Review and Giveaway: Holiday Grind

Holiday Grind (Coffeehouse Mystery - Book 8) by Cleo Coyle


Publication Date: November 2,2010
Publisher: Penguin Group USA (Berkley Prime Crime)
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: Paperback, 367pp

ISBN-13: 978-0425237885

ISBN: 0425237885

(Received as a courtesy from the author, Cleo Coyle )



Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound


Cleo Coyle on the WEB: website, blog, facebook, twitter



Books in the Coffeehouse Mystery series: On What Grounds 2003), Through the Grinder (2004), Latte Trouble (2005), Murder Most Frothy (2006), Decaffeinated Corpse (2007), French Pressed (2008), Espresso Shot (2008), Holiday Grind (2009), Roast Mortem (2010), Murder by Mocha (2011), A Brew to a Kill (Coming in 2012)


Excerpt from Holiday Grind (Use Look Inside feature)




Video:

Synopsis:

When Village Blend manager and head barista Clare Cosi finds a red-suited body in the snow, she adds solving Santa's slaying to her coffeehouse menu.

Clare's grown very fond of Alfred Glockner, the part-time comic and genuinely jollly charity Santa who's been using her coffeehouse as a place to warm his mittens. When she finds him gunned down in a nearby alley, a few subtle clues convince her that Alfred's death was something more than the tragic result of a random mugging - the conclusion of the police.

With Clare's boyfriend, NYPD detective Mike Quinn, distracted by a cold case of his own, and ex-husband Matt "investigating" this year's holiday lingerie catalogs (an annual event), Clare charges ahead solo and discovers this Santa had a list that he was checking twice - and the folks on it were not very nice. Then someone tries to ice Clare, and she really gets steamed...

Thoughts:

One thing I like almost as well as a great book, is a good cup of coffee! That's just one of the reasons I am enjoying the Coffeehouse mystery series written by husband and wife team, Cleo Coyle. The eighth book in the series, Holiday Grind is perfect for the upcoming holiday season. It carries just the right amount of humor, brassiness and a great whodunit! Loaded with characters readers have come to love, super holiday recipes and even jolly old St. Nick, this is the perfect holiday mystery read!


Cleo Coyle has had great success with this long running cozy mystery series and Holiday Grind only adds to the series appeal. Coyle has a knack for creating mysteries that showcase New York's Greenwich Village in such a remarkable way. Having never been to New York myself, I confess that this series has definitely made me want to visit. Coyle's descriptive prowess allows readers the sense of seeing, feeling and evening smelling the sights and sounds of the city and I think that gives the series and particularly this book a great sense of place and setting. New York at Christmastime... something I intend to experience one day!


Coyle never ceases to amaze time and time again with fresh and original plots that grab the interest of the reader from the first page. In Holiday Grind, Coyle makes use of Santa Claus to get the gears turning in this mystery. Clare has become friends with a local charity Santa who turns up dead in an alley near The Village Blend. Readers of the series know that Clare's Greenwich Village Coffeehouse is often command central for Clare's amateur sleuthing adventures and it's no surprise that this Santa was into a little more than making toys. The mystery aspect of the book is so well written! Coyle gives the reader everything they need to figure out who the killer is, but also adds in the right amount of red herrings to keep them a little off center until the end. I didn't have it figured out until the author wanted me to and that's the hallmark of a good mystery writer!


Not only does the reader get a great mystery in Holiday Grind but the bonus material at the end is fantastic. Since I've been reading cozies, I have started to really enjoy the sections at the end of most cozies that feature tips, recipes, patterns or whatever pertains to the story. Of course with a coffeehouse mystery you would expect some great recipes. I have begun trying a couple of things from each book and with Holiday Grind I had a hard time choosing. But I finally decided to try "Tucker's Supremely Easy Candy Cane Brownies" and "Mike Quinn's Chery Cordial Fudge." Talk about yummy, those brownies were to die for. You have to try them! And you must try this series if you haven't already!


I recommend this one to all of my cozy readers and this is a great series to start out with if you are just beginning to read cozies. It is light, has a lot of humor and very interesting plots. Holiday Grind is my favorite that I have read in the series so far. I love books with a Christmas theme and this one is really good! I can't say enough good things about it. If you are a coffee fan as well as a mystery reader, you'll love this series!

Holiday Grind is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

CLEO COYLE grew up in a small town on the outskirts of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After earning scholarships to study writing at Carnegie Mellon and American Universities, she began her career as a cub reporter for The New York Times. Now an author of popular fiction as well as a New York Times bestselling media tie-in writer, Cleo lives and works in New York City, where she collaborates with her husband (also a bestselling author) to pen the Coffeehouse Mysteries. Together they also write the Haunted Bookshop Mysteries under the name Alice Kimberly. In their spare time they cook like crazy, rescue stray cats, drink a lot of java, and hunt ghosts.

GIVEAWAY:

After recently reviewing one of Cleo's other books in the Coffeehouse Mystery series, Murder by Mocha, Cleo sent me two of her other books in the series to review as well. Holiday Grind was one of those and she is graciously sponsoring a giveaway for an autographed copy of Holiday Grind for one lucky winner here at Debbie's Book Bag! 


~ You must be a Google Friend Connect follower to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST December 9th.


1. Please leave a comment in appreciation to the author on THIS post.
2. Please fill out the FORM.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have A Great Thanksgiving Everyone!

Review and Giveaway: Who Do Voodoo?

Who Do Voodoo? (Mind for Murder - Book 1) by Rochelle Staab


Publication Date: November 1, 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: Paperback, 292pp

ISBN-13: 978-0425244593

ISBN: 0425244598

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)


Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound


Rochelle Staab on the WEB: website, facebook, twitter


Excerpt from Who Do Voodoo?


Synopsis:


When Liz Cooper's friend Robin Bloom finds an unusual tarot card tacked to her front door, Liz writes it off as a prank. Robin refuses to ignore the omen - her late husband drew the same card, the Three of Swords, in a reading the night before he was killed in a car accident. as more cards and darker threats appear, Liz realizes someone very dangerous is upping the ante...


Liz turns to her brother's ex-college roommate, occult expert Nick Garfield. As Nick leads her into the voodoo community to locate the origin of the deck, she can't ignore their attraction to each other. Then, a woman is found murdered and Robin becomes the prime suspect. Determined to clear her friend, Liz teams with Nick to unravel otherworldly secrets and seek help from beyond - or risk being outwitted by a cunning killer...


Thoughts:


The debut novel by Rochelle Staab, Who do Voodoo? is anything but a typical debut. Staab has written a very upscale, classy cozy with an L.A. backdrop that will have mystery fans on the edge of their collective seats. Staab's ability to write about the occult with such clarity is one of the things that sets this novel apart from others of it's kind. Staab is able to foster a sense of magic and mysticism that pervades the novel, which will appeal to paranormal fans as well as cozy mystery lovers. A great novel, for a fast paced holiday season, full of interesting characters, and a hint of romance that will have readers spellbound.


It's difficult for me to imagine that this is Rochelle Staab's debut novel. It is rare that a beginning author can bring readers a story with this much energy. Her style is smooth and logical. She gives readers clues, motives and suspects that are relevant and necessary to the story. In essence, Staab writes like a pro. She is able to create relationships and build suspense throughout the story, while still leaving enough to the readers imagination that they can't quite figure the ending out. Staab didn't take the typical cozy route by setting her story in a small town either. You can't get too much bigger than L.A. as a setting. All of these factors added together made, Who Do Voodoo? seem like the work of a well seasoned writer.


I liked the fact that Staab made her main character Liz somewhat of a skeptic when it came to occult. Because Liz was so unfamiliar with what she was dealing with, Staab was able to approach the occult from the perspective of someone who is just starting out. She explains everything in such great detail, her descriptive prowess was put to the test I'm sure. Liz is a psychologist, she doesn't believe in ghosts or anything that cannot be explained and I thought Staab played that well against religious professor and occult expert, Nick. These two are so different, but together they create quite a sleuthing pair. Staab really surprised me with the depth of research she had to do to pull this one off and I'm looking forward to where we go from here.

The mystery aspect of the book was well thought out and executed. I thought the tarot card on Robin's door was a great lead in to the mystery and how it tied in with the occult. I liked the fact that Liz who is a skeptic is best friends with a woman who is a total believer, that was a nice touch. The suspects and the motives provided for each character were plausible and when I finally got to the end, I was totally surprised, the hallmark of a good mystery writer. The overall premise was original and interesting, not an overused or repeated theme. Voodoo isn't something I expected in a cozy and I found it very intriguing.


Staab's characters were developed and three dimensional. Liz was so much fun to read about and to see her change from hard nosed psychologist who would never believe in anything outside the box to a person who had a reverence and acceptance of the possibilities was amazing. I loved Nick he added so much knowledge and interest to the story. They were well matched and the inkling of attraction between them was palpable. I'm sure future books will delve more into their back stories and how they fit together.

I thought Staab did a remarkable job of blending all of the elements to give the reader a great reading experience. Weaving occult references, old movie phrases, a little bit of romance and a whole lot of sleuthing together to make a great debut novel. You'll want to get started on the ground floor with this series, I have feeling it's going to be a big one!

Who Do Voodoo? is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

Rochelle Staab is a debut author with a professional background as a marketing and advertising record label executive in the music industry and an award-winning Top 40 radio programmer.

GIVEAWAY:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Who Do Voodoo? by Rochelle Staab.



~ You must be a Google Friend Connect follower to participate.
~ US addresses only (Publisher Request).
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is December 8th.


1. Please leave a comment in appreciation to the author on THIS post.
2. Please fill out the FORM.

Review: Magic on the Line

Magic on the Line (Allie Beckstrom - Book 7) by Devon Monk


Publication Date: November 1, 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Pages: Paperback, 356pp

ISBN-13: 978-0451464286

ISBN: 0451464281

(Received for an honest review from Roc)


Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound


Devon Monk on the WEB: website, blog, facebook, twitter


Books in the Series: Magic to the Bone (2008), Magic in the Blood (2009), Magic in the Shadows (2009), Magic on the Storm (2010), Magic at the Gate (2010), Magic on the Hunt (2011), Magic on the Line (2011), Magic Without Mercy (Coming in 2012)

Synopsis:


Allie Beckstrom has willingly paid the price of pain to use magic and has obeyed the rules of the Authority, the clandestine organization that makes - and enforces - all magic policy, but when the Authority's new boss, Bartholomew Wray, refuses to believe that the sudden rash of deaths in Portland could be caused by magic, Allie must choose whether to follow the Authority's rules or turn against the very people for whom she's risked her life.


To stop the plague of dark magic spreading through the city, Allie must put all that she values on the line: her magic, her memories, her life. As dead magic users rise to feed upon the innocent and the people closest to her begin to fall. Allie is about to run out of options...


Thoughts:


Devon Monk once again thrills readers with her latest Allie Beckstrom novel, Magic on the Line. Seventh in a series of nine books, Magic on the Line is gearing up for the final show down, the gears are starting to turn and readers will feel the ramped up energy in this book. Monk has created a world that is full of magic and mayhem. Allie has always adhered to the rules of the Authority, the governing body of magic, but in this book she is forced to decide whether to do what she knows is right or whether to keep between the lines of what the Authority wants.

If you haven't a chance to start this series I can't encourage you enough. Each book could be read separately, but you will miss so much with this particular series. The back story is very important and readers will feel a little lost if they are just starting the series now. Strangely enough this is one of those series' that has gotten better and better as the books go on. Devon Monk's world building skills are phenomenal and she has crafted a set of characters to populate that world that are complex and full of emotion and passion. I think Monk's characterizations are the biggest part of the appeal in her books.

In Magic on the Line, Allie once again shows readers what it means to be loyal, honest and hard working. She is a character that has captured the interest of Urban Fantasy readers and she just wont seem to let go. She is stubborn and exasperating at times and yet she is a kick-ass heroine. She's very no nonsense and I liked that about her. Magic is everything in Allie's world and it is literally killing everyone. Her magic is making her sick, yet she uses it to make her world a better place. 

In this novel she up against not only a serial killer, who is using a magical plague to kill, but also the new man in charge of the Portland Authority. When he won't see reason, Allie may have to make the devastating choice to go against the Authority and make herself and her friends outlaws in order to have the people around her. How's that for pressure? The suspense in this book is nearly overwhelming at times. I was biting my nails and I haven't done that since I was a kid! When it comes down to wire at the end, Monk throws in a heck of a cliff hanger that will have readers salivating until the next book in the series comes out.

One of my favorite of the whole series and this book in particular is the secondary characters. Zay, Allie's love interest has been a favorite of mine for awhile but I am becoming more taken with both Shame and Terric especially after reading Magic on the Line. The relationship between these two is riveting and readers will have a hard time trying to figure out what will happen with them. Monk has a real knack for creating engaging fully developed characters including the supporting cast which has a story all it's own.


I recommend this one to Devon Monk fans and Urban Fantasy lovers, but I definitely encourage you to read the whole series, this is one of the best out in the Urban Fantasy category. The series is reminiscent of Jim Butcher's, The Dresden Files, with that underlying feeling that there is so much more than what meets the eye and Allie is going to find it. I loved the fact that Monk makes Allie field some really hard choices in this book showing her more than just a follower, she's a leader and does what needs to be done. Great addition to the series!

Magic on the Line is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

Devon Monk has one husband, two sons, and a dog named Mojo. Surrounded by numerous colorful family members, she lives in Oregon. She has sold more than fifty short stories to fantasy, science fiction, horror, humor, and young-adult magazines and anthologies. She has been published in five countries and included in a year's-best fantasy collection.

Review: The Guardian

The Guardian (Dark Hunter - Book 21 or Dream Hunter - Book 5) by Sherrilyn Kenyon


Publication Date: November 1, 2011
Publisher: St.Martin's Press
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Pages: Paperback, 345pp

ISBN-13: 978-0312550059

ISBN: 0312550057

(Received for an honest review from St. Martin's)



Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound


Sherrilyn Kenyon on the WEB: website, facebook, twitter



Books in the Dark Hunter Series: Night Pleasures (2002), Night Embrace (2003), Dance with the Devil (2003), Kiss of the Night (2004), Night Play (2004), Seize the Night (2004), Sins of the Night 2005), Unleash the Night (2005), The Dark Side of the Moon (2005), The Dream Hunter (2007), Fear the Darkness (2007), Upon the Midnight Clear (2007), Devil May Cry (2007), Dream Chaser (2008), Acheron (2008), One Silent Night (2008), Dream Warrior (2009), Bad Moon Rising (2009), No Mercy (2010), Retribution (2011), The Guardian (2011), Time Untime (Coming in 2012)


Excerpt from The Guardian



Synopsis:


Dream-Hunter Lydia has been charged with the most sacred and dangerous of missions: to descend into the Nether Realm and find the missing god of dreams before he betrays the secrets that could kill her and her kind. What she never expects is to be taken prisoner by the Realm's most vicious guardian...


Seth's time is running out. If he can't hand over the entrance to Olympus, his own life and those of his people will be forfeit. No matter the torture, Seth hasn't been able to break the god in his custody. Now there's the Dream-Hunter Lydia: She isn't just guarding the gates of Olympus - she's holding back one of the world's darkest powers. If she fails, an ancient curse will haunt the earth once more and no one will be safe. But evil is always seductive...


Thoughts:


21 books into the Dark Hunter series or 5 books into the Dream Hunter series, whichever you prefer, author Sherrilyn Kenyon reminds readers what they fell in love with in the beginning. Solid, well written books, with strong themes, complex characters and a mythos that is hard to beat. Her grasp of mythology and her ability to weave it into her stories is beyond exceptional. Kenyon is considered one of the ground breaking authors in Paranormal and Urban Fantasy writing and with her latest book, The Guardian it's easy to see why.


The Guardian is tied to both the Dark-Hunter and Dream-Hunter books and it is such a well written book, it really doesn't matter. Once an author gets this far into a series, I always wonder if there are really any more stories to tell or if they are just riding the wave and hoping to cash in on the success of the previous books. That's certainly not the case here, Kenyon proves that there is still a lot to be learned and a lot of characters in this realm that readers will want to read about. She has a knack for developing relationships between her characters that are not what you would expect and that is showcased well, in this novel. she also creates a sense of urgency in this book that is hard to beat.

Kenyon plays on the emotions and the readers sense of adventure in The Guardian. Seth is the epitome of a tortured hero and though this is a theme that Kenyon has used before in her books, she brings new life and originality into the plot this time. Seth will resonate with readers who will be shocked by the amount of torture he has not only received in his life, but that he is willing to dole out. There is a viciousness about him that is evident from the beginning of the book, but once readers begin to see behind the mask, they will find so much about this character to like. He is one of those characters you can't help but root for. You want him to have that happy ending to make up for all that he has suffered. But Seth isn't a pansy by no means, he is tenacious and stubborn and refuses to give into Noir. He is a strong character, with a deep vulnerability. I think he is probably one of my favorite Kenyon characters.

Lydia is part Dream-Hunter, part Were-Hunter, a very heady combination. When she enters the Nether Realm in search of Solin, the dream-hunter who raised her, she doesn't expect to get caught. But Seth is a relentless guardian and uses her against Solin to get him to give up the key to the entrance of Olympus. But Lydia is totally unprepared for Seth. She believes him to be this vicious and evil demigod, but he proves to be a tortured soul who has never known love. I liked the fact that she didn't pity him or treat him like he was less a man because of what had happened to him. She showed him respect and kindness and eventually begins to break down the barriers that exist between them. I liked Lydia a lot. She was a strong woman, with a big heart. 


The mythology surrounding this story was very intriguing to me. I thought Kenyon did a fantastic job of weaving her vast knowledge of the subject directly into the story. I think readers who are interested in mythology will really enjoy this book and the entire series. Kenyon is able to make it so much a part of the novel that it almost takes on the characteristics of a character in the story. World building is extremely important in Urban Fantasy and Paranormal writing and Kenyon has certainly excelled at that in the past and with this book. Her characters and her world are so interesting it is hard not to want to go out and get the entire list of books.

I have read several books in this series. There has been some that I liked a lot and others that weren't as good, as happens with any long running series. The Guardian may have had a few problems, a theme that has been used in the past and a slightly abrupt ending, but I think overall it fits into the series well and shows the reader that there is still a lot more to come from the Dark-Hunters and the Dream-Hunters. If you haven't taken the time to delve into this series or this author... what are you waiting for? She is definitely a favorite of mine and I recommend this book whole-heartedly. Kenyon gives you just enough info and backstory to make it possible to read each book separately, so don't let the the big numbers in the series scare you... this is a must read!





The Guardian is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.


I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag! (Would have been a 5, if the ending hadn't been a little too clipped!)

In the past three years, New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon has claimed the #1 spot sixteen times. This extraordinary bestseller continues to top every genre she writes. With more than 25 million copies of her books in print in over 100 countries, her current series include: The Dark-Hunters, The League, Chronicles of Nick, and Belador. Since 2004, she has placed more than 50 novels on the New York Times list in all formats including manga. The preeminent voice in paranormal fiction, with more than twenty years of publishing credits in all genres, Kenyon not only helped to pioneer, but define the current paranormal trend that has captivated the world.

Review and Giveaway: What Happens After Dark

What Happens After Dark (DeKnight Trilogy - Book 2) by Jasmine Haynes


Publication Date: November 1, 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group USA

Genre: Erotic Romance, Submission/Dominance, BDSM
Pages: Paperback, 337pp

ISBN-13: 978-0425244128

ISBN: 0425244121

(Receieved for an honest review from Berkley Heat)


Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound



Jasmine Haynes (Jennifer Skully) on the WEB: website, blog, facebook, twitter


Books in the Series: Past Midnight (2011), What Happens After Dark (2011), The Principal's Office (Coming 2012)

Excerpt from What Happens After Dark (WARNING) This excerpt is not appropriate for readers under 18 years of age. (Click Bookshelf, The Book Title, then the excerpt if half way down the page)


Synopsis:


By day she's a mild-mannered accountant, but after dark she's a willing slave to his wildest fantasies...


Bree Mason longs to be a successful career woman, but secrets keep her chained to the past, afraid to take the next step. At night, her frustrations are released by the domineering Luke Raven, who gives her what she asks for and more in a sensuous game of master and slave...


But to take control of her life, Bree will have to look within and face the demons of her childhood. Luke knows the ins and outs of Bree's body, knows what makes her gasp and sigh and beg. Now hes willing to push their relationship to the limit, to stand by her side in the light of day and take the greatest risk of all... for love.


Thoughts:


Author Jasmine Haynes brings readers the second book in the DeKnight Trilogy, What Happens After Dark. Jasmine's latest novel delves into some deep water with an emotionally crippled main character that has to choose whether or not she can leave her past behind and make a lasting future with a man who truly loves her. Haynes has created a psychological love story that is so intense readers will teeter between shock and satisfaction. The realism of the plot is chillingly believable and the sexual chemistry is scorching. If you're looking for a hot, steamy read, for the colder season, this one definitely fits the bill!


i have to admit there were parts of this novel that made my skin crawl a little bit, in a good way. The intensity of the characters and situation in What Happens After Dark, made it a very emotional read for me. Jasmine Haynes is an author that is able to bridge the gap between erotic romance that is solely based on the sex and erotic romance that pulls at the emotions. There is so much going on in this novel. The passion and love that Luke feels for Bree, the tragic past that Bree has suffered, the melding of the two into a sexual relationship that is at times healthy and other times needy and painful. It was almost too realistic. Abuse is a issue that has to be treated carefully and I think that Haynes does a fantastic job of showing how disturbing it can be to someone who experiences it.


Bree Mason is a character that many readers will be able to identify with, but wish they didn't. She is a very complex character and Haynes gives her a real sense of hopelessness in the beginning of the book. Haynes is able to explore abuse and the results through Bree and BDSM community. Bree has some to equate pleasure with pain and the submissive/dominant relationship she has with Luke, feeds on that desire. She relishes the pain he gives her but she isn't believes she is emotionally unable to commit to a normal relationship. Throughout the book it is amazing to see her start to open up to Luke and start to believe that she can have a happy ending. I thought Haynes did a remarkable job of showing her growth.


Luke Raven is a man on a mission. He obviously cares a lot about Bree to put up with some of the things she does. He wants more than just sex. He wants to be a part of her life outside the club and the bedroom, but he has his work cut out for him. He shows such great devotion to the people in his life. After a failed marriage, he still shows great care with his daughters and especially with Bree. He wavers between thinking he is making her worse with their master/slave sexual relationship and thinking he can help her work through her issues in the same way. It is obvious that he is torn but he can't seem to control how good she makes him feel regardless of what she wants him to do to her. Haynes has created a character that is very real with Luke, he has struggles that an average person does, yet his life after dark is very intense.


I had a bit of a hard time with the language Luke used in regard to Bree, though she seemed to like it and she knew he meant it in a protective and possessive way toward her. I guess I'm just a bit old fashioned and still have trouble thinking those words are bad LOL! With a book like this, you'll have to get over it though, because it so emotionally charged that, that kind of stuff just seems to fall by the wayside. 


This is a very intense novel and I recommend it to erotic romance fans, with a note of caution. What Happens After Dark may be a bit too much for some readers so be prepared. I went through a lot of emotions reading this one and I'm sure other readers will too. The story line was realistic and even hard to read at times, but it was worth it!
 

What Happens After Dark is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

With a bachelor's degree in accounting from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Jasmine Haynes has worked in the high-tech Silicon Valley for the last twenty years and hasn't met a boring accountant yet! Okay, maybe a few. she and her husband live with numerous wild cats (one of whom has now moved into the house on her own accord). Jasmine's pastimes, when not writing, are speed-walking in the Redwoods, watching classic movies, and hanging out with writer friends in coffee shops. 

GIVEAWAY:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of What Happens After Dark by Jasmine Haynes. 


~ You must be a Google Friend Connect follower to participate.
~ US and Canadian Addresses only (Publisher Request).
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST December 7th.

1. Please leave a comment on this post in appreciation to the author.
2. Please fill out the FORM.

Review: Guinevere, The Legend in Autumn

Guinevere, The Legend in Autumn (Guinevere Trilogy - Book 3) by Persia Woolley


Publication Date: November 1, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Inc.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: Paperback, 510pp

ISBN-13: 978-1402246432

ISBN: 1402246439

(Received for an honest review from Sourcebooks Landmark)



Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound


Persia Woolley on the WEB: website, facebook, twitter



Books in the series: Child of the Northern Spring (2010), Queen of the Summer Stars (2011), Legend in Autumn (2011)

Excerpt from Guinevere, Legend in Autumn (Look Inside feature)



Synopsis:


Though Camelot's power continues to grow, peace in Britain remains uncertain. Tensions have increased with the quest for the Holy Grail, and the restless champions of the Round Table have faded. As a volatile generation of new warriors takes shape, Guinevere soon comes to realize that the greatest dangers to the crown lie not beyond the walls of Camelot but among those she loves most. When an undeniable spark ignites between Guinevere and Lancelot, their secret passion may prove to be Arthur's undoing. With an ominous and unrelenting destiny bearing down upon her country and her king, Guinevere must draw upon her unyielding spirit for the courage to carve triumph from the dramatic tragedies of fate.


Thoughts:


Guinevere, The Legend in Autumn is the final book in Persia Woolley's sweeping trilogy featuring King Arthur's legendary queen. Woolley constantly surprises with her in depth knowledge of the time period and the players that readers have loved for ages. She brings new life to Queen Guinevere and shows Arthur and Lancelot in a new light. With impeccably researched historical accuracy Woolley weaves a tale that is somewhat different from the tales and legends we've all heard before, making this novel seem fresh and original despite the beloved subject matter.


I have always been a fan of Arthurian legends. When I first started reading Persia Woolley's Guinevere Trilogy I was really surprised at how the author was able to portray Guinevere. She shows her a strong woman of Celtic heritage who finds herself married to a king. In the first book Woolley dealt a lot with Guinevere's childhood. In the second book she went into the first years of Arthur and Guinevere's marriage, the beginnings of the Round Table and other crucial events to the story. Now in the third book readers are posed to read about the blooming relationship with Guinevere and Lancelot, Mordrid's years in Arthur's kingdom and the final show down between father and son. Woolley has brought new life to this old, old story that is so loved, by so many. I truly loved the entire trilogy, but Guinevere, The Legend in Autumn is definitely my favorite.


Guinevere has gone through so many changes. She was young innocent girl, then a resourceful and determined woman and now she has taken on motherhood, though she has no children of her own. I always got the impression from reading these novels that Guinevere was always willing to do her duty. She dutifully married Arthur, she helped him build Camelot up and make it the kingdom of his dreams, now she dutifully raises a son that he fathered by another woman. Everything was always about someone or something else. Until the spark of passion ignites between Guinevere and Lancelot. This one thing she did for herself. For her own feelings, needs and desires and it ended up bringing her world down and crumbling around her. I loved Woolley's portrayal of Guinevere. Through it all she is stoic, strong and holds her head high. I felt like I learned so much about a legendary character that I thought I already knew a lot about. Woolley educates as much as she entertains with this one.


Arthur does come out smelling like a rose as he does in most of the stories written about him. He was a driven man. A loyal man, with a great vision. But that vision consumed him, leaving little time for his relationship with his wife. In the beginning he seemed as attentive to Guinevere as he could be, but there was always some other thing that held his attention. He asked a lot of her and Woolley easily shows that not everything that happened was Guinevere's fault. I liked this Arthur much better. He is more realistic, more human in a sense. He is flawed, yet he is still a great man, a great warrior. I liked that. He lets his emotions get the better of him at times, especially when he finds out about Guinevere and Lancelot and I thought that made him all the more endearing. I thought I loved Arthurian legends before, this trilogy has taken it to a whole new level.


Woolley uses history to her fullest advantage, she weaves it into just about every paragraph of the this book. She takes everything that she has been researching for years and creates a very vivid portrait of Britain during this time period. It's easy to see why students and scholars would be interested in using her work in an academic setting, yet it is still so interesting. It definitely has the feel of novel instead of a text book. It is engaging, almost riveting at certain points and I cannot recommend it enough to readers who love Arthur and Guinevere. To historical fiction fans who love the history behind the legends. You don't want to miss this one or any of the books in this trilogy!

Guinevere, the Legend in Autumn is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

Persis Woolley is the author of The Guinevere Trilogy: Child of the Northern Spring, Queen of the Summer Stars and Guinevere, Legend in Autumn. Persia has had a career in journalism and television, and she has also written three nonfiction books. She presently lives near the northern California coast with her son and is currently working on an annotated version of her Guineveres for the use of students and scholars in the field.