Review: The Secret Heiress by Luke Devenish

* Copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster *

Australian author? Check
Gothic setting? Check
Twins? Check
Manor house? Check
Servants? Check
Inheritance? Check

The six elements mentioned above make for a very enjoyable read and those who love seeing these topics penned in any Kate Morton novel, will enjoy this offering by fellow Australian author Luke Devenish.

The Secret Heiress is a deeply layered mystery set in central Victoria in two time frames with two main characters, Ida in 1880s and Biddy in the 1900s.

The mystery kept me guessing and the complex layers of lies and deceit were difficult to unravel, making for a satisfying read in a 'whodunnit/whydunnit' kind of way. I highly enjoyed the upstairs/downstairs environment, and I think this is the first gothic historical fiction novel I've read set entirely in Victoria.

My only complaint would be the lack of chapter breaks. There were very clear breaks between time periods, however these sections were quite long with no chapters to break up the pages. (There were a few sentence breaks but I always like to stop reading at the end of a chapter and I wasn't able to do that here).

Luke Devenish is an accomplished writer and this was an impressive and refreshing read in a genre generally dominated by female authors. Recommended for historical fiction fans far and wide; particularly those who haven't read a gothic Australian novel before.

My rating = ****

Carpe Librum!

HFVBT Book Blast for The Tapestry by Nancy Bilyeau

Published March 2016

The Tapestry (Joanna Stafford #3) by Nancy Bilyeau

Henry VIII's Palace of Whitehall is the last place on earth Joanna Stafford wants to be. But a summons from the king cannot be refused. After her priory was destroyed, Joanna, a young Dominican novice, vowed to live a quiet life, weaving tapestries and shunning dangerous conspiracies. That all changes when the king takes an interest in her tapestry talent.

With a ruthless monarch tiring of his fourth wife and amoral noblemen driven by hidden agendas, Joanna becomes entangled in court politics.
Her close friend, Catherine Howard, is rumoured to be the king's mistress, and Joanna is determined to protect her from becoming the king's next wife--and victim. All the while, Joanna tries to understand her feelings for the two men in her life: the constable who tried to save her and the friar she can't forget. 

In a world of royal banquets, jousts, sea voyages and Tower Hill executions, Joanna must finally choose her future: nun or wife, spy or subject, rebel or courtier. The Tapestry is the final book in a trilogy that began in 2012 with The Crown, an Oprah magazine pick. Don't miss the adventures of one of the most unforgettable heroines in historical fiction.

Author Bio

Author, Nancy Bilyeau

Nancy Bilyeau has worked on the staffs of InStyle, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Ladies Home Journal. She is currently the executive editor of DuJour magazine. 

A native of the Midwest, she earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan. The Crown, her first novel, was published in 2012; the sequel, The Chalice, followed in 2013, and The Tapestry in 2015. 

Nancy lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

Winner of Crime Scenes edited by Zane Lovitt announced

It seems quite a lot of my subscribers enjoy reading crime fiction and many of you keenly entered last week's international crime giveaway. Up for grabs was a copy of Crime Scenes, a collection of short stories by Australian writers edited by Zane Lovitt. 

Entries closed at midnight Friday 25th March, and congratulations go to the winner........

Richard Harrison

Congratulations Richard, you'll receive an email shortly and will have 7 days to provide me with your postal address. Thanks to Spineless Wonders for this giveaway, and I hope you all had something exciting to read this Easter.

Carpe Librum!

Review: The Golden Day by Ursula Dubosarsky

The Golden Day by Ursula Dubosarsky is an easy to read YA novella set in a Sydney girls's school in 1960s. 

Eleven girls and their teacher Miss Renshaw take an unplanned excursion outside the school grounds one sunny day, and their teacher strangely disappears.

With an eerie feeling like that in Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay, The Golden Day is eerie in a subtle way, although Australian author Dubosarsky doesn't attain the giddy heights of Joan Lindsay in her execution.

This novella is well-written with a mystery to excite YA readers and is suitable for middle grade readers too.

My rating = ***

Carpe Librum!

P.S. I won this copy of The Golden Day by Ursula Dubosarsky in the Australia Day blog hop in 2015, thanks to Allen & Unwin.

Winner of Ian Ross Twilight of the Empire series announced

Thanks to those who entered last week's massive giveaway of 3 paperback books from author Ian Ross. The giveaway was open internationally and many readers entered to win the Twilight of the Empire series pictured below.

Entries closed at midnight Friday 18th March, and congratulations goes to:

Waughzone67

Congratulations Waughzone67, you'll receive an email shortly advising you of your win and will have 7 days to provide me with your postal address. Your prize pack valued at $90AUD will be sent to you directly by Harper Collins Publishers Australia, who I'd like to thank for their generosity.

For those who missed out, click here to win some crime fiction in this week's giveaway.

Carpe Librum!

Friday Freebie: WIN a copy of Crime Scenes, a collection of short stories by Australian writers edited by Zane Lovitt

RRP: $27.99

* Copy courtesy of Spineless Wonders *

Blurb
Is there really such a thing as an innocent person?
Teachers, cops, mothers, wives, everyone has their breaking point; that moment where it could go either way. From the prostitute with no way out, to the bitter author, and a cop who just wants his leave, the characters in this collection will baffle and bewilder you at every turn.

About this short story collection
This collection features stories from emerging Australian crime writers alongside award-winning authors Angela Savage, Peter Corris, Leigh Redhead, Andrew Nette, David Whish- Wilson, P.M. Newton, Carmel Bird and Tony Birch.

Author Bio
Zane Lovitt’s story ‘Leaving the Fountainhead’ won the SD Harvey Short Story Award at the 2010 Ned Kelly Awards for Australian crime fiction, while his debut novel, The Midnight Promise, won the 2013 Ned Kelly Award for Best First Fiction.

That same year he was named a Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Australian Novelist. His second novel Black Teeth will be available in July 2016.

Giveaway
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Review: Watership Down by Richard Adams

Originally published in 1972, Watership Down is a classic and popular children's book and reading it for the first time, I can understand why it has endured.

Set in the South of England, we enter a world where rabbits can talk and each warren of rabbits has their own culture. Other animals can also talk, with accents differentiating each species (mice, birds, cats).

Watership Down is an adventure story featuring Hazel and his friends and the natural world they inhabit. The rabbits face real dangers from men and the animals that hunt them and they're ultimately seeking a safe environment to live in peace and procreate.

I instantly warmed to Hazel, Fiver and his friends and in fact the rabbit names warmed the cockles of my heart in a way that I just can't describe. Rabbit names included: Buckthorn, Haystack, Strawberry and the infamous Bigwig, all with their own personalities.

Featuring snippets of rabbit mythology and occasionally including tales told by storyteller rabbits (rabbits love to listen to stories), Watership Down can be enjoyed by adult, YA and Middle Grade (MG) readers alike. Those seeking deeper meaning will enjoy the themes of leadership, sacrifice, freedom and peace that underly the various stages of the adventure story, making it a classic that I'm sure will endure for generations.

I loved Watership Down and will be recommending it widely.

My rating = *****

Carpe Librum!

P.S. I read the Kindle ebook and don't you just love the cover?

Friday Freebie WIN 3 paperback books by Ian Ross from his Twilight of the Empire series valued at $90 AUD

* Copies courtesy of Harper Collins Publishers Australia *

Today's Friday Freebie is a massive giveaway of 3 paperback books from author Ian Ross valued at $90AUD and it's open internationally. Enter below to win his Twilight of the Empire series.

RRP $29.99AUD

War at the Edge of the World
Centurion Aurelius Castus - once a soldier in the elite legions of the Danube - believes his glory days are over, as he finds himself in the cold, grey wastes of northern Britain, battling to protect an empire in decline. 

When the king of the Picts dies in mysterious circumstances, Castus is selected to guard the Roman envoy sent to negotiate with the barbarians beyond Hadrian's Wall. Here he will face the supreme challenge of command, in a mission riven with bloodshed and treachery that tests his honour to the limit.

As he struggles to avert disaster and keep his promise to a woman he has sworn to protect, Castus discovers that nothing about this doomed enterprise was ever what it seemed.

RRP $29.99AUD

Swords Around The Throne
Rome is in peril. The old order is changing - and Aurelius Castus has been summoned back from Britain to find himself caught up in a treasonous conspiracy threatening to bring down the Emperor Constantine.

Rewarded for saving the emperor's life in battle, Castus is promoted to the Corps of Protectores, the elite imperial bodyguard. The swords around the throne.

But he soon discovers the court to be as dangerous as the battlefield; behind the gilded facade of empire, there are spiralling plots, betrayals and seductions. A nest of traitors. And one relentless enemy.

Battle For Rome

RRP $29.99AUD

The Roman Empire is on the brink of civil war. Only Maxentius, tyrant of Rome, stands between the emperor Constantine and supreme power in the west.

Aurelius Castus, promoted from the ranks for valour and loyalty, is now a tribune in Constantine's army. But great honour brings new challenges: Castus is tormented by suspicions that his aristocratic wife, the mother of his child, has been unfaithful. And as Constantine becomes increasingly devoted to Christianity, Castus is forced to ask himself whether he is backing the wrong man. 

All know that the coming war will decide the fate of empire. But Castus's own battle will carry him much further - into the shadowy realms of treachery at the heart of Rome itself.

Author Bio
Ian Ross has been researching and writing about the later Roman world and its army for over a decade. He spent a year in Italy, teaching English, but now lives in Bath. Visit his website: www.ianjamesross.com or find him on twitter: @IanRossAuthor

Giveaway
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Blog Tour & Review: All These Perfect Strangers by Aoife Clifford

* Copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster *

Today I'm participating in a blog tour for All These Perfect Strangers by Aoife Clifford hosted by Simon & Schuster. Here's the teaser for the book:

‘This is about three deaths. Actually more, if you go back far enough. I say deaths but perhaps all of them were murders. It’s a grey area. Murder, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. So let’s just call them deaths and say I was involved. This story could be told a hundred different ways.’ 

All These Perfect Strangers is the debut novel from Australian author Aoife Clifford and with a teaser like that and descriptions of an unforgettable morally complex page-turner and a chilling, self-assured debut novel, I was primed to fall in love with this one. Unfortunately I didn't fall in love, but it was a solid read for me. 

This YA crime novel meets coming-of-age story takes place from the perspective of Penelope (Pen) Sheppard. Set in three timeframes, we have Pen's life at University, Pen consulting her Psychiatrist Frank and her earlier years as a teenager living at home with her Mum. A crime and surrounding mystery during her teenage years is slowly revealed throughout the novel but wasn't as revelationary as I thought it'd be.

The highlights of the novel were the realistic descriptions of university life and the familiar descriptions of life in a small town. There were also some standout characters (although Pen wasn't one of them) which included her Mother's boyfriend, Tracey her best friend and fellow Uni student Toby.

Also being called domestic noir, All These Perfect Strangers had a similar ending to Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes although I believe it was done better here.

I think All These Perfect Strangers by Aoife Clifford will appeal to YA readers who enjoy reading crime with a dash of mystery.

Before I close, I must mention the cover. The ARC (advanced reader's copy) sent to me came with an alternative cover and matching postcard/bookmark which I instantly fell in love with. I wish they'd used that for the release and much prefer it to the final published cover (above). Funny when that happens.

My rating = ***

Carpe Librum!

Review: Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes

* Copy courtesy of NetGalley and Simon & Schuster *

Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes is the second in the series to feature stalker and charming murderer Joe, who we met in You. He's a serial killer and anti-hero but you can't help but root for him, especially when he's in love.

In Hidden Bodies, Joe moves to LA to chase the girl who broke his heart, took advantage of him and 'did a runner' to exact his revenge. Joe quickly starts hating on the people, the culture and sub-culture of LA and the Hollywood scene in a very amusing way that makes the pages turn quickly.

Joe's need for revenge and his loathing of try-hard actors and their false little worlds soon begins to fade though as he hones in on a new project.

You was one of my top 5 books for 2015, and the only reason I didn't give the sequel Hidden Bodies a full 5 stars was because of the ending. It was just too much of a cliff hanger for me, and I desperately want to know, will he or won't he? That said, Joe is an unforgettable narrator and I'm hoping to find out what happens to him next in a third instalment.

It's no secret that Stephen King is a fan of Kepnes' work and has called her writing hypnotic and scary, so if my recommendation isn't enough, then take the word of the King.


My rating = ****1/2

Carpe Librum!

Two winners of The Changing Season by Steven Manchester announced

Thanks to those who entered my Friday Freebie last week to WIN 1 of 2 ebook copies of The Changing Season by Steven Manchester.

Entries closed at midnight Friday 26th February, and congratulations go to our two winners:

Denise Newman Ange Sharma & Debbie Rodgers!

Congratulations Denise & Debbie, you'll receive an email shortly advising you of your win and your ebook prize will be sent to you directly by the author.

Thanks to Steven Manchester for the giveaway copy and to the winners, I hope you enjoy your prize. If you missed out, stay tuned for three more giveaways coming soon.

Carpe Librum!

P.S. Unfortunately Denise Newman didn't respond to any of my emails informing her of the win and consequently has forfeited her prize. Congratulations to the runner up winner Ange Sharma.

Review: Revival by Stephen King

Stephen King's novel Revival is what I'd call a slow burn. Covering themes of family, addiction and faith, Revival spans 50 years in the life of Jamie Morton and his priest, Reverend Jacobs.

Reverend Jacobs is obsessed with the power of electricity and he discovers he has the power to heal people. But does he heal with faith or science or is the whole thing just a con?

Although not a standout bestseller when compared to other novels in Stephen King's vast body of work, Revival contains an interesting plot exploring some big issues and showcasing some great writing along the way. Here's my favourite quote from page 60:

"Her blond hair was underground now, growing brittle on a satin pillow in the dark." 

Oh my gosh, that still gives me the creeps! The best part of Revival was Jamie Morton's childhood growing up in New England. Stephen King has an unbeatable talent for writing young characters and the first quarter of the book had me chuckling and smiling, and the remainder of the book had me (and Jamie) yearning for the innocence of those early years.

Promotional material claims Revival is a 'masterpiece from King, in the great American tradition of Frank Norris, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Edgar Allan Poe' although I'd have to disagree. Revival was an enjoyable story and a great page turner with a few flashes of brilliant writing, but it wasn't a knock-out for me.

My rating = ***


Carpe Librum!


This month it was announced that Revival has been adapted for the big screen by Josh Boone and is being reviewed by Universal Pictures, so let's hope we see it on the big screen.

Winner of a copy of Spellbound by Maree Coote announced

Thanks to all those who entered my Friday Freebie last week to WIN a copy of Spellbound by Maree Coote. 
Entries closed at midnight Friday 17th February, and congratulations go to (drum roll):

Mary Preston!

Mary is a regular visitor to Carpe Librum, so it's great to see her name come up. Congratulations Mary, you'll receive an email shortly advising you of your win, and you'll have 7 days to provide me with your postal address. Your prize will be sent to you directly by Melbournestyle Books.

Thanks to Melbournestyle Books for the giveaway copy and stay tuned for more giveaways.

Carpe Librum!

HFVBT Spotlight for The Vatican Princess - A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia by C.W. Gortner

Publication Date: February 9, 2016
Ballantine Books

The Vatican Princess: A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia by C.W. Gortner

Infamy is no accident. It is a poison in our blood. It is the price of being a Borgia. 

Glamorous and predatory, the Borgias fascinated and terrorized 15th-century Renaissance Italy. Lucrezia Borgia, beloved daughter of the pope, was at the center of the dynasty’s ambitions. Slandered as a heartless seductress who lured men to their doom, was she in fact the villainess of legend, or was she trapped in a familial web, forced to choose between loyalty and survival? 

With the ascension of the Spaniard Rodrigo Borgia as Pope Alexander VI, the new pope’s illegitimate children - his rival sons, Cesare and Juan, and beautiful young daughter Lucrezia - assume an exalted position in the papal court. 

Privileged and adored, Lucrezia yearns to escape her childhood and play a part in her family’s fortunes. But Rome is seductive and dangerous, alliances shift at a moment’s notice as Italy’s ruling dynasties strive to keep rivals at bay. As Lucrezia’s father faces challenges from all sides, he’s obliged to marry her off to a powerful adversary. But when she discovers the brutal truth behind her alliance, Lucrezia is plunged into a perilous gambit that will require all her wits, cunning, and guile. Escaping her marriage offers the chance of happiness with a passionate prince of Naples, yet as scandalous accusations of murder and incest build against her, menacing those she loves, Lucrezia must risk everything to overcome the lethal fate imposed upon her by her Borgia blood. 

Beautifully wrought, rich with fascinating historical detail, The Vatican Princess is the first novel to describe Lucrezia’s coming-of-age in her own voice - a dramatic, vivid tale set in an era of savagery and unparalleled splendor, where enemies and allies can be one and the same, and where loyalty to family can ultimately be a curse.

About the Author
C.W. Gortner holds an MFA in Writing with an emphasis in Renaissance Studies from the New College of California. After an eleven year career in fashion and twelve years in the public health sector, in 2012 he became a full-time writer.

Author C.W. Gortner

In his extensive travels to research his books, he has danced a galliard at Hampton Court, learned about organic gardening at Chenoceaux, and spent a chilly night in a ruined Spanish castle. 

His books have garnered widespread acclaim and international success with over 400,000 copies sold. C.W. now lives in Northern California with his partner and two very spoiled rescue cats. 

For more information visit C.W. Gortner’s website. Sign up for C.W. Gortner’s Newsletter for updates.

Friday Freebie: WIN 1 of 2 ebook copies of The Changing Season by Steven Manchester

Valued at $5.99AUD

* Copies courtesy of the author *

This e-book giveaway will appeal to all dog lovers, so please enter below and win a copy for yourself or a friend.

Blurb

This was supposed to be a simple summer for Billy: one more lazy expanse of time before college began. He'd fill the hours playing with Jimmy - his canine best buddy - going camping and doing all the things he promised Jimmy they'd do before Billy left. But that was before the accident that shook the entire town. It was before the summer job that turned into something so much more than a way to get a pay cheque. And it was before Vicki. 

This summer was destined to be many things to Billy, things he didn't truly understand until now. But it was definitely not going to be simple. 

An enormously touching, richly textured, deeply moving novel of new adulthood, The Changing Season is an experience to savour - with special appeal to dog lovers.

Author Bio

A veteran of the Gulf War and a prison investigator in a Massachusetts penitentiary, Steven Manchester has had several careers, including that of a published author.

He's the author of four #1 bestsellers: Twelve Months, The Rockin' Chair, Pressed Pennies and Gooseberry Island as well as the award-winning novel, Goodnight, Brian. His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, CNN's American Morning and BET's Nightly News.

When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula and their four children, Steven is busy writing and promoting his work.

Giveaway

This giveaway has now closed.

Winner of Missing by Melanie Casey giveaway announced today

Last week's giveaway was a popular one and it seems plenty of you wanted to win your own copy of Missing by Melanie Casey. I loved this Australian crime novel and gave it 5 stars in my review, so was very excited to be able to give away a copy to one lucky person.

The giveaway closed at midnight on Friday 12th February, so congratulations go to:

Kim Stace!

Congratulations Kim, you'll receive an email shortly advising you of your win, and you'll have 7 days to provide me with your postal address. 

Thanks to Pantera Press for the giveaway copy and stay tuned for more giveaways and more great titles this month.

Carpe Librum!

RRP $29.99

Review: The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin

* Copy courtesy of Pan Macmillan Australia *

If I could give this book six stars (our of five) I totally would. How's this for a teaser:

Noah is four and wants to go home. The only trouble is he's already home.

The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin is the story of Noah and his Mum Janie. Noah has nightmares, begs Janie for his real mother and keeps asking when he can go home. Nobody can tell Janie what's wrong with her son despite visiting a whole host of specialists.

This novel covers themes of identity, death, mental illness, the possibility of re-incarnation and children who may (or may not) remember their previous life as well as an overarching theme of a mother's love for her son.

This topic is right up my alley (having read Children Who Have Lived Before - Reincarnation Today by Trutz Hardo last year), and exploring the themes through this novel was a absolute thrill for me. At times I felt The Forgetting Time was written especially for me!

Sharon Guskin has clearly done her research and I knew I was in expert hands. I can't believe this is her debut novel; wow, what a way to burst onto the scene! Her writing is polished, and I admire her for extending the ending beyond what I was expecting. I got so much more out of The Forgetting Time than I thought possible.

I can't wait to see what she writes next and I have no doubt she'll be my favourite debut author of 2016.

Awesome, amazing, I loved loved loved it!

My rating = *****

Carpe Librum!

Friday Freebie: WIN a copy of Spellbound by Maree Coote

Published in February 2016
RRP $39.95

* Copy courtesy of Melbournestyle Books *

Blurb
What's better than spelling a word correctly? Spelling a picture beautifully!
There are shapes all around us… shapes that look like the letters of the A-B-C. Can you find the letters hidden in these pictures of faces, places, animals and things?
Learn how to create your own Letter Art. A fun and challenging design book for readers, writers and graphic designers of all ages.

Beginners: find the letters hidden in the pictures. Fun and educational, Letter Art helps with letter recognition, spelling, reading, writing and observational skills.

Advanced: the first book of its kind, Spellbound reveals a brand new approach to typographic poetry, where serendipity combines with skill to create a unique letter-image.


Spellbound contains 120 pages of unique typographic illustration known as Letter Art. Enter below to win your very own print copy from Melbournestyle Books.

Giveaway

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Review: I'll Go Home Then; It's Warm and Has Chairs - The Unpublished Emails by David Thorne

I'm a huge fan of David Thorne's caustic humour and writing style and his work always (without fail) makes me laugh out loud. His first book The Internet is a Playground was a 5 star read for me in 2013, and this one, I'll Go Home Then, It's Warm and Has Chairs - The Unpublished Emails is just as funny.

There's plenty of email trails to delve into, photoshopped pictures to enjoy and a treasure trove of stories, anecdotes and letters to laugh about. Again, I couldn't help myself and had to read one of the stories out loud, and keep wanting to use some of his best one liners in conversation.

David Thorne's sense of humour is full of satire and wit, and he captures the office work environment so well it makes me chuckle just thinking about it. His comments about the team building weekend are still making me laugh and his diagrams really bring his scenarios to life in a way you can't possibly imagine until you see his work.

If you've never read any of his stuff before, you can read some it for free on his website, or grab any one of his books. You won't be sorry, instead you'll be laughing and looking for someone to share it with post-haste.

I've already been recommending this one to friends and family, and that says it all really.

My rating = *****

Carpe Librum!

Review and Giveaway of Missing by Melanie Casey is today's Friday Freebie

RRP $29.99

* Copy courtesy of Pantera Press * 

Missing by Australian author Melanie Casey is the third in the Cass Lehman series based in Adelaide and I've been waiting for it to come out for what seems like a-g-e-s.

I easily slipped straight back into the lives of Cass and Detective Dyson and the novel can easily be read as a standalone for those new to the author. 

The case Dyson was investigating piqued my interest and the dialogue between those on the case (especially Dyson's supervisor Crackers) is often laugh out loud funny. Combine this crime plot with the overarching relationship between Cass and her family (mother and grandmother) and Cass and Dyson, add a dollop of suspense and a pinch of psychic power and you have a ripping read.

Sometimes a crime series can run out of steam or lose it's original shine after a while however this is definitely not the the case here; in fact, I didn't want it to end. The characters in Missing are familiar but not predictable and just to prove it, the ending made me exclaim out loud in surprise. It's not a 'twist' in the way of a psychological thriller, just something I never saw coming and had to go back a few chapters to enjoy again.

My only gripe is that author Melanie Casey indicated in her acknowledgements at the end of Missing that she's saying goodbye to the series for a while in favour of writing something else. All I can say to that is: nnnnnnnooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. I need to know what Cass does next, so my fingers are tightly crossed she comes back to this series in the future.

Missing was released last week and is now available in stores. Or you can enter my giveaway below to WIN a copy.


My rating = *****

Carpe Librum!

Giveaway
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