak and betrayal. 

Ever resilient, Theodora rises above such trials and by a twist of fate, meets her most passionate admirer yet: the Emperor’s nephew. She will thrive as his confidant and courtesan, but many challenges lie ahead. For one day, this man will hand her a crown. And all the empire will wonder—is she bold enough, shrewd enough, and strong enough to keep it?



Daughter of the Gods: A Novel of Ancient Egypt
by Stephanie Thornton 

Egypt, 1400s BC. The pharaoh’s pampered second daughter, lively, intelligent Hatshepsut, delights in racing her chariot through the marketplace and testing her archery skills in the Nile’s marshlands. But the death of her elder sister, Neferubity, in a gruesome accident arising from Hatshepsut’s games forces her to confront her guilt...and sets her on a profoundly changed course.

Hatshepsut enters a loveless marriage with her half brother, Thut, to secure his claim to the Horus Throne and produce a male heir. But it is another of Thut’s wives, the commoner Aset, who bears him a son, while Hatshepsut develops a searing attraction for his brilliant adviser Senenmut. And when Thut suddenly dies, Hatshepsut becomes de facto ruler, as regent to her two-year-old nephew.

Once, Hatshepsut anticipated being free to live and love as she chose. Now she must put Egypt first. Ever daring, she will lead a vast army and build great temples, but always she will be torn between the demands of leadership and the desires of her heart. And even as she makes her boldest move of all, her enemies will plot her downfall....





The Tiger Queens: The Women of Genghis Khan
by Stephanie Thornton 

In the late twelfth century, across the sweeping Mongolian grasslands, brilliant, charismatic Temujin ascends to power, declaring himself the Great, or Genghis, Khan. But it is the women who stand beside him who ensure his triumph.... 

After her mother foretells an ominous future for her, gifted Borte becomes an outsider within her clan. When she seeks comfort in the arms of aristocratic traveler Jamuka, she discovers he is the blood brother of Temujin, the man who agreed to marry her and then abandoned her long before they could wed.

Temujin will return and make Borte his queen, yet it will take many women to safeguard his fragile new kingdom. Their daughter, the fierce Alaqai, will ride and shoot an arrow as well as any man. Fatima, an elegant Persian captive, will transform her desire for revenge into an unbreakable loyalty. And Sorkhokhtani, a demure widow, will position her sons to inherit the empire when it begins to fracture from within.

In a world lit by fire and ruled by the sword, the tiger queens of Genghis Khan come to depend on one another as they fight and love, scheme and sacrifice, all for the good of their family...and the greatness of the People of the Felt Walls.




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

We are the women who loved Alexander the Great. We were lovers and murderers, innocents and soldiers.
And without us, Alexander would have been only a man.
Instead he was a god.

330s, B.C.E., Greece: Alexander, a handsome young warrior of Macedon, begins his quest to conquer the ancient world. But he cannot ascend to power, and keep it, without the women who help to shape his destiny.

His spirited younger half-sister, Thessalonike, yearns to join her brother and see the world. Instead, it is Alexander's boyhood companion who rides with him into war while Thessalonike remains behind. Far away, crafty princess Drypetis will not stand idly by as Alexander topples her father from Persia's throne. And after Alexander conquers her tiny kingdom, Roxana, the beautiful and cunning daughter of a minor noble, wins Alexander’s heart…and will commit any crime to secure her place at his side.

Within a few short years, Alexander controls an empire more vast than the civilized world has ever known. But his victories are tarnished by losses on the battlefield and treachery among his inner circle. And long after Alexander is gone, the women who are his champions, wives, and enemies will fight to claim his legacy…

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

The Oracle...Sarah Weston is back!

02_The Oracle_Cover


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


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

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


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


AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | INDIE BOUND

About the Author

Daphne Nikolopoulos, photography by Lauren Lieberman / LILA PHOTO

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

Blog Tour Schedule

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

  Wednesday, December 2 Review at Book Lovers Paradise

Friday, December 4 Spotlight at Diana's Book Reviews

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

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


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Monday, November 30, 2015

THE CONQUERORS WIFE...BY STEPHANIE THORNTON

02_The Conqueror's Wife
I LOVE THIS COVER!!!!!

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

Publication Date: December 1, 2015
NAL/Penguin Group LLC.
eBook, Paperback; 496 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

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A novel from the acclaimed author of The Tiger Queens, for readers looking for 'strong and determined female protagonists (Historical Novel Society) and 'a sprawling historical saga'(Renee Rosen)...

We are the women who loved Alexander the Great. We were lovers and murderers, innocents and soldiers.
And without us, Alexander would have been only a man.
Instead he was a god.

330s, B.C.E., Greece: Alexander, a handsome young warrior of Macedon, begins his quest to conquer the ancient world. But he cannot ascend to power, and keep it, without the women who help to shape his destiny. His spirited younger half-sister, Thessalonike, yearns to join her brother and see the world. Instead, it is Alexander's boyhood companion who rides with him into war while Thessalonike remains behind. Far away, crafty princess Drypetis will not stand idly by as Alexander topples her father from Persia's throne. And after Alexander conquers her tiny kingdom, Roxana, the beautiful and cunning daughter of a minor noble, wins Alexander's heart and will commit any crime to secure her place at his side. Within a few short years, Alexander controls an empire more vast than the civilized world has ever known. But his victories are tarnished by losses on the battlefield and treachery among his inner circle. And long after Alexander is gone, the women who are his champions, wives, and enemies will fight to claim his legacy


my thoughts:

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

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

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

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

The best yet by this amazing author!






About the Author

03_Stephanie ThorntonStephanie Thornton is a writer and history teacher who has been obsessed with infamous women from ancient history since she was twelve. She lives with her husband and daughter in Alaska, where she is at work on her next novel. "The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora," "Daughter of the Gods: A Novel of Ancient Egypt," and "The Tiger Queens: The Women of Genghis Khan" are available now. "The Conqueror's Wife: A Novel of Alexander the Great" will hit the shelves in December 2015. For more information please visit Stephanie Thornton's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

 Monday, November 30 Review at Book Lovers Paradise Review & Giveaway at 100 Pages a Day

Tuesday, December 1 Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee Guest Post at Book Lovers Paradise

Wednesday, December 2 Review at leeanna.me Review & Giveaway at A Literary Vacation

Thursday, December 3 Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway at Just One More Chapter Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway at Unshelfish Excerpt at A Literary Vacation Spotlight at The Reading Queen

  Friday, December 4 Review & Giveaway at The True Book Addict

Monday, December 7 Review at The Maiden's Court

  Tuesday, December 8 Review at Reading the Past Review at Let Them Read Books

  Wednesday, December 9 Review at CelticLady's Reviews

  Thursday, December 10 Review at The Lit Bitch Interview & Giveaway at Reading Lark Guest Post at Historical Fiction Connection

  Friday, December 11 Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views

  Saturday, December 12 Review & Giveaway at Genre Queen

  Monday, December 14 Review at Book Babe Reivew, Excerpt, & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick

Tuesday, December 15 Review at Bookramblings

  Wednesday, December 16 Review at Book Nerd

  Thursday, December 17 Review at Flashlight Commentary

  Friday, December 18 Review at History From a Woman's Perspective Interview at Flashlight Commentary









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