So Many Books, So Little Time

Synopsis:  Can love triumph over war? 772 AD: Charlemagne’s battles in Saxony have left Leova with nothing but her two children, Deorlaf and Sunwynn. Her beloved husband died in combat. Her faith lies shattered in the ashes of Irminsul, the Pillar of Heaven. The relatives obligated to defend her and her family sell them into slavery instead.   In Francia, Leova is resolved to protect her son and daughter, even if it means sacrificing her own honor. Her determination only grows stronger as Sunwynn blossoms into a beautiful young woman attracting the lust of a cruel master, and Deorlaf becomes a headstrong man willing to brave starvation and demons to free his family. Yet Leova’s most difficult dilemma comes in the form of a Frankish friend, Hugh. He saves Deorlaf from a fanatical Saxon and is Sunwynn’s champion — but he is the warrior who slew Leova’s husband. Set against a backdrop of historic events, including the destruction of the Irminsul, The Ashes of Heaven’s P...

From Goodreads:  On the eve of WWI, two students fall in love in Harvard's hallowed halls and must face a world at war from opposing sides Helen Windship Brooks is struggling to find herself at the world-renowned Harvard-Radcliffe University when brooding German poet Wils bursts into her life. As they fall deeply in love on the brink of WWI, anti-German sentiments mount and Wils' future at Harvard-and in America-is in increasing danger. When Wils is called to fight for the Kaiser, Helen must decide if she is ready to fight her own battle for what she loves most. From Harvard's hallowed halls to Belgium's war-ravaged battlefields, The End of Innocence is a powerful new vision of finding love and hope in a violent, broken world. My Thoughts:  Allegra Jordan's The End of Innocence is a beautifully written story set at the beginning of World War I.  Harvard University's campus takes center stage in this heart-breaking tale of love, loss, and new begin...

 I'm linking up with Mailbox Monday again!  I was sure I wouldn't have a book haul post this week but I found some great deals on ebooks and I couldn't resist!  One was only $0.99 and the other $1.99; how could I say no that?!  I work at a university and the Fall semester starts tomorrow so things have been super busy for me.  I'm taking a Russian class this fall so it will be interesting to see how much reading I'll be able to get done over the next few months. Purchased (ebooks): My Lady Viper by E. Knight The Agincourt Bride by Joanna Hickson From the Library:   The Farm by Tom Rob Smith What books did you get this week?

I'm excited to share a fascinating new thriller with you! Synopsis When Ali Hussein, suspected terrorist and alleged banker for Al Qaeda, is finally transported from Guantanamo Bay to the US mainland to stand trial, many are stunned when Byron Carlos Johnson, a pre-eminent lawyer and son of a high-profile diplomat, volunteers to represent him.  On principle, Johnson thought he was merely defending a man unjustly captured through Rendition and water-boarded illegally. But Johnson soon learns that there is much more at stake than one man’s civil rights. Hussein’s intimate knowledge of key financial transactions could lead to the capture of—or the unabated funding of —the world’s most dangerous terror cells.  This makes Hussein the target of corrupt US intelligence forces on one side, and ruthless international terrorists on the other.  And, it puts Byron Carlos Johnson squarely in the crosshairs of both. Pulled irresistibly by force...

Synopsis:  Revenge and Retribution is the sixth book in Anna Belfrage’s time slip series featuring time traveller Alexandra Lind and her seventeenth century husband, Matthew Graham. Life in the Colony of Maryland is no sinecure – as Alex and Matthew Graham well know. But nothing in their previous life has prepared them for the mayhem that is about to be unleashed upon them. Being labelled a witch is not a good thing in 1684, so it is no wonder Alex Graham is aghast at having such insinuations thrown at her. Even worse, it’s Matthew’s brother-in-law, Simon Melville, who points finger at her. Not that the ensuing hearing is her main concern, because nowadays Alex’s entire life is tainted by the fear of what Philip Burley will do to them once he gets hold of them – there is no longer any ‘if’ about it. On a sunny May afternoon, it seems Philip Burley will at last revenge himself on Matthew for every single perceived wrong. Over the course of twenty-four hours, Alex...

I'm linking up with Mailbox Monday again!  Check it out here ! I'm too tired from work to say much of anything today.  Here's hoping next week is a little less stressful! From the Library: Red Winter by Dan Smith   I picked this up at the library on Wednesday and have already finished it and returned it.  It was sooo good! For Review (from Book Junkie Promotions): Come Dancing by Leslie Wells What books did you get this week?

The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva I love a good spy story!  The Kill Artist is the first book in the Silva's Gabriel Allon series and it is really good.  I had picked up book 9 and 10 in the series and really enjoyed them so I decided that i needed to start from the very beginning.  Gabriel Allon is a fascinating character; an art restorer by day, an Israeli spy by night.  He's a killer with a conscious which makes for good reading.  There was a lot of detail in this book which was boring at times but I think was probably necessary to set the scene for future books.  3 stars. Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap I know I've said this before but I will read anything that is about Russian history.  This story is told from Anastasia's point of view as her family's world collapses.  I really enjoyed it even though I knew how it was all going to end.  I liked that the author gave Anastasia a love interest and some happiness in her ...

  From Goodreads:  In June of 1778, the world turns upside-down. The British army withdraws from Philadelphia, George Washington prepares to move from Valley Forge in pursuit, and Jamie Fraser comes back from the dead to discover that his best friend has married Jamie’s wife. The ninth Earl of Ellesmere discovers to his horror that he is in fact the illegitimate son of the newly-resurrected Jamie Fraser (a rebel and a Scottish criminal!) and Jamie’s nephew Ian Murray discovers that his new-found cousin has an eye for Ian’s Quaker betrothed. Meanwhile, Claire Fraser deals with an asthmatic duke, Benedict Arnold, and the fear that one of her husbands may have murdered the other. And in the 20th century, Jamie and Claire’s daughter Brianna is thinking that things are probably easier in the 18th century: her son has been kidnapped, her husband has disappeared into the past, and she’s facing a vicious criminal with nothing but a stapler in her hand. Fortunately,...

A new week is starting and with it comes a new Mailbox Monday post. So who watched the Outlander premiere last night?  I watched it last week and enjoyed it.  It was a little slow for me but I thought the last twenty minutes or so were awesome.  I can't wait to see what happens next week!  Sam Heughan has become Jamie and he is amazing!! Anyway, I guess I better get to the books.  I had a good reading week last week and couldn't help but pick up some books at the library. From the Library:   The Kommandant's Girl by Pam Jenoff  This one has been on my TBR list for a looong time. I just happened upon it at the library and decided it was time I read it. Sins of the Highlander by Connie Mason with Mia Marlow I love a good Highland romance novel.  I have read all of Karen Marie Moning's Highlander series and have been looking for something new. Borrowed:   A Little House Sampler by Laura Ingalls Wilder an...

This is a little late but I wanted to post a wrap up of July.  I'm so not ready for August to be here.  The beginning of the school year is just pure insanity for me at work and it seems like summer went by way too fast.  July was an awesome reading month for me!  I don't know how I managed to get in so much reading because I was super crazy busy but I did.  I read 8 books in July which put me at 44 books read for the year.  Only 6 away from my goal of 50!  I am going to raise my goal at some point but not until I hit 50 so I can gauge how I high to set it. July was a different month for me because only 3 of the 8 books I read were review books.  The rest were from the library.  It was kind of nice to take a break and just read what I want.   Here is what I read: 1.) The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness 2.) Prisoner of the Queen by E. Knight 3.) The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon 4.) The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon 5...

Author Alison Atlee's The Typewriter Girl is now an audio­book, nar­rated by Audie win­ner Ros­alyn Lan­dor, and in celebration she'll be touring the blogosphere from August 4-29 with HF Virtual Book Tours! Audible Audio Book Edition Audible.com Release Date: April 4, 2014 Listening Length: 12 hours and 39 minutes Publisher: Audible Studios Language: English ASIN: B00JH0L9HW Genre: Historical Fiction A Pub­lish­ers Weekly Best Books of the Year pick: The Type­writer Girl is a “spec­tac­u­lar debut, set in a per­fectly real­ized Vic­to­rian England.” When Bet­sey Dob­son dis­em­barks from the Lon­don train in the sea­side resort of Idensea, all she owns is a small valise and a canary in a cage. After an attempt to forge a let­ter of ref­er­ence she knew would be denied her, Bet­sey has been fired from the typ­ing pool of her pre­vi­ous employer. Her vig­or­ous protest left one man wounded, another jilted, and her char­ac­ter per­ma­nently besmirched. Now, with­out money o...

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon This book is awesome.  I just happened upon it at the library and was immediately intrigued.  It is one of the creepiest books I've read in a long time.  There were points where I had to stop reading it because it was I was home alone and getting freaked out.  I love when a book can really freak me out! The story kept me interested from page one and I never saw the end coming.  There was one character, Katherine, who I didn't like and I thought she really didn't add much to the story as a whole.  Otherwise, it was a great read. 4 stars. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon If you haven't read any of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's books, you should do so ASAP!  I read The Shadow of the Wind several years ago and loved it and have been meaning to read this one for a long time.  The Angel's Game is the second book in the Cemetary of Forgotten Books series and I really enjoyed it.  It's definitely w...