HFVBT presents... THE SPIRITED MRS. PRINGLE by Jillianne Hamilton - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're joining Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for a stop along their current promotion featuring, you guessed it, a work of Historical Fiction that will amaze, astound, and flabbergast reading audiences for a myriad of reasons.  Ready to take a journey most exciting with ups, downs, and many in-betweens?  GREAT!  Let's get the show started as we zero in on today's blog tour guest and ebook of choice...

The Spirited Mrs. Pringle

by

Jillianne Hamilton

Publication Date: June 30, 2021

Tomfoolery Press 

Genre: Historical Fiction 

About the book...

LONDON, 1888.

Upon the death of her husband, self-involved social climber Cora Pringle assumes her recent dalliance with a wealthy gentleman will be her second chance at a happily ever after. That is until her paramour turns out to be a penniless imposter. Despite his betrayal, Cora can’t quite let go of the tug the handsome playwright has on her heart. 

Desperate for an income, Cora becomes a séance-performing spiritualist and gets a taste for celebrity—and it’s so delicious. So what if she can’t actually communicate with the dead? Her eager patrons don’t need to know that. 

Amelia Baxter, an ambitious journalist and suffragist, is discouraged when her editor refuses to let her cover the horrific Jack the Ripper murders. Instead, Amelia pours her frustrations into bringing Cora’s deceptive and manipulative act to an end, even if it means risking her family’s reputation.

“Like the most memorable of its vividly drawn characters, The Spirited Mrs. Pringle is clever, lively, and unabashedly entertaining. Perhaps most enjoyable of all is the seemingly endless series of surprises. A string of sometimes astonishing pleasures to the last page.” - Award-Winning Author Leo McKay Jr. 

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

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This is a story told from two very different vantage points, and while they are on opposing sides throughout the novel, in the end...they can truly see eye to eye.

Cora was an ambitious woman.  She built herself up in life with a stable home, a stable husband, a comfortable amount of wealth shared, and a circle of friends that was enough...despite the blasted ladies group never inviting her to join them.  Everything was fine, until it wasn't.  One day, her world was turned in its head, and with the rug very cleanly swept out from under her, she was a ship lost in a storm...but only just.  You see, her heart had found other ports in which to be harbored long before the disastrous event, and while it wasn't exactly perfect, the help granted with a full heart was much more than she could have hoped for at the time.  She finds her footing again, however tenuous, and starts to believe things could be real once again...and sadly, the magic carpet ride she took not so long ago, starts all over again.  How many times can a woman start anew before she throws in the towel?  With Mrs. Pringle there never was a towel to throw in the first place.

Seriously, the way she kept putting on her proverbial big girl pants and got the job done was astounding, especially with the likes of Amelia running about trying to capture her own moment of glory while revealing all the reality behind the magic that people simply wanted to believe.  I mean, Mrs. Pringle wasn't REALLY hurting anyone with her spiritual gests; in fact, some took great solace in the meetings she arranged.  Amelia, however, would have none of it, and despite the challenges she faced, used the life of this woman, the trade she took on out of desperation, to make her own voice heard.  Tit for tat, or something like that, actually pays off for BOTH of them in the end, hence the mention of them seeing eye to eye, but I shan't reveal all because discovering the story behind the magic is half the fun!

Suffice it to say, it's a great read for Historical Fiction fans with characters to love and loathe, and a fascinating look at spiritualists, magicians, and the like of the times.

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About the author...

Jillianne Hamilton is the author of three novels and one non-fiction book. Her debut novel, Molly Miranda: Thief for Hire (2015), was shortlisted for the 2016 Prince Edward Island Book Award. The Molly Miranda sequels were published in 2016 and 2017. 

Her lighthearted look at the 16th century, The Lazy Historian’s Guide to the Wives of Henry VIII, was published in 2018. 

Jillianne has been published in Macleans, the Truro Daily News, the Sackville Tribune-Post, and Career Options Magazine. She also blogs about history at The Lazy Historian. Jill graduated from Journalism at Holland College in Prince Edward Island in 2010. 

She lives in Charlottetown on Canada’s beautiful east coast. 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

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Blog Tour Schedule 

Monday, August 30

Guest Post at Novels Alive

Tuesday, August 31

Review at Booking With Janelle

Wednesday, September 1

Review at Novels Alive

Thursday, September 2

Review at Books, Cooks, Looks

Friday, September 3

Review at Gwendalyn's Books

Monday, September 6

Review at Reading is My Remedy

Tuesday, September 7

Guest Post at Books & Benches

Review at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Wednesday, September 8

Feature at I'm All About Books

Thursday, September 9

Review at Rajiv's Reviews

Friday, September 10

Review at Passages to the Past

Monday, September 13

Review at A Darn Good Read

Tuesday, September 14

Interview at Passages to the Past

Wednesday, September 15

Review at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals

Friday, September 17

Review at Coffee and Ink

Review at The Lotus Readers

Monday, September 20

Review at Bonnie Reads and Writes

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Enter to win a paperback copy of The Spirited Mrs. Pringle by Jillianne Hamilton! 

The giveaway is open to US addresses only and ends on September 20th. You must be 18 or older to enter. 

The Spirited Mrs. Pringle

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Special thanks to Amy at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the ecopy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information about this title, the author, the publisher, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now so get spirited away and snag your copy today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

BLOG TOUR: The Saffron Crocus by Alison McMahan

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're welcoming playing host to a stop along the Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours route for a Young Adult Historical Mystery!  (Fitting, right?  ^-^)  It stars the work of a new-to-me author that really brought something special to the page.  So, grab your gumption and prepare, there's danger ahead as we meet today's book of choice...

The Saffron Crocus

by

Alison McMahan

9781626942189

Black Opal Books

About the book...

Venice, 1643. Isabella, fifteen, longs to sing in Monteverdi’s Choir, but only boys (and castrati) can do that. Her singing teacher, Margherita, introduces her to a new wonder: opera! Then Isabella finds Margherita murdered. Now people keep trying to kill Margherita’s handsome rogue of a son, Rafaele.

Was Margherita killed so someone could steal her saffron business? Or was it a disgruntled lover, as Margherita—unbeknownst to Isabella—was one of Venice’s wealthiest courtesans?

Or will Isabella and Rafaele find the answer deep in Margherita’s past, buried in the Jewish Ghetto?

Isabella has to solve the mystery of the Saffron Crocus before Rafaele hangs for a murder he didn’t commit, though she fears the truth will drive her and the man she loves irrevocably apart.

AMAZON US  |  UK    |     BARNES & NOBLE    |    KOBO

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A fast paced, young adult read filled with the mystery promised and so much more.

It speaks of a time when women were respected and yet only so much.  They were permitted to be seen but not speak their own minds freely.  They were allowed to visit with male callers but not without a chaperon in attendance.  They were given the chance to let their voices soar in song, but only in the venues chosen by the men that surrounded them.  Yes ladies, it was a man's world.  *grumble grumble* For our leading lady Isabella, that proved a very difficult point to accept for she desired to sing in the infamous all male choir and wouldn't you know it, between fate and circumstance...she got just what she wanted.  Or did she?  You see, that "dream come true" came at a price most high with consequences undesired and a change of heart most unexpected.  Though it fulfilled one wish, it opened the door to so many more...good thing she's not a girl to take things lying down.

I really enjoyed getting to know Isabella.  She was full of spunk and a healthy appetite for life despite the fact that society wasn't really in her favor at the time.  She didn't let the day rule her though it tried; she let her heart and mind work together to sort through the good, bad, and deadly.  Her unanticipated (yet arranged to some degree by his own mother, Margherita...who has an interesting past of her own!) connection with Rafaele packed a punch, though little in any form of "action" actually occurs.  That's right ladies and gents, it's back to a time when the words both said and unsaid really made a difference as well as the belief in one another.  Speaking of Rafaele, though he acted the spoiled brat at times, he wasn't without his good qualities, the more of which came out as he learned about his own history.  It was great watching him grow from the experiences he had as well as the reciprocated feelings from one lovely girl.  The tortures he survives are certainly stomach clenching but the limited detail included won't have you face first over any buckets any time soon.  (Good balance!)  

In conclusion, whether a fan of Historical Fiction or simply the Young Adult genre, this book has something that will appeal to you.  The musical inclusions along the way make the story soar right off the page and into your heart as we say hello and goodbye to several souls along the way.  The mystery at its heart is actually bigger than itself and extends to several key people you won't necessarily expect truly keeping you on your toes as you make your way through the labyrinth.  Recommended as much for its beauty and grace as for its murder and mystery to teen through adult readers.

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About the author...

Alison McMahan chased footage for her documentaries through jungles in Honduras and Cambodia, favelas in Brazil and racetracks in the U.S. She brings the same sense of adventure to her award-winning books of historical mystery and romantic adventure for teens and adults. Her latest publication is The Saffron Crocus, a historical mystery for young. Murder, Mystery & Music in 17th Century Venice.

She loves hearing from readers!  

Connect with her today via these online sites...

BOOK PAGE   |   SITE 1  |  2    |    FACEBOOK   |   TWITTER   |   GOODREADS    |    PINTEREST    |    GOOGLE+    |    INSTAGRAM    |    TUMBLR

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Special thanks to Amy at HFVT for the review copy as well as the chance to bring this tour to you!  (THANKS!)  For more information on THIS TOUR, the title, author, publisher, or future promotions, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title celebrated its book birthday December 2014 via Black Opal Books, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or online retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Looking for Jane by Judith Redline Coopey

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're playing host to a stop along the Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tour starring the works of author Judith Redline Coopey.  Have I sampled her writing before?  No, but when reading about the titles in the spotlight, I knew I had to feature this particular one.  Ready to get your read on?  Here we go!  Today's blog tour guest and book of choice....

Looking for Jane

Publication Date: December 21, 2012

Fox Hollow Press

Formats: ebook & Paperback

Pages: 238

Genre: Historical Fiction

READ AN EXCERPT.

“The nuns use this as their measuring stick: who your people are. Well, what if you don’t have no people? Or any you know of? What then? Are you doomed?” This is the nagging question of fifteen-year-old Nell’s life. Born with a cleft palate and left a foundling on the doorstep of a convent, she yearns to know her mother, whose name, she knows, was Jane.

When the Mother Superior tries to pawn her off to a mean looking farmer and his beaten down wife, Nell opts for the only alternative she can see: she runs away. A chance encounter with a dime novel exhorting the exploits of Calamity Jane, heroine of the west, gives Nell the purpose of her life: to find Calamity Jane, who Nell is convinced is her mother.

Her quest takes her down rivers, up rivers and across the Badlands to Deadwood, South Dakota and introduces her to Soot, a big, lovable black dog, and Jeremy Chatterfield, a handsome young Englishman who isn’t particular about how he makes his way, as long as he doesn't have to work for it. Together they trek across the country meeting characters as wonderful and bizarre as the adventure they seek, learning about themselves and the world along the way.

Buy Looking for Jane:

  Amazon   |   Barnes & Noble

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It's a simple question really, but when not all the players are known, it makes the journey to the answers THAT much more curious.  Such is the case here for little Nell and from the sound of things, it's gonna get a lot harder before any of the easy arrives.  Very interested to see if what she uncovers shapes her more than the self imposed quest itself.

What say YOU readers?

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About the Author

Judith Redline Coopey, born in Altoona, PA holds degrees from the Pennsylvania State University and Arizona State University. A passion for history inherited from her father drives her writing and a love for Pennsylvania sustains it. Her first book, Redfield Farm was the story of the Underground Railroad in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. The second, Waterproof, tells how the 1889 Johnstown Flood nearly destroyed a whole city and one young woman’s life. Looking For Jane is a quest for love and family in the 1890s brought to life through the eyes of Nell, a young girl convinced that Calamity Jane is her mother. Her most recent work, The Furnace: Volume One of the Juniata Iron Trilogy, is set on an iron plantation near where she grew up and tells the story of an ill conceived marriage of convenience as it plays out over a lifetime. As a teacher, writer and student of history, Ms Coopey finds her inspiration in the rich history of her native state and in stories of the lives of those who have gone before.

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

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Judith Redline Coopey Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, March 16

Spotlight at Literary Chanteuse

Spotlight at What Is That Book About

Tuesday, March 17

Review, Interview, & Giveaway at A Virtual Hobby Store and Coffee Haus (The Furnace)

Wednesday, March 18

Spotlight & Giveaway at So Many Precious Books, So Little Time

Thursday, March 19

Review at 100 Pages a Day (Looking for Jane)

Friday, March 20

Review at Rainy Day Reviews (Waterproof)

Monday, March 23

Review, Interview, & Giveaway at A Virtual Hobby Store and Coffee Haus (Looking for Jane)

Wednesday, March 25

Interview at Layered Pages

Friday, March 27

Spotlight & Giveaway at Susan Heim on Writing

Saturday, March 28

Spotlight at Mythical Books

Monday, March 30

Guest Post at Historical Fiction Connection

Spotlight at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Tuesday, March 31

Review at Beth's Book Nook (Looking for Jane)

Review, Interview, & Giveaway at A Virtual Hobby Store and Coffee Haus (Waterproof)

Wednesday, April 1

Review & Interview at Jorie Loves a Story (Redfield Farm)

Guest Post at A Literary Vacation

Friday, April 3

Review at Book Babe

Saturday, April 4

Review at Book Nerd (The Furnace)

Monday, April 6

Review, Interview, & Giveaway at A Virtual Hobby Store and Coffee Haus (Redfield Farm)

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Special thanks to Amy at HFVBT for the chance to bring this book to the forefront for you.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, or the other works by this author, please be certain to stop by the other amazing sites along the tour.  

Until next time...happy reading!

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: The Countess' Captive by Andrea Cefalo + GIVEAWAY!

Hi guys!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today. we're playing host to a stop along the Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours tour for book 2 of The Fairytale Keeper series.  Remember book 1?  (If not, click here for a refresher.)  It was a retelling of Snow White.  This time around, we're living it up with Cinderella and she's much more ambitious than the Disney-fied version we've all grown to love.  Ready?  Set?  READ!

The Countess' Captive

by

Andrea Cefalo

Publication Date: February 14, 2015

Scarlet Primrose Press 

Formats: eBook; Paperback 

Pages: 232 

 Series: Book Two, Fairytale Keeper Series 

Genre: Young Adult/Historical/Fairytale Retelling

 

During March of 1248, Adelaide Schumacher-affectionately called Snow White-has lost so much: her mother, her possessions, and now her home. Adelaide hates abandoning her home city, her family’s legacy, and her first love, Ivo. More than anything, she hates her father growing closer to her mother’s cousin, Galadriel. Adelaide plots to end their tryst before her fate is sealed, and she never sets foot in Cologne again. But good and pious can only get Galadriel so far. Never again will she be destitute. Never again will she be known by the cruel moniker, Cinderella. Never again will someone take what is rightfully hers. No matter what it takes. The Countess’ Captive is the much anticipated follow-up to The Fairytale Keeper and is book two in The Fairytale Keeper series. The novel combines Grimm’s fairytale characters with real historical settings and events to create a tale that leaves the reader wondering where fact ends and fiction begins.

Amazon   |    Barnes and Noble    |   Smashwords    |   Kobo

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Praise for The Fairytale Keeper Series

“A…resonant tale set late in the 13th century… with unexpected plot twists. An engaging story of revenge.” –Publisher’s Weekly

 “Great historical fiction. Strong emotion injected into almost every page.” –Amazon Vine Reviewer 

“…a unique twist on the Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Part fairy tale retelling, part historical fiction… The Fairytale Keeper is a story of corruption.” -Copperfield Historical Fiction Review

 “The story that Cefalo weaves is intriguing and leaves you hanging on, wanting more.” -Hooked to Books Book Review Blog

 “…it doesn’t feel like any retelling. Because it’s not. The Fairytale Keeper is its own unique story…very entertaining, containing a strong female role, a sweet romance, and much more.” -Lulu The Bookworm Book Review Blog

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About the Author

Andrea Cefalo is an award-winning author and blogger on Medieval Europe. The next three novels in The Fairytale Keeper series will debut in 2015 and 2016. She resides in Greenville, South Carolina with her husband and their two border collies. For more information please visit Andrea Cefalo's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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The Countess' Captive Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, March 23 

Review at Library Educated 

 Review at A Chick Who Reads 

  Tuesday, March 24 

 Guest Post at What Is That Book About 

 Spotlight at A Literary Vacation 

  Wednesday, March 25 

 Review at Back Porchervations 

 Spotlight at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers 

  Thursday, March 26 

 Review at Cheryl's Book Nook 

  Friday, March 27 

 Review at Bibliotica 

 Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book 

  Saturday, March 28 

 Spotlight at Romantic Historical Fiction Lovers 

  Monday, March 30 

 Review at 100 Pages a Day - Stephanie's Book Reviews 

  Tuesday, March 31 

 Review at Bookish 

  Wednesday, April 1 

 Review at Shelf Full of Books 

  Thursday, April 2 

 Guest Post at The Lit Bitch 

  Friday, April 3 

 Spotlight at Caroline Wilson Writes 

  Monday, April 6 

 Review at A Bibliotaph's Reviews 

  Tuesday, April 7 

 Review at History From a Woman's Perspective 

  Friday, April 10 

 Review at Boom Baby Reviews

Monday, April 13 

 Review at Brooke Blogs 

  Tuesday, April 14 

 Review at A Leisure Moment 

  Wednesday, April 15 

 Review at Oh, For the Hook of a Book 

  Thursday, April 16 

 Spotlight at Books and Benches 

  Friday, April 17 

 Review at A Book Drunkard

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Giveaway

To enter to win a Fairytale Keeper Clutch Purse & $25 Amazon Gift Card please complete the giveaway form below. 

  * Giveaway is open to US residents only. 

 * Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on April 17th. 

 * You must be 18 or older to enter. 

 * 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 will be chosen via GLEAM on April 18th and notified via email. Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. 

 * Please email Amy @ hfvirtualbooktours@gmail.com with any questions.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

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Special thanks to Amy at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for the chance to bring this promotion to you.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the other stops along the way, future promotions, or the author, feel free to click through the links included above.

Until next time...happy reading!

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: The Fairytale Keeper by Andrea Cefalo + CONTEST!

Hi guys and gals!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

So, you made it!  You survived....Valentine's Day that is.  Hopefully you had a wonderful time no matter your plans were or even weren't.  Though the day of love may be over, it doesn't mean the MONTH is and I plan to continue bringing you book after book to consider for your next great reading affair.  Sound good?  Great!  Let's jump right in then, shall we?

Today, we're kicking off a stroll through the blogosphere, courtesy of  Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tours, for the first book in a new Young Adult series that's really going to grab your attention.  Don't believe me?  Well, I'm speaking from experience and had I the time to work it in for a review, I would have happily read it myself but alas, ye olde schedule is full so I have to leave the reading to all of you.  That's right.  I'm expecting one of you to report back to me with all the goodness that this read was because from what I saw, it promises much.  Ready to go ladies and gents?  Your wish is my command.  Today's spotlight shines on....

The Fairytale Keeper, Book 1:

Avenging the Queen

by

Andrea Cefalo

Primrose Press

About the book...

Snow White was a pet name her mother had given her, but her mother’s dead now. Adelaide hates that name anyway. A rampant fever claimed Adelaide’s mother just like a thousand others in Cologne where the people die without Last Rites and the dead are dumped in a large pit outside of the city walls. Adelaide’s father is determined to obtain a funeral for his wife, but that requires bribing the parish priest, Father Soren. When Soren commits an unforgivable atrocity, he pushes Adelaide to her breaking point, but if she seeks justice against the cruel priest, she risks sacrificing everything: her father, her friends, her first love, and maybe even her life.

AMAZON   |   BARNES & NOBLE   |   SMASHWORDS

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Really, I mean how can you NOT be curious?

A Snow White retelling?  Definitely a 'wish list' addition for me.

First off, I'm loving the cover. The combination of scenery and face shot forces you to take it all in versus focusing on only one aspect.  Then you have the little dig of "...not all fairytales end in happily ever after"...color me curious!  Now, why am I curious...

I'm curious to know just why she hates the name she was "nick'd" with.  I'm also interested to know why seeking justice is going to make her lose pretty much EVERYONE.  That's gotta be one BIG secret!  Can't help but wonder who it's been eating up inside hiding it too....and those my friends are just the thoughts that crossed m mind in reading the synopsis.  Imagine what would happen if I opened the cover!

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About the author....

Besides being the award-winning author of The Fairytale Keeper series, Andrea Cefalo is a self-proclaimed medievalist, hopeless bookworm, and social media junkie. She graduated with honors from Winthrop University in 2007 where she studied Medieval art history and children’s literature. The next three books in The Fairytale Keeper series—The Countess’ Captive, The Baseborn Lady, and The Traitor’s Target—will debut in 2015 and 2016. She resides in Greenville, South Carolina—ever perched before her trusty laptop—with her husband and their two border collies.

SITE   |   PINTEREST   |   FACEBOOK   |   TWITTER

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Special thanks to  Amy at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for the chance to bring this title to your attention.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this tour, those forthcoming, the author, the series, or to order your copy today, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title reached publication February 1st, 2015 via Primrose Press, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.  Now for some additional fun....

First, try out The Fairytale Keeper Playbuzz Quiz to find out which character YOU would be!  My results?  Why I'm proud to say I got....

...Adelaide!

"You're no damsel in distress waiting on a knight or prince to save you! You'd like nothing more than to take on the family trade, share your mother's famous tales, marry the boy next door, and live a boring life. That being said, if you see injustice, you can't just look away and that brings trouble to your doorstep. You love your family, but your efforts to keep them safe sometimes backfire"

Who did YOU get?
*curious*

Now, for the second part of our "additional" fun, it's time for YOU to enter to win!
Win what you might ask?
Why, a fabulous prize pack including....

... Fairytale Keeper Clutch Purse & $25 Amazon Gift Card!
LOVE LOVE LOVE that clutch...and of course a GC is ALWAYS in style.

Now, every contest must have rules and here are ours...
* Giveaway is open to US residents only.
* Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on March 13th.
* You must be 18 or older to enter.
* 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 will be chosen via GLEAM on March 14th and notified via email. Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

Ready to enter?
Just CLICK HERE, fill out the form and POOF, you're in!

Until next time...happy reading!

BLOG TOUR: The Golden Pathway by Donna M. McDine

Hi gang!

Welcome back to another week here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers....the place that would love nothing more than to get lost in the stacks for hours and hours and hours and hours and....well, you get the picture.  ^_^

Today kicks off a week of bookish busyness that is sure to last all week long...no really.  I've got something lined up for each day of the week so hold on to your wish lists and be sure to have a pen at the ready.  Okay?  Okay!  So, to start the festivities on the right note, we're joining a blog tour already in progress from the folks at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours.  (Hi Amy! )  The star of the show is a Children's Historical Fiction title that transports us to a volatile time in American History.  It brings to life an important time that helped change the mindsets of some and the futures for many.  Ladies and gents, today's book of choice is...

The Golden Pathway

by

Donna McDine

Illustrated by

K.C. Snider

9781616330811

Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc

About the book....

Be transported through time to the Underground Railroad, where high-pitched screams echo each night. David’s cruel Pa always chooses the same victim. Despite the circumstances during slavery, David uncovers the courage to defy his Pa.

Raised in a hostile environment where abuse occurs daily, David attempts to break the mold and befriends the slave, Jenkins, owned by his Pa. Fighting against extraordinary times and beliefs, David attempts to lead Jenkins to freedom with no regard for his own safety and possible consequences dealt out by his Pa.

AMAZON KINDLE   |   AMAZON PRINT   |   AUTOGRAPHED   |   WHOLESALE

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Okay, so the synopsis above does a great job in describing the story but it doesn't convey the intensity of the read you're embarking on.  For a book intended for 8-12 year olds, I was a tad surprised...not in the offended sense, just in the reality of what's presented.  The author isn't explicit but they do not sugar coat the threat of abuse hanging over David's head, the daily beatings that Jenkins has to endure, or the lack of happy endings found for anyone discovered to be assisting those viewed as property to escape.  In a little over 20 pages, we meet David, watch as he nurtures a friendship of sorts with Jenkins, see him discover his inner strength and put his good intentions into actions that saves the life of one, and assumedly many more if David's story was to continue.  That's a lot of story, a lot of knowledge and a lot of emotion in a few pages.  Well done indeed.

In conclusion, my verdict lies in the camp of the fans.  I'm not a huge history buff but I did delve into this time period for a high school project once upon a time and feel quite strongly about the slavery issue.  I appreciate the light shed by the author in a realistic and mostly age appropriate way...especially when you consider the FREE Educator Guides available to explore the topic further.  If you're looking for a book to help explain the events that transpired during this time in history or to satisfy curious minds on the topic, this is definitely a book to put on your "to read" list.

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About the author...

Donna McDine is a multiple award-winning children’s author, Honorable Mention in the 77th and two Honorable Mentions in the 78th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competitions, A Sandy Grave ~ Story Monster Approved and Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, The Golden Pathway ~ Literary Classics Silver Award & Seal of Approval Recipient Picture Book Early Reader, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention, Global eBook Awards Finalist Children’s Picture Book Fiction, and Preditors & Editors Readers Poll 2010 Top Ten Children’s Books.

Her interest in ocean life resulted in writing and publishing A Sandy Grave (January 2014). Other books by McDine, Powder Monkey (May 2013), Hockey Agony (January 2013) and The Golden Pathway (August 2010). A fifth book is in the publishing pipeline with Guardian Angel Publishing. She writes and moms from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators.

For more information please visit Donna McDine’s website. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

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Review copy received courtesy of Amy at Historical Fiction Book Tours.  (THANKS!)  For more information on THIS TOUR as well as those forthcoming, be sure to stop by their official site.  This title is available now from Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!