SELDOM COME BY by Sherryl Caulfield: Spotlight & Giveaway

Please join Sherryl Caulfield as she tours the blogosphere for Seldom Come By, the first book in her Iceberg Trilogy, from November 24-December 13, and enter to win an eBook or Autographed copy!

SELDOM COME BY

Author: Sherryl Caulfield
Publication Date: December 10, 2013
Cedar Pocket Publishing
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 490

Series: Iceberg Trilogy
Genre: Historical Fiction



READ AN EXCERPT.

Two years after the sinking of the Titanic, fifteen year-old Rebecca Crowe’s fascination with icebergs leads her to save a shipwrecked survivor, Samuel Dalton, the nineteen-year old son of a Toronto medical family.

Love sparks in the crystal cave of an iceberg but is thwarted by an unreasonable father and the Great War that drags Samuel and his brother, Matthew, to the Western Front as medical officers. Knowing Rebecca is home and safe in Newfoundland brings Samuel great comfort. But as the war moves towards its final harrowing days, they both discover that tragedy and terror can strike anywhere, setting their love on an unforeseen path.

Only when Samuel and Rebecca can fully come to terms with such devastating loss and their impossible choices can their love soar. With an emotional intensity reminiscent of The Bronze Horseman, Seldom Come By, named after an actual place in Newfoundland, is an unforgettable journey across waves and time and the full spectrum of human emotions.

Praise for Seldom Come By

“Seldom Come By is a haunting love story set against the windswept coast of Newfoundland. The story draws you in from the opening lines and takes you on a compelling journey across time and continents, through love, loss, heartache and healing. It is a beautiful and memorable story — a great accomplishment and a wonderful read.” – Julie Fison, Australia
“A wholly engaging read that wraps you up in another world. The story of how Samuel and Rebecca met and fell in love will always stay with me — and leaves me feeling as if I have already visited Newfoundland.” – Carolyn Wood, New Zealand

“If you love deep, epic, romantic stories this is one for you.” – Jeannie Zelos, United Kingdom

“Historical fiction is by far my favorite genre and this book captures the elements perfectly. An engaging, strong heroine, a dashing, honorable stranger, a brutal daily life existence in Newfoundland set during WWI. The story and characters are made more rich by the superb writing. I look forward to reading more from this author.” – Diane Tyson, USA

“This book was a real treat to read. By 30% in I was completely invested in the characters. The strength, passion and adversity that the couple have to endure are reminiscent of The Bronze Horseman, but beyond that, Rebecca and Samuel find their own way of handling things. I have already found myself recommending this book to others that have loved The Bronze Horseman. I do believe that if you enjoy an epic love story, this will make a fine reading suggestion.” – Karen Scott, Canada

Buy the Book

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Paperback

Amazon
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Book Depository
Chapters
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About the Author

Australian-born Sherryl Caulfield is a marketer, writer and traveller. After twenty years working for some of the world’s leading technology brands and a stint with Outward Bound, she longed to write about the human experience and the redemptive qualities of nature.

In 2006, haunted by an encounter with a woman she met in Canada, Sherryl started what has now become known as The Iceberg Trilogy. From her home in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand, she distilled the lives of three generations of women – Rebecca, Evangeline and Lindsay – over the course of a century. In the telling of their stories she crafted a series rich in landscapes – of sea, land and the human soul.

For more information please visit Sherryl Caulfield's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

 

Seldom Come By Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, November 24
Review at Beth's Book Nook Blog

Wednesday, November 26
Review & Interview at Jorie Loves a Story

Thursday, November 27
Review at Book Nerd

Friday, November 28
Review at Peeking Between the Pages

Monday, December 1
Review at Shelly's Book Shelves
Spotlight at Boom Baby Reviews

Tuesday, December 2
Review at 100 Pages a Day - Stephanie's Book Reviews

Wednesday, December 3
Spotlight at Mina's Bookshelf

Thursday, December 4
Guest Post at The Eclectic Reader

Friday, December 5
Review at Feminist Reflections

Saturday, December 6
Review at With Her Nose Stuck In A Book

Monday, December 8
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Spotlight at Historical Fiction Connection

Tuesday, December 9
Guest Post at Let Them Read Books

Wednesday, December 10
Spotlight at Caroline Wilson Writes

Friday, December 12
Review & Giveaway at Curiouser and Curiouser

Saturday, December 13
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Giveaway

To enter to win an Autographed copy of Seldom Come By, please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form below.

Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on December 13th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open internationally.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

DEATH COMES TO LONDON by Catherine Lloyd: Review & Giveaway

DEATH COMES TO LONDON

Author: Catherine Lloyd
Publication Date: November 25, 2014
Kensington Books
Formats: eBook, Trade Paperback
Pages: 272

Series: Kurland St. Mary Mystery, Book Two
Genre: Historical Mystery



A season in London promises a welcome change of pace for two friends from the village of Kurland St. Mary—until murder makes a debut…

With the reluctant blessings of their father, the rector of Kurland St. Mary, Lucy Harrington and her sister Anna leave home for a social season in London. At the same time, Lucy’s special friend Major Robert Kurland is summoned to the city to accept a baronetcy for his wartime heroism.

Amidst the dizzying whirl of balls and formal dinners, the focus shifts from mixing and matchmaking to murder when the dowager Countess of Broughton, the mother of an old army friend of Robert, drops dead. When it’s revealed she’s been poisoned, Robert’s former betrothed, Miss Chingford, is accused, and she in turn points a finger at Anna. To protect her sister, Lucy enlists Robert’s aid in drawing out the true culprit.

But with suspects ranging from resentful rivals and embittered family members to the toast of the ton, it will take all their sleuthing skills to unmask the poisoner before more trouble is stirred up…

My Review

Quite a delightful read, reminiscent in many ways of some of the most popular literary darlings. Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice and P.D. James' Death Comes To Pemberley spring immediately to mind for the polished definition of the characters, the streamlined mystery plot, the elegance and wit of the extensive dialogues. I was extremely pleased to see the author deliver in every department of the story. I applaud Catherine Lloyd's ability to switch narrative gear from the measured pace of her atmospheric descriptions (the milieu is the placid life of an early 1800s English countryside estate, complemented by the genteel drawing rooms of a Regency London), to the light-hearted tone of the protagonists' banters (I greatly enjoyed the interactions between Lucy and Robert), to the perfect chemistry and delicate romance between two well matched protagonists (Lucy's plain and unassuming beauty, Robert's recalcitrant manners and rough-around-the-edges kind of charm). Second installment in the Kurland St. Mary series, Death Comes To London reads as a stand alone novel - satisfaction guaranteed.

My Rating

5 out of 5 stars

***Review copy graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an unbiased and honest opinion

GIVEAWAY (US only)

1 copy of Death Comes To London is up for grabs. Become a follower of this blog and comment in the section below (please, include your email address) for a chance to win. The contest is open to US residents only.

Praise for the Kurland St. Mary Mystery Series

“Lloyd’s delightful debut…Readers will hope that death returns soon to Kurland St. Mary.” – Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

“A skillfully crafted mystery that combines a wounded war hero, an inquisitive rector’s daughter and a quaint peaceful village with some sinister secrets…a compelling picture of a young woman trying to find the courage to stand up for herself." – RT Book Reviews, 4.5 Stars, TOP PICK!

“A Regency Rear Window whose chair-bound hero and the woman who civilizes him generate sparks worthy of Darcy and Elizabeth. – Kirkus Reviews

Buy the Book

Amazon (Kindle)
Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository
Books-A-Million
iTunes
IndieBound

About the Author

Catherine Lloyd grew up in London, England in the middle of a large family of girls. She quickly decided her imagination was a wonderful thing and was often in trouble for making stuff up. She finally worked out she could make a career out of this when she moved to the USA with her husband and four children and began writing fiction. With a background in historical research and a love of old-fashioned mysteries, she couldn't resist the opportunity to wonder what a young Regency Miss Marple might be like, and how she would deal with a far from pleasant hero of the Napoleonic wars.

For more information please visit Catherine Lloyd's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Death Comes to London Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, November 24
Review & Giveaway at Girl Lost in a Book

Tuesday, November 25
Spotlight at What Is That Book About

Wednesday, November 26
Spotlight & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More

Thursday, November 27
Guest Post at Jorie Loves a Story
Guest Post at Boom Baby Reviews

Friday, November 28
Spotlight & Excerpt at Austenprose

Saturday, November 29
Spotlight at Svetlana's Reads and Views

Monday, December 1
Review at Book Nerd
Review at Jorie Loves a Story
Guest Post at Madame Gilflurt

Tuesday, December 2
Review & Giveaway at Mina's Bookshelf

Wednesday, December 3
Review at Editing Pen
Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book
Spotlight & Giveaway at Historical Fiction Connection

Thursday, December 4
Review & Guest Post at Latte' Da!

Friday, December 5
Review at Becky on Books



 

Interview with Sherry Jones, Author of THE SHARP HOOK OF LOVE

The Sharp Hook Of Love is the first retelling of the passionate, twelve-century forbidden love between scholar abbess Heloise d'Argenteuil and philosopher Pierre Abelard since the discovery of 113 revealing love letters. Published by Gallery (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) last October, the book is authored by American journalist and internationally best selling Sherry Jones. You can find all the details about the book and an excerpt in my previous post. Let's meet the author!

 

Q. I am honored to have you on the blog, Sherry! First things first: let's talk about you and the way you started your writing career. Did you always dream of becoming an author of historical fiction? What sparked your love for writing?

1. One particular woman in time, A’isha bint Abi Bakr, the youngest wife of the Prophet Muhammad, inspired me to write historical fiction. I’ve always been a reader of good writing, no matter what the genre — I love complex, descriptive prose and characters I lose myself in, but when I discovered A’isha I knew that I had to write about her. My love for reading, for words, and for great stories sparked my desire to write.

Q. Why did you decide to write a fictional account of Heloise d'Argenteuil and Pierre Abelard's love affair?

1. I wanted to write a story that would portray love in all its messiness, its ambivalences and loose ends, its agonies as well as its ecstasies. Love is one of the most difficult emotions to write about, so hard to get right and so easy to screw up with cliche or with oversentimentality. Adding to the challenge was the fact that Heloise and Abelard have been portrayed so many times, in novels and plays and artworks and dance and poetry and nonfiction ann song — I wanted to do what had been done before, but to do it uniquely, in a completely new way.

Q. How did you balance historical accuracy and fiction? How much of the book sticks to true historical facts and how much is the fruit of your imagination?

1. Everywhere there are facts, my books adhere to them. Where something isn’t known, I embellish or invent.

Q. Where did you do your researches for the book?

1. I read Abelard’s own philosophy books, his letters to Heloise and hers to him — including 113 newly discovered “lost love letters” between them — as well as numerous biographies of the couple. I traveled to Paris and saw the site of the house where the lovers lived with Heloise’s uncle, Fulbert, and also their tomb at the Pere Lachaise Cemetery. I read an invaluable book on life in Paris in the 12th century, too, “Daily Living in the Twelfth Century” by Urban Tigner Holmes Jr. I toured a number of medieval museums, too, including Cluny in Paris and the Cloisters Museum in Manhattan.

1. 

   The Sharp Hook Of Love by Sherry Jones (Gallery Books)

Q. I am always curious to know how authors choose a title for their books. Why "The Sharp Hook of Love"?

1. Not only does it refer, ominously, to a climactic scene in their tale, but it comes from a letter in which Heloise said her mind had been “pierced by the sharp hook of love.”

Q. I can't stop staring at the book cover - beautiful! Did you have any say in the creative process for the cover artwork?

1. Except to ooh, aah, and gush rhapsodic, I didn’t need to say or do anything. The painting is called “The Kiss” (“Il Basio”) and it’s by an Italian artist named Francisco Hayez, painted in 1859.

Q. Did you uncover some unknown and interesting facts about Heloise and Abelard while conducting your researches for the book?

1. I discovered fascinating theories about Heloise’s parentage, some of which I included in the book. I also found their “lost love letters,” incredibly eloquent and beautiful letters, poems, and fragments of letters first published in 1999 by Australian professor Constant Mews. I felt so thrilled to use these letters in my book. Your readers can see the first 10 of them, along with artworks depicting the couple, by signing up for my email newsletter at authorsherryjones.com/swag.

Q. The majority of scholars have interpreted the story of Heloise and Abelard's relationship as a tragic romance. Some others argue that Abelard used his privileged position to 'seduce' Heloise against her will (somebody mentioned 'rape' and 'abuse') . What is your take on this legendary couple? Do you think Abelard really loved Heloise? Was it about love, lust, or control? Were women actually free to love in the Middle Ages?

1. I know they loved each other. Who could read the “lost love letters” and think otherwise? Whether Abelard “forced himself most brutally” on Heloise, as he wrote, is in dispute. He wrote it in his confessional, after all, in which he was supposed to portray himself as a wretched sinner saved, in the end, by God’s love, and so he would naturally want to make himself as degraded and debased as possible, to heighten the effect of his salvation. And yet, it wasn’t uncommon for men to simply take what they wanted from women. As for whether women were free to love — or, really, whether anyone was “free” at all during that time — let’s just say that, free or not, they did it. They loved, risking all for the sake of love, as humans have been doing since the beginning of time.

Q. What did you want to capture in particular about the time period and characters of your book?

1. I wanted to look at women’s role in society and how it changed because of the Church, that most patriarchal of institutions. I also wanted to portray the growing creative tension between the secular and the sacred, which reached a kind of fevered pitch during the “renaissance” of the 12th century. I wanted, too, to show how the origins of clerical celibacy came not out of any exhortation to emulate Christ, but rather from the Church’s own attempts to hold on to its lands and money as priests and other clergy married and had sons to whom they left coveted titles and domains. It was all land grab, and had nothing do with Christ.

Q. Is there any iconic figure in modern history that reminds you of Heloise d’Argenteuil?

1. I don’t know about icons, but every woman I know seems to have fallen at one point or another for a “bad boy” and given up way too much of herself for him.

Q. Of all literary genres, you are obviously inspired by historical fiction and historic figures. What draws you to write fictionalized accounts rather than build a story based solely upon your imagination and how the two writing processes (pure fiction vs. novelized history) differ?

1. There is no such thing as a story that emerges solely from the imagination. Everything we write comes from memory, or dreams, or knowledge gained from reading or conversation or inner exploration. I began writing historical fiction because, as I said above, I discovered A’isha and wanted to tell her amazing story.

Q. Is there any other historical figure you would like to write about?

1. My next novel is about Josephine Baker, the famous African-American dancer and singer who captured the hearts of Parisians in the 1920s and 30s. She went on to live an amazing, heroic life while also becoming the biggest star in Europe. As with so many, however, she never gained real popularity in her own country — a prophet is never without honor save in her own town, etc. I’m also at work on a memoir, “I’ve Had a String of Men,” about growing up the daughter of a religious, borderline-personality mother and an alcoholic, porn-obsessed father in the South. I expect it will be a comedy.

“The Kiss” (“Il Basio”) by Francisco Hayez, 1859

Q. One of your best-selling and award-winning historical novels, The Jewel Of Medina, was at the center of a national controversy for its treatment of a topic related to the Muslim religion. Has your voice changed in any way as a consequence of that diatribe? How do you react today to reviews and criticisms, if any?

1. My voice has not changed, but I am a stronger person because of those very difficult years. I learned how to draw on the inspiration of my own characters, especially A’isha. Now that I have written five books, I have even more amazing characters to call upon when I need shoring up. They’re all a part of me, anyway, and were in me before I even thought about writing them.

Q. What are you passionate about, besides writing and history?

1. Reading! Women’s equality, including the right to our own bodies. Food, music, love, and friends. Traveling. And anything French, including the beautiful language, which I am learning to speak.

Thank you for your time and for the lovely interview, Sherry!

THE SHARP HOOK OF LOVE by Sherry Jones: Book Spotlight & Excerpt

THE SHARP HOOK OF LOVE

by

Sherry Jones

Publication Date: October 7, 2014

Gallery Books

Formats: eBook, Paperback

Pages: 352

Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

The first retelling of the passionate, twelfth-century love story since the discovery of 113 lost love letters between Heloise d’Argenteuil and Pierre Abelard—the original Romeo and Juliet.

"While I sleep you never leave me, and after I wake I see you, as soon as I open my eyes, even before the light of day itself." —Abelard to Heloise

Among the young women of twelfth-century Paris, Heloise d’Argenteuil stands apart. Extraordinarily educated and quick-witted, she is being groomed by her uncle to become an abbess in the service of God.

But with one encounter, her destiny changes forever. Pierre Abelard, headmaster at the Notre-Dame Cloister School, is acclaimed as one of the greatest philosophers in France. His controversial reputation only adds to his allure, yet despite the legions of women swooning over his poetry and dashing looks, he is captivated by the brilliant Heloise alone. As their relationship blossoms from a meeting of the minds to a forbidden love affair, both Heloise and Abelard must choose between love, duty, and ambition.

Sherry Jones weaves the lovers’ own words into an evocative account of desire and sacrifice. As intimate as it is erotic, as devastating as it is beautiful, The Sharp Hook of Love is a poignant, tender tribute to one of history’s greatest romances, and to love’s power to transform and endure.

Praise for The Sharp Hook of Love

"Heloise is the sort of heroine you cannot help rooting for: brilliant and naïve, vulnerable and tough. The Sharp Hook of Love will have you up all night holding your breath as you turn each page." (Rebecca Kanner author of Sinners and the Sea)

"Jones weaves history and passion in a tale full of emotional heft that questions what it means to truly love someone..." (Kirkus Reviews)

"A sensual journey into twelfth century Paris. With a sharp eye for historical detail, Jones weaves an unforgettable, compelling tale about enduring love." (Lynn Cullen nationally bestselling author of Mrs. Poe)

"Passion and treachery mingle in Sherry Jones's explosive novel The Sharp Hook of Love. Wrenching and erotic, this is a grand romance in every sense of the word." (Mary Sharratt author of Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen)

Buy the Book

Amazon (Kindle)

Amazon (Paperback)

Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Barnes & Noble (Paperback)

Books-a-Million

iBooks

IndieBound

Simon & Schuster

About the Author

Sherry Jones is the author of five biographical fiction books: The Sharp Hook of Love, about the famed 12th-century lovers Abelard and Heloise; The Jewel of Medina and The Sword of Medina, international — and controversial — best sellers about the life of A’isha, who married the Muslim prophet Muhammad at age nine and went on to become the most famous and influential woman in Islam; Four Sisters, All Queens, a tale of four sisters in 13th century Provence who became queens of France, England, Germany, and Italy, and White Heart, an e-novella about the famous French “White Queen” Blanche de Castille.

For more information please visit Sherry Jones's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Goodreads.

 

Excerpt

When I lifted my gaze so shyly to his face, did he behold the

girl dancing inside me? Could he hear the music playing so

sweetly? At night, alone in the study of my uncle’s house, reading

the Porphyry assigned to me and writing my arguments, I would

hear that tune begin quietly, as if played by a distant piper, then

increase until it had filled me to overflowing and drowned out all

thoughts but those of Abelard. How intently he gazed into my

eyes as I spoke, pouring out my very soul to him in our long

talks. Who had ever listened to anything that I said? Who had

ever responded with smiles and compliments? With him, I

became utterly myself as never before—and, to my astonishment,

when I looked into his eyes like mirrors reflecting myself back to

me, I admired the person I beheld there. Thinking of him,

bathed in that sweet music, I would take up a new tablet and

write verses to accompany that tune—words not of feigned love,

as in our letters, but of the elation that had seized me on the day

we met, and which aroused my spirit more with every moment I

spent in his presence.

For him, I’d told myself, our letters made up an elaborate

game of elocution, and no more. Every teacher played similarly

with his scholars, writing letters as an exercise, an amusement.

Love? What had a philosopher to do with love?

To one who is sweeter from day to day, is loved now as much as

possible and is always to be loved more than anything. Standing in

the cathedral, reading these words, I felt a fullness in my chest, as

though my heart expanded. Who had ever loved me?

—The Sharp Hook of Love, page 26



The Sharp Hook of Love Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, November 24

Review at Bibliophilia, Please

Tuesday, November 25

Review at Ageless Pages Reviews

Wednesday, November 26

Review at Book Babe

Guest Post at Historical Fiction Connection

Friday, November 28

Guest Post at Historical Tapestry

Sunday, November 29

Spotlight & Excerpt at The Lusty Literate

Monday, December 1

Review at Book Lovers Paradise

Interview at Mina's Bookshelf

Wednesday, December 3

Guest Post at Let Them Read Books

Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Thursday, December 4

Review at The Lit Bitch

Friday, December 5

Review at Historical Fiction Obsession

Feature at Romantic Historical Lovers

Interview at To Read or Not to Read