A Wild Hope-Books On Tour (Review)-Historical Fiction Saga-Available Now

If ever you were looking for a book that was the definition of an epic story, you would be hard pressed to find one that fits better than this sprawling novel from Celeste De Blasis.

Fair warning: the book was originally released in 1985 as Wild Swan and is part one of a trilogy. To truly understand the scope of this book, one has to think back to novels like Roots, The Thorn Birds, and even Gone with the Wind and The Godfather.

They were all written when television was still in its relative infancy (or, in the case of Gone with the Wind, didn’t exist at all). Novels were a major form of entertainment. They needed to be exciting, with memorable characters and unforgettable settings. They needed to be written with detailed descriptions so people could picture unknown places or understand subjects they otherwise would know little about.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/34efnMz Apple: https://apple.co/3ioGlq8
Kobo: https://bit.ly/33IgBAO Google: https://bit.ly/3irhiTn

For example, in A Wild Hope, you will learn more than you every thought possible about breeding horses. That’s just one backdrop of this story, but you’ll receive so much information you might be ready to go out and try it yourself.

I was swept away by the descriptions and writing style of the author. She truly was able to take me out of time and put me into when- and wherever Alexandria was. I appreciated her ability to do so, because that is something that is sometimes lacking in today’s novels.

If you can get past the long passages that discuss horses, as well as several other topics, you’ll find a story about a woman torn between two men – one of the very simplest of conflicts. This one is especially well-done, because the two men also happen to represent the two separate lives that the heroine (Alexandria) has led. Which should or could she continue to true happiness?

You’ll have to read it to find out. Just because a book is almost 800 pages doesn’t mean that I am going to give you the Cliff’s Notes version.

And honestly, don’t let the length scare you away. In today’s “immediate information age” it’s easy to forget what it used to be like: to stop, and breathe, taking the time to immerse yourself in a whole different world. When reading could be an absolute luxurious pleasure instead of something to do quickly to fill a few hours.

This book is worth investing your time because there is so much to take in. From the detailed descriptions of England’s West Country over to early-mid 1800s Maryland (and several places in between), I felt like I was there.

The emotions of the characters are real, their troubles consistent with the times, and their reactions purely human. Everything just reads as genuine.

With winter coming, it would be a good time to consider this book (or rather, 3 books, as I assume the trilogy will be completely re-released), especially if you are in a place where you might be stuck due to weather. You’ll be happy to give yourself the ability to follow Alexandria’s trials and tribulations.

Author Bio:
Millions of readers have fallen under the spell of the lush, enthralling and bestselling novels by Celeste De Blasis. Tales of adventure and romance set against the sweep of history—all are storytelling at its finest. After graduating from Pomona College, Celeste devoted her life to impeccable research and spellbinding writing. A native Californian, Celeste grew up on the historic Kemper Campbell Ranch in the Mojave Desert, where she lived until her death in 2001.  

Books On Tour (Review): Into the Darkest Day by Kate Hewitt

Epic in every sense of the word, this book is one of the finest examples of historical fiction I have read. There is so much that I liked about it that I don’t know if I can cover it all, but I’ll try.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/2YFDimH Apple Books: https://apple.co/2zmZh7h Kobo: https://bit.ly/3fs2qn1 Google Play: https://bit.ly/2W8DNnM

One thing I noticed right from the start was the attention to detail in both the contemporary and historical storylines. It is always easiest to picture something familiar, so getting an image of Abby’s apple orchard and the farmhouse was simple to imagine. The author was so descriptive with the WWII scenes that I could picture them almost as completely.

The author hits the other senses with her descriptions as well. From the pigeon coops to events during the war, I felt like I could smell and hear what the characters were; that’s how good they were. It must be said that with that depth of detail also comes the emotion that goes along with it, and I felt gut-punched by a few of them (no spoilers).

I liked how the story started out being about one thing but then took off a different direction. This felt realistic and added to the intrigue of the WWII portion of the plot. I did think that a few of the contemporary plot points were extraneous, but I understand how the conflicts were needed to give more depth to Abby and Simon. I think it was because the WWII sections were so compelling, I just wanted to get back to them.

I also liked how some of the questions propelling the plot were not answered until close to the end. That was effective because 1) it kept me reading to find out the resolution, and 2) the author was able to take the story in different directions to get to the final point (instead of just reaching it directly).

A word must be said about the history. I have often mentioned that I like historical fiction because I usually learn something new. This time I learned several things via Matthew’s experiences (again, no spoilers). His arc led me to a fascinating documentary, and also served as a reminder that even after D-Day, there was still a lot of war left to fight.

The author has spun a masterful story. If you are a fan of historical fiction, you definitely should have this on your TBR list.

Author Bio

Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives. 

Website: https://www.kate-hewitt.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KateHewittAuthor/ 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1269244.Kate_Hewitt
Twitter: https://twitter.com/katehewitt1  

NEW RELEASE: Cougar by M.A. Foster

Happy Friday, everyone! Looking for something to read for the weekend? Go grab this new release by M.A. Foster. You can also read my review to help you decide 😉



Presents : New Release

Cougar
by M.A. Foster

Amazon
US | UK | CA | AU

Series: Heritage Bay; Book 3
Genre: Contemporary Romance



At eighteen, I met a man.

A man who turned my world upside down and made me the center of his.

He claimed us meeting was fate.

I agreed.

 I was the damsel in distress, and he was my white knight.

I became his princess, and he was my prince charming.

He gave me the fairy tale.

The dream.

Until fate circled around and turned my dream into a living nightmare.

Now, at forty, I’m a widowed single mother left to pick up the pieces of my broken heart and my broken family.

*Not recommended for readers under the age of 18 due to graphic sex scenes, language and adult situations.






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About the Author

M.A. Foster is a wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and best friend. She loves chocolate, lattes, and all things sparkly. She was born and raised in Tampa, Florida and currently resides in Lutz, Florida with her husband and her crazy dog, Rocky.

When she’s not reading or writing, she’s either catching up with friends and family or chatting with her readers and fellow author friends on Facebook.


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BOOK REVIEW: Cougar by M.A. Foster

I read a lot of historical books, both fiction and non-fiction. I’m used to seeing a list of characters at the beginnings of those because the stories are often epic, convoluted, and it’s hard to keep people straight.

That type of list is not something I am used to seeing in a romance novel.

When I first opened Cougar on my Kindle and had to scroll through multiple pages of characters, I thought “Oh boy, this might be too much work.” But the plot sounded interesting, so I stuck with it.

And I am so very glad I did. Because I absolutely loved every second of this book!

I’ll admit, there were a few times where I thought, “who the hell is this person?” and I couldn’t tell you who some of the others were, but it doesn’t matter, because this was one epic story of love, loss, and second chances.

Y’all know that I don’t do plot recaps. Suffice to say that life events force Emerson to return to her hometown of Heritage Bay, FL after decades of being away. Her life has taken many twists over the years, and she always swore she would never go back. She has an amazing, supportive family and lots of friends. As life continues to throw curve balls at her, she grows and comes to new understandings about herself and the people who surround her.

That’s kind of simplistic, because there is was more to the story than that. Late in the book, one of the characters says, “Hold on, let me get Jerry Springer on the line.” My note at that point reads, “describes the entire book, right here.”

There are lots of baby mamas and daddies, but those connections don’t feel forced – they feel natural. In today’s world, convoluted relationships and webs of familial ties are totally normal. The author does an excellent job of weaving them all together.

I particular liked how the adults’ histories with each other caused them to judge and react to their teens’ experiences in different ways. There were cases of history repeating itself, and cases where the adults had learned from their past choices. This was an interesting facet to the character motivations.

Ultimately, however, it’s Emerson’s story about how she continues life after faced with tragedy. I will say that Cam (her ex-best friend’s brother, and her own brother’s best friend (see what I mean?)) is a great character – a perfect combination of devotion and dedication. He can be my latest BB any time! Bonus points for being a baseball player.

In some ways, this review is hard to write, because I can’t really isolate small events from the larger overarching plot. Another note I have is “the writer takes us along on the journey and what an effed up but marvelously epic journey it is.”

(Yeah, I make notes like that as I read. Helps me remember what I was thinking as I read it instead of trying to pull it all back up later).

Even though it’s the third in the Heritage Bay series, it was the first one I read and I can’t wait to go back and read the first two. I highly recommend Cougar and hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. Go get it. Now! (It’s currently $2.99, but free on KU!)

My Goodreads review is below.

Cougar (Heritage Bay Book 3)Cougar by M.A. Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story sucked me in and wouldn’t let me go. The characters were well-rounded, and “real.” I especially loved the message of finding love amidst heartbreak, and that sometimes it’s right in front of you where you least expect it. And (oh yeah) Cam is one of the best book boyfriends I’ve ever had the pleasure of “meeting.” I loved this book and can’t recommend it enough! Check my blog at firefliesandfreekicks.com for a more detailed review. This review was written based on a complimentary pre-release copy.

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