Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours Book Review:Roan Rose

Roan Rose

Publication Date: October 1, 2013
Books We Love, Ltd.
Formats: eBook, Paperback

Loyalty Binds Her.

More like a gangland war for turf and loot than chivalry, the War of Roses disrupted the life of the English commoners for hundreds of years. Roan Rose is the story of one of them, a girl born on the Yorkshire dales. When the Countess of Warwick decides to take sturdy, gentle Rose to Middleham Castle to be companion and bed-time poppet for her youngest daughter, Anne, her fate is changed forever. Rose bears intimate witness to the passions, betrayals, battles and all the reversals of fortune which will shape her lady’s life—and her own. Anne Neville will briefly become a Queen, and Richard, Rose’s secret love, will become a King, one whose name has become synonymous with evil. When her King is betrayed and slain at Bosworth Field, Rose returns to a peasant’s hard life. She has one final service to perform.

Book Trailer for Roan Rose:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m__n2hn1MS8  

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Review: If you love historical fiction, you need to put Juliet Waldron's books on your reading list. This is the third book of hers that I've read and I have to say, she's now one of my favorite authors in this genre, she puts some of the more well known writers to shame with her attention to detail.

It is a novel of hardship and love and of The War Of The Roses. Like Juliet's other books, you need time to read this one. I get totally absorbed in the story, but I always find myself wanting to learn more.

This is a novel of Richard III a King that I've not read much about, so this was uncharted territory. He's the final Plantagenet king and he was only king for a brief period of time. History paints him as evil though Juliet paints him in a different light with just a foreshadowing of what he did to acquire the throne of England.

Rose is an interesting character whose life gets weaved in with Richard as well as with Anne Neville, the woman that would be his queen. Rose it truly a devoted servant that loves her mistress, perhaps a bit too much.  There were times when I really wanted to choke for her for her actions. Her treatment of her husband was horrid, yet she didn't marry him because she wanted to.

If you are a lover of historical fiction, this is a book you want to read. (As well as Juliet's others)

Rating: 5 flowers

About the Author

 "Not all who wander are lost." Juliet Waldron earned a B. A. in English, but has worked at jobs ranging from artist's model to brokerage. Thirty years ago, after the boys left home, she dropped out of 9-5 and began to write, hoping to create a genuine time travel experience for herself--and for her readers. She loves her grand-girls and her kitties, likes to take long hikes, and reads historical/archeological non-fiction as well as reviewing for the Historical Novel Society. For summer adventure, she rides behind her husband of 50 years on his "bucket list" (black, and ridiculously fast) Hyabusa motorcycle.

You can find more information at www.julietwaldron.com or connect with Juliet on Facebook. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Historical Fiction Virtual Tours Book Review: Mozart's Wife

Tour Schedule: http://hfvirtualbooktours.com/julietwaldrontour

Tour Hashtag: #JulietWaldronBlogTour 

Mozart’s Wife

Publication Date: January 11, 2014
Books We Love, Ltd.
Formats: eBook, Paperback

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Winner of the First Independent E-Book Award for Fiction Seventh Annual Virginia Festival of the Book

She Married the World’s First Superstar.

Mozart’s wife aroused strong feelings among her contemporaries. Her in-laws loathed her. Mozart’s friends, more than forty years after his death, remained eager to gossip about her “failures” as wife to the world’s first superstar. Maturing from child to wife to hard-headed widow, Konstanze paid her husband’s debts, provided for their children, and relentlessly marketed and mythologized Mozart. The composer’s letters attest to his affection for Konstanze as well as to their powerful sexual bond. Still, the question remains: Why did she never mark his grave?

Review: Nightingale was the first book by Juliette Waldron that I read, and I'm glad I did, because she brings her characters to life so well.

In Nightingale we caught a glimpse of Mozart, now we have a full book! This one feature's his wife and is told from her point of view. I absolutely devoured this book. 

Konstanze is quite a character and this book really made me want to learn more about Mozart. I found myself googling him more and more throughout the book. He was really quite the character, a rock star of his time.  He was a regular ladies man and he was terrible with his money. 

Their relationship was full of trials and tribulations, but whose marriage isn't? But that is what brought both characters to life for the reader.  You also so Mozart as a man. A man who loved his music but who loved women just as much. And you saw how that changed his marriage.

I felt sorry for Konstanze. She had all that to deal with and she had several children, nearly dying in childbirth more than once, and with most of her children dying in their childhood.

This is a fantastic book about Mozart and his family.

If you haven't read any of Juliet's books, this is a great one to start with.

Rating: 5 flowers

To read my review of Nightingale click here

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Historical Fiction Virtual Tours Book Review: Nightingale

Tour Schedule: http://hfvirtualbooktours.com/julietwaldrontour

Tour Hashtag: #JulietWaldronBlogTour 

Nightingale

Publication: June 5, 2013
Books We Love, Ltd.
Formats: eBook, Paperback

Her body belonged to the Count, but her heart yearned for true love.

18th Century Vienna was glamorous and corrupt, and the pathway to fame could not be trodden in innocence. Count Maximilian discovers Klara in a Nightingale Cage, an orphanage for the abandoned children of musicians. He educates her, fosters her remarkable vocal talent and initiates her into the art of love, intending to create the perfect mistress. The Count controls every aspect of Klara’s life, until Fate, in the form of handsome Akos Almassy, takes a hand. The tall, dark Magyar violinist can make beautiful music and healing potions, too, but can he rescue Klara from the Count—and live?

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Review: This is the kind of historical romance that I really devour. It reminded me a bit of Jane Lark's Illicit Love Of A Courtesan, though Klara isn't a courtesan, but then again, in a way, she is.

Every so often I like a darker romance and this fits the bill.

I love the setting of the novel in Vienna in the 18th century. Its a magical time for music and Juliet has worked in this time period before with her "Mozart" novels. Mozart even figures into the story as a secondary character. I really loved how she portrayed him as a youth, interacting with Klara and Akos.

But what I loved is the relationship with Klara and Akos. You just really loved them both..and of course, hated Max. By the end of the story, you will really hate Max. At first this felt like it was going to be a wonderful story of Klara and Akos' relationship, but then Max comes back and that's how things go to the "dark" side. (In this case physical and mental abuse).

It is a story that has a happily ever after, but one that also has consequences, so it wasn't entirely happy. So in some aspects, it felt real.

Definitely a historical romance for those that like something a little more than a bodice ripper. I look forward to reading more of Juliet's novels.

Rating: 5 flowers

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