Tag: historical fiction

Blog Tour: The Quest for the Crown of Thorns by Cynthia Ripley Miller

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I’m delighted to host today’s stop on the blog tour for The Quest for the Crown of Thorns by Cynthia Ripley Miller and to bring you my review of this lively historical mystery. Set in the 5th Century against the backdrop of the decline of the once mighty Roman Empire, The Quest for the Crown of Thorns is the second book in The Long-Hair Saga, a follow-up to the thrilling On the Edge of Sunrise which I shall be reviewing at a later date.  

WinPlus, there’s a chance to win 1 paperback copy (US only) & 2 eBook copies (INTL) of The Quest for the Crown of Thorns. Click here to enter the giveaway via the tour page (scroll down to the bottom) and to view the terms & conditions. Entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on October 16th 2017.

 

TheQuestfortheCrownofThornsAbout the Book

AD 454. Three years after the Roman victory over Attila the Hun at Catalaunum, Arria Felix and Garic the Frank are married and enjoying life on Garic’s farm in northern Gaul (France). Their happy life is interrupted, when a cryptic message arrives from Rome, calling Arria home to her father, the esteemed Senator Felix. At Arria’s insistence, but against Garic’s better judgment, they leave at once. Upon their arrival at Villa Solis, they are confronted with a brutal murder and the dangerous mission that awaits them. The fate of a profound and sacred object – Christ’s Crown of Thorns – rests in their hands. They must carry the holy relic to the safety of Constantinople, away from a corrupt emperor and old enemies determined to steal it for their own gain. But an even greater force arises to derail their quest – a secret cult willing to commit any atrocity to capture the Crown of Thorns. And all the while, the gruesome murder and the conspiracy behind it haunt Arria’s thoughts. Arria and Garic’s marital bonds are tested but forged as they partner together to fulfil one of history’s most challenging missions, The Quest for the Crown of Thorns.

Praise for The Quest for the Crown of Thorns:

“Ripley Miller astutely brings to life a Rome teetering precariously on the brink of collapse …the combination of political and romantic drama –spiritual as well –is rousing. The reader should be glad to have read this volume and eager for a third. Intelligent and artfully crafted historical fiction…” (Kirkus Reviews)

“From cover to cover a gripping read – in all senses of the word! Grips your interest and imagination, your held breath and your pounding heart! A thumping good novel!” (Helen Hollick, USA Today bestselling author of the Sea Witch Voyages)

“Forbidden love, a turbulent time period, and world-changing events combine to produce a real page-turner.” (India Edghill, author of Queenmaker, Wisdom’s Daughter, and Delilah)

“A passionate and intriguing take on the often overlooked clash of three brutal and powerful empires: the Romans, Franks, and Huns. A compelling read!” (Stephanie Thornton, author of The Secret History and The Tiger Queens)

“Readers will be absorbed by a setting of barbarian Gaul and the constancy of Arria’s and Garic’s destined love amid the strife of a dying Roman Empire.” (Albert Noyer, author of The Getorius and Arcadia Mysteries)

“The Quest for the Crown of Thorns is an elegant masterpiece of historical fiction. This book totally ensnared me in its clasps, and it did not release me until I had read it all. The attention to detail was exquisite The characterisation was sublime, and the romance was breathtakingly beautiful. I adored the world that Miller has created, as well as the characters in it. This is a sit-down and finish book and is one I would highly recommend.” (Mary Anne Yarde author of the Du Lac Chronicles)

Format: eBook, Paperback (308 pp.)            Publisher: Knox Robinson Publishing Published: 12 June 2017                                 Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery

Purchase Links*
Amazon.co.uk ǀ Amazon.com ǀ Barnes & Noble
*links provided for convenience, not as part of any affiliate programme

 

Find The Quest for the Crown of Thorns on Goodreads

My Review

Having read and enjoyed the first book in The Long Hair Saga, I can reassure potential readers that The Quest for the Crown of Thorns can be read perfectly well as a standalone (although you’d miss a great story). In fact, it has a slightly different tone to On the Edge of Sunrise, with the mystery element much more prominent in this second book.

Readers of On the Edge of Sunrise will welcome the return of familiar characters whilst new readers will quickly make their acquaintance thanks to the author’s deft recaps of important events from the first book. There’s Arria – accomplished, resourceful, shrewd – determined to fulfil her mission and safeguard her future. There’s Garic – handsome, passionate, brave – devoted to Arria and to ensuring her safety. There’s Vodamir, Garic’s cousin – cocky, impetuous, loyal – whose daredevil instincts may just have been tamed by the love of a good woman. There’s Marcella – beautiful, seductive, manipulative – who is seeking a means to secure a wealthy and powerful patron and who will use all her charms (and we mean all) to get it.

However, there are also new characters to get to know as the focus shifts from the battlefields of Gaul in the previous book, to Rome and Constantinople. As the very existence of the Roman Empire is threatened, the struggle for power and influence reaches new heights and there are powerful individuals and groups who will stop at nothing to achieve their ambitions. As Arria and her companion set out to fulfil their mission, many dangers lie ahead on the road. Old rivalries are rekindled, plots are made, alliances are formed and broken and double crosses abound. Death and betrayal potentially wait around every corner.

As in the first book, passions run high, including in the bedroom. Readers who crave plenty of spice with their historical romance will be well served (forgive the pun). If anything, there’s more spicy bedroom action in this book than the last!

The author keeps the action moving along apace with plenty of twists and turns and ‘what just happened there?’ moments. Whilst many of the characters are imagined, the story makes reference to actual events and there is fascinating detail of daily Roman life – dining and bathing customs, clothing and travel – that give the story an air of authenticity and credibility. It all adds up to a very enjoyable read for lovers of historical mystery/romance.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author and HF Virtual Book Tours in return for an honest review.

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In three words: Suspenseful, action-packed, passionate

Try something similar…Roman Blood by Steven Saylor

Cynthia Ripley MillerAbout the Author

Cynthia Ripley Miller is a first generation Italian-American writer with a love for history, languages and books. She has lived, worked, and travelled in Europe, Africa, North America and the Caribbean. As a girl, she often wondered what it would be like to journey through time (she still does), yet knew it could only be through the imagination and words of writers and their stories. Today, she writes to bring the past to life.

She holds two degrees and has taught history and teaches English. Her short fiction has appeared in the anthology Summer Tapestry, at Orchard Press Mysteries.com and The Scriptor. A Chanticleer International Chatelaine Award finalist for her novel, On the Edge of Sunrise, she has reviewed for UNRV Roman History, and blogs at Historical Happenings and Oddities: A Distant Focus.

Cynthia has four children and lives with her husband, twin cats, Romulus and Remus, and Jessie, a German Shepherd, in a suburb of Chicago.

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Interview with Libbet Bradstreet, author of Bells of Avalon

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Today’s guest on What Cathy Read Next is Libbet Bradstreet, author of Bells of Avalon. I love my historical fiction and I’m a sucker for anything set in Hollywood. So I’m very much looking forward to reading Bells of Avalon just as soon as it reaches the top of my review pile.  In the meantime, I’m delighted that Libbet has agreed to answer some questions about Bells of Avalon, the inspiration for the book, and her approach to writing.

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Bells of AvalonAbout the Book

Thrust into a limelight she never chose, Katie’s been paired with Danny for as long as she can remember. Films, roadshow tours, and drugstore appearances…post-war Hollywood can’t seem to get enough of the sweetheart team. They’ll even fall in love one day. But young love seldom survives the fog wake of Los Angeles – a place of dreams and nightmares.

 

 

Format: ebook (260 pp.), Audiobook                   Publisher:
Published: 26th July 2015                                       Genre: Historical Fiction

Purchase Links*
Amazon.co.uk ǀ Amazon.com
*links provided for convenience, not as part of any affiliate programme

Find Bells of Avalon on Goodreads

Q&A: Libbet Bradstreet, author of Bells of Avalon

Without giving too much away, can you tell me a bit about Bells of Avalon?

I would say it’s tale about old Hollywood – and friendship. There’s something about the relationships that we form in our youth; they carry a certain intensity – a certain weight. They have the ability to haunt you for the rest of your life. That can be both a good and a bad thing. There’s a wonderful line at the end of Stephen King’s short story, The Body, that says, “I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, did you?” I thought about that a lot while writing the book.

How did you get the idea for the book?

I’ve been obsessed with the glamour of vaudeville and the golden age of Hollywood since I was a young. Over the years, I devoured pretty much everything I could find on the subject. Soon I began to discover that – beneath all that sharp glamour – there was a darkness that lay just as deep. So many actors from the early days of film have tragic stories. Many paid a dehumanizing price for fame – for survival within the industry. And despite their contributions to film, many have been forgotten. I think that’s a harsh reality that most of us can relate to, regardless of our occupation. I guess this book was written, partially, as sort of tribute to those forgotten actors who inspired me so much as teenager.

Bells of Avalon is your first novel, so can you tell us a bit about your writing journey?

I’ve had an interest in writing since I was very young. I think my focus sharpened, however, as a result of having some amazing creative writing teachers in college. Two in particular, who are amazing authors in their own right, were Diana Joseph and Jeff Conine. Their influence over my writing sensibility feels almost incalculable to me. I’m lucky to feel their guidance and support whenever I sit down to write anything.

Bells of Avalon is set in the Hollywood of the 1950s. What were the challenges in creating an authentic picture of life in that period?

It was extremely important to me that the period setting ring true. That meant if Katie wore a particular dress, piece of jewellery, or brand of makeup – it all had to be creditably related to her time period. Likewise with the rest of the characters. It was also important that the cultural habitats of WWII-era London and, eventually, the late 60s vibe of Greenwich Village be very reliable. That was sometimes challenging as I obviously have no sense memory of those time periods. Writing those passages felt daunting and technical, at times.

How did you approach the research for the book? Do you enjoy the process of research?

By virtue of my interests, I guess you could say I’ve been informally researching the material since I was young. There were definitely times, though, that I had to do a great amount of new research depending on the direction of the plot. Some days I alternated writing days with research days. That was beneficial because sometimes you can get into this gridlocked state, where you aren’t sure where to go next. A lot of the time, the research will lead you down a completely new, creative pathway. My ultimate goal was that someone who spent their formative years during the 1940s and 50s could pick up the book and feel reminiscent – or at least, see elements of own lives within the setting.

If Bells of Avalon was to be made into a film, who would you love to see play Katie and Danny?

That’s a great question! Danny, in my mind, will always look like Richard Beymer from West Side Story. Katie will always be Esther Ralston. Max came to look a lot like Eric Dane to me…but that could have been due to my mass consumption of Grey’s Anatomy at the time!

Libbet Bradstreet is a pen name. Why did you decide to use a pen name and how did you come up with it?

I guess I’m a bit of a private person, so using a pen name felt more comfortable. I did want the name to mean something, though. Bradstreet is an old family surname – and it serves as a dual allusion to my favourite comedian and indie filmmaker, Brad Jones. Libbet is a nickname I stole from a close high school friend (don’t worry…she gave me permission!)

Which other writers do you admire?

Christine Fletcher, Carole Radziwill, Sarah Dessen, Stephen King, Lloyd Alexander, Ann Brashares, Daphne Du Maurier, Nora Roberts, Zoa Sherburne, Ernest Hemingway, Vladimir Nabokov, Cindy Bonner, Dodi Smith, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Helen Maslin, Charlotte Bronte, Bette Greene, Joyce Carol Oates. Too many to count!

What a great list!  What would be your favourite Hollywood movie to curl up in front of the TV with?

Postcards from the Edge with Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine

What are you working on next?

I’m finishing up a collection of YA short stories. The stories share a common, coming-of-age sentiment, but they also exist within vastly different genres/settings/time periods. I’m experimenting a bit with sci-fi and horror, so it’s a bit different from what I’ve done in the past.

Thank you, Libbet, for those fascinating answers. I’m sure reading about the book and its inspiration has created a lot of interest in Bells of Avalon.  Who can resist the glamour of the Golden Age of Hollywood?

LibbetBradstreetAbout the Author

Libbet Bradstreet is a philanthropy writer currently residing in Austin, Texas. Since 2007, she has served as a fiction judge for the New York-based non-profit NYC Midnight. Her short fiction has been published by Ophelia Street Literary Arts Journal. Bells of Avalon is her debut novel.

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