Backlist Two Minute Review: Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

Title: Liesl & Po
Author: Lauren Oliver
Genre: supernatural
Series: N/A
Pages: 307
Published: 2011
Source: purchased
Rating: 3.5/5

Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice,until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.

That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable. Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes a luminous and magnificent novel that glows with rare magic, ghostly wonders, and a true friendship that lights even the darkest of places.

Adventure, magic, ghosts and love are what lies at the heart of Lauren Oliver's middle grade novel Liesl & Po. The story of the orphaned and isolated Liesl and her new, Other Side supernatural friends Po and Bundle is one that manages to be both illustrated and illuminating. It is the kind of middle grade story that holds appeal for readers of all kinds of age. Lauren Oliver's clever plotting and word choice make salient points about the world Liesl lives in and about our own.

Liesl shares story lines with the spectral Po and with the still-alive Will, the abused and unappreciated apprentice to the Alchemist. Will's storyline intersects with Liesl's in minimal ways (smitten at her window!) at first but the importance of a key mistake leads to an ever-growing interaction and camaraderie between the trio. A smart fairy-tale seeming story, Liesl & Po is anchored by its charming cast of characters and none more so than the main three.

Strong writing, clever plotting, and great characters make Liesl & Po an easy recommendation for anyone who enjoys creative and fresh MG novels.

New Book Haul

Cause who needs to stay ahead of the review queue anyway?!

House of Shadows by Nicola Cornick - because it's for "fans of Kate Morton"
Everything All At Once by Katrina Leno - love the premise, big fan of the author's twitter
Avenged by Amy Tintera (Ruined #2) - the first wasn't great but it was fun so why not?

Romancing the Throne by Nadia Jolie Courtney - seems like a YA version of The Royal We and do I need to continue?
The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine (The Two Princesses of Bamarre #.5) - I will always read GCL's princess books
Duels and Deceptions by Cindy Anstey - I liked her first and this seems cute, if not exactly cutting edge

Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley - aaaah! I loved this author's previous book so *hearteyes*
The Crown's Fate by Evelyn Skye (The Crown's Game #2) - another not-great fantasy but inventive enough to draw me in for another story
More of Me by Kathryn Evans - CLONES! This girl apparently clones herself at different stages in her life and now shit's getting complicated

Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy - teenage girl explores her sexuality -- literally what I want in YA
The Black Witch by Laurie Forest - seems pretty generic but I'm a sucker for a fantasy premise
The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell - OUROBOROS ALERT

The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein - "before there was Verity, there was Jilue." Stahp, I am already dead.
Geekerella by Ashley Poston - nerds meets Cinderella, what is not to love?
The Whole Thing Together by Ann Brashares - I've never loved her later books the way I did the Sisterhood but this sounds like a fun read.

The Empire's Ghost by Isabelle Steiger - death, magic, and the end of Empire? Sign me upppp.
The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence by Alyssa Palombo - the story of Simonetta Cattaneo - who is often claimed to have inspired Botticelli's The Birth of Venus --  in 15th century Italy
The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke - time travel and 80s Berlin? Not something I have tried before!

Recent DNFs

Image by Dani!

So it's the very first month in 2017. I had a pretty good month when it came to reading, but there were a few that needed to be cut off before their ending. And keep scrollling to see which books did not make it to or far past the 100-page rule....


You Don't Know My Name by Kristen Orlando

Fighter, Faker, Student, Spy.
 
Seventeen-year-old Reagan Elizabeth Hillis is used to changing identities overnight, lying to every friend she’s ever had, and pushing away anyone who gets too close. Trained in mortal combat and weaponry her entire life, Reagan is expected to follow in her parents’ footsteps and join the ranks of the most powerful top-secret agency in the world, the Black Angels. Falling in love with the boy next door was never part of the plan.

Now Reagan has to decide: Will she use her incredible talents and lead the dangerous life she was born into, or throw it all away to follow her heart and embrace the normal life she's always wanted? And does she even have a choice at all?

Pages Read: 115/320 pages

Because: Holy wow was this cheesy. And predictable. And very young-skewing? I felt like I was reading a MG that was aged up to try and appeal to YA readers? It was a very superficial read; shallow characters, blah plot, predictable narrative. I checked out mentally about 75 pages in and then gave up completely.



Maresi by Maria

Maresi came to the Red Abbey when she was thirteen, in the Hunger Winter. Before then, she had only heard rumours of its existence in secret folk tales. In a world where girls aren't allowed to learn or do as they please, an island inhabited solely by women sounded like a fantasy. But now Maresi is here, and she knows it is real. She is safe.

Then one day Jai tangled fair hair, clothes stiff with dirt, scars on her back arrives on a ship. She has fled to the island to escape terrible danger and unimaginable cruelty. And the men who hurt her will stop at nothing to find her.

Now the women and girls of the Red Abbey must use all their powers and ancient knowledge to combat the forces that wish to destroy them. And Maresi, haunted by her own nightmares, must confront her very deepest, darkest fears.

A story of friendship and survival, magic and wonder, beauty and terror, Maresi will grip you and hold you spellbound.

Pages Read: 200/256

Because: I tried with this one --- it's so short that I raced past the 100-page line in an hour. I thought to give it an extension to do SOMETHING original or just LESS GENERIC and... nope. This is very "insert generic fantasy thing/name/idea"; and it was very been-there-read-that. Even with less than 60 pages to go, I did not care enough to keep reading.


Crossroads of Canopy by Thoraiya Dyer (Titan's Forest #1)

At the highest level of a giant forest, thirteen kingdoms fit seamlessly together to form the great city of Canopy. Thirteen goddesses and gods rule this realm and are continuously reincarnated into human bodies. Canopy’s position in the sun, however, is not without its dark side. The nation’s opulence comes from the labor of slaves, and below its fruitful boughs are two other realms: Understorey and Floor, whose deprived citizens yearn for Canopy’s splendor.

Unar, a determined but destitute young woman, escapes her parents’ plot to sell her into slavery by being selected to serve in the Garden under the goddess Audblayin, ruler of growth and fertility. As a Gardener, she yearns to become Audblayin’s next Bodyguard while also growing sympathetic towards Canopy's slaves.

When Audblayin dies, Unar sees her opportunity for glory – at the risk of descending into the unknown dangers of Understorey to look for a newborn god. In its depths, she discovers new forms of magic, lost family connections, and murmurs of a revolution that could cost Unar her chance…or grant it by destroying the home she loves. 

Pages Read: 95/336 and then 105/336

Because: I had no idea what was going on? I loved the premise for this... but the world is very sink or swim and I don't even seem to have arms? This is a very bad metaphor but I felt sunk when it came to understanding the world at play, the aims of the characters, or even how they all interacted. Just not a book or writing style that suits me as a reader. This is one I tred again but the eARC and I were not friends.

Miranda and Caliban by Jaqueline Carey

A lovely girl grows up in isolation where her father, a powerful magus, has spirited them to in order to keep them safe.

We all know the tale of Prospero's quest for revenge, but what of Miranda? Or Caliban, the so-called savage Prospero chained to his will?

In this incredible retelling of the fantastical tale, Jacqueline Carey shows readers the other side of the coin—the dutiful and tenderhearted Miranda, who loves her father but is terribly lonely. And Caliban, the strange and feral boy Prospero has bewitched to serve him. The two find solace and companionship in each other as Prospero weaves his magic and dreams of revenge.

Always under Prospero’s jealous eye, Miranda and Caliban battle the dark, unknowable forces that bind them to the island even as the pangs of adolescence create a new awareness of each other and their doomed relationship.

Miranda and Caliban is bestselling fantasy author Jacqueline Carey’s gorgeous retelling of The Tempest. With hypnotic prose and a wild imagination, Carey explores the themes of twisted love and unchecked power that lie at the heart of Shakespeare’s masterpiece, while serving up a fresh take on the play's iconic characters.

Pages Read: 80/352

Because: Oh boy so even the original story of Miranda and Caliban from The Tempest... is a problematic one. I was willing to see how Carey would adapt it and change it... but her execution of that is not for me. The writing here is admittedly lovely, but it's a distant loveliness. The story is set in the childhood of the famous characters, but I didn't engage with the story or the characters. Knowing what I know about their history, I didn't feel the need to read further.


The Cruelty by Scott Bergstrom (The Cruelty #1)

When her diplomat father is kidnapped and the U.S. Government is unable to help, 17 year-old Gwendolyn Bloom sets off across the sordid underbelly of Europe to rescue him. Following the only lead she has—the name of a Palestinian informer living in France—she plunges into a brutal world of arms smuggling and human trafficking. As she journeys from the slums of Paris, to the nightclubs of Berlin, to the heart of the most feared crime family in Prague, Gwendolyn discovers that to survive in this new world she must become every bit as cruel as the men she’s hunting.

Pages Read: 95/384

Because: I was never too interested or invested in this story. I would not have even tried it had it not been sent to me as an ARC. Still, I gave it the benefit of the doubt and soon found myself in a story that makes fun of YA cliches (that it also possesses.) It's a book that demeans and looks down at YA while still being a YA novel. And it is a bad one, at that. This does not read like a teen girl. It reads like a middle-aged white man THINKS a teen girl would. Inauthentic. Condescending. Cliched. Self-congratulatory and pretentious. Those 95 pages were a 1-star experience.

Top Ten Books To Reread in 2017

 

Top Ten Tuesday is all thanks to The Broke and the Bookish! This lovely header is thanks to APR's own Dani.

This week I decided to focus on rereads. Since I am doing well at keeping ahead of my ARCs, I have had a lot more "me" reads in 2017. Before blogging I used to reread all the time, and while I still reread a couple books a month, I always have a growing list of favorites I intend to revisit.

1. Daughter of Smoke and Bone series by Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Days of Blood and Starlight, Dreams of Gods and Monsters)
I'm already on track with this one! I've read the first two books and have the third lined up to read here soon. It's been years but these books hold up.

2. The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson #8 - #14 (The Path of Daggers, Winter's Heart, Crossroads of Twilight, Knife of Dreams, The Gathering Storm, Towers of Midnight, A Memory of Light)
I actually made it through #1- #7 in.... 2015, lol. So now I just need to get back in the series and keep going. Some of these aren't great, but the ending is so good I can power through!

3. Dune by Frank Herbert
My husband bought me a gorgeous special edition for my birthday that is begging to be read. This is one of my favorite science fiction series -- it went on to influence a lot of sf and fantasy (the Fremen = the Aiel) but it really does stand in a class all its own.

4. Sirantha Jax series by Ann Aguirre (Grimspace, Wanderlust, Doubleblind, Killbox, Aftermath, Endgame)
This is the best female-lead science fiction series. The best. Jax is a great heroine; full of flaws, intelligence, agency, willingness to fuck shit ALL THE WAY UP and more. Plus there is some truly gorgeous writing.

5. Godspeaker trilogy by Karen Miller (Empress, The Riven Kingdom, Hammer of God)
An old favorite that I have not reread in at least 5 years! I remember a lot of awesome -- unforgiving and antiheroine for a female MC, non-European based fantasy, and more. I had a lot of feelings about Zandakar, so I am especially looking forward to seeing how these have aged.

6. The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss (The Kingkiller Chronicle)
I have convinced myself that The Doors of Stone will published soon so I need to get my brain back in Kvothe's story. Plus these books are soo good they deserve attention after so long away.

7. Illium and Olympos by Dan Simmons
So... this is a scifi retelling of the Illiad set on Mars. There's more to it, but that's the basis set up and yes, it is as awesome as it sounds. 

8. The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
This book is honestly suuuuuch fun! Great characters and a strong romance -- I need happiness and humor when things get me down.

9. The Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne by Brian Staveley (The Emperor's Blades, The Providence of Fire, The Last Mortal Bond)
There's a spinoff coming! Plus: culture inspired by Tang-era China, strong women of all kinds and types, and also ninjas carrying out stealth missions using GIANT HAWKS. 

10. The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson - The Way of Kings #1 and #2
OATHBRINGER IS COMING.


So..uh you may have noticed that ... this wasn't exactly ten books. But I regret nothing and you should all read these, too.

Blog Tour Review: The Confessions of Young Nero by Margaret George

Title: The Confessions of Young Nero
Author: Margaret George
Genre: historical fiction
Series: N/A
Pages: 528
Published: March 7 2016
Source: ARC via publishers
Rating: 3.5/5

Built on the backs of those who fell before it, Julius Caesar s imperial dynasty is only as strong as the next person who seeks to control it. In the Roman Empire no one is safe from the sting of betrayal: man, woman or child. 

As a boy, Nero s royal heritage becomes a threat to his very life, first when the mad emperor Caligula tries to drown him, then when his great aunt attempts to secure her own son s inheritance. Faced with shocking acts of treachery, young Nero is dealt a harsh lesson: it is better to be cruel than dead. 

While Nero idealizes the artistic and athletic principles of Greece, his very survival rests on his ability to navigate the sea of vipers that is Rome. The most lethal of all is his own mother, a cold-blooded woman whose singular goal is to control the empire. With cunning and poison, the obstacles fall one by one. But as Agrippina s machinations earn her son a title he is both tempted and terrified to assume, Nero s determination to escape her thrall will shape him into the man he was fated to become an Emperor who became legendary. 

With impeccable research and captivating prose, The Confessions of Young Nero is the story of a boy s ruthless ascension to the throne. Detailing his journey from innocent youth to infamous ruler, it is an epic tale of the lengths to which man will go in the ultimate quest for power and survival.

Some Emperors' names and deeds stand out in the centuries and histories since their time in power passed. There are the "good" Emperors like Augustus, Trajan, Justinian (etc.) that have lasted the test of time, and there were their counterparts: the criminal despots, the insane tyrants, the deluded would-be kings like Caligula, Domitian, and of course, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, rechistened Nero, famous for playing his violin while Rome burned. With her newest novel The Confessions of Young Nero, veteran historical fiction author Margaret George launches a new duology; intended to closely recount the life of one of Rome's most contentious figures from his inauspicious beginning to his inglorious end. In just this first book, George demonstrates why her books are consistently bestsellers and makes old territory feel fresh and original. 

Margaret George books are rigorous, researched, and verbose. Her descriptive style lends toward creating a very visual narrative, (and the occasional infodump) but the main storyline can feel somewhat slow-moving at times, dragged down by setting up all the various pieces and players in the political landscape. The Confessions of Young Nero is a big book and takes time to delve into the plot -- spanning decades, there's a lot of ground and pertinent history to cover. Nero may have only lived thirty years (not all of which are even subject to this book's plot) but his years were full and make for plenty of plot fodder. Despite the large scope, this is a detailed, methodical, researched history of Nero's early childhood and the first ten years of his reign as Emperor. The book presents a recognizable but more humane version of the final ruler in the Julio-Claudian dynasty and how his life and rule might have looked.  

With such vast knowledge of the tangled political situation and of the history of Rome, Margaret George is able to render an alternate version of the one-note villain Nero is remembered to be. He's not an innocent by any means, but he was a product of his blood-soaked, power-hungry time. The author creates a plausible reasons and explanations for how and what shaped him in his pivotal years. Using that knowledge and clever plotting, The Confessions of Young Nero depicts several believable iterations of Nero at various stages in life, as politics and family begin to exert their power and influence. First Lucius is shown as a smart, troubled young artist-type, an off-beat product of his proud family, then developed into a quick political student able to take risks to secure his position, and finally showing him as Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, the unqualified but cunning young Emperor at the close of the novel. It's a big evolution but it's handled smoothly and with reason over the hundreds of pages that make up the novel. 

The Confessions of Young Nero manages to put a fresh spin on an old, well-known story. Painting a more balanced view of Nero while firmly establishing the time and culture surrounding him, this first novel in Margaret George's planned series is a solid beginning.

Review: These Ruthless Deeds by Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas

Title: These Ruthless Deeds
Authors: Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas
Genre: historical fiction. supernatural, romance
Series: These Vicious Masks #2
Pages: 320
Published: expected March 14 2017
Source: publishers via NetGalley
Rating: 3/5

England, 1883. Still recovering from a devastating loss, Evelyn is determined to use her powers to save other gifted people from those who would harm them. But when her rescue of a young telekinetic girl goes terribly wrong, Evelyn finds herself indebted to a secret society devoted to recruiting and protecting people like Evelyn and her friends.

As she follows the Society’s orders, healing the sick and embarking on perilous recruitment missions, Evelyn sees her problems disappear. Her reputation is repaired, her friends are provided for, and her parents are newly wealthy. She reunites with the dashing Mr. Kent and recovers the reclusive Mr. Braddock (who has much less to brood over now that the Society can help him to control his dangerous power). But Evelyn can’t help fearing the Society is more sinister than it appears...

Early last year, These Vicious Masks was a surprise hit for me and many other YA readers; it was an excellent series beginning with imagination and originality. Though verging on the shorter side, it and its sequel have managed to be great mixes of the supernatural and the historical with fast-paced and twisty plots. They are not perfect, but they are very entertaining. Like These Vicious Masks before it, These Ruthless Deeds was a fun, funny, actiontastic romp of a read, featuring some truly excellent and memorable characters. For the second time in two years, dual authors Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas have concocted a whirlwind plot for their intrepid cast to weather to various degrees of success.

There's imagination aplenty to be found in this sequel; these two authors have a unique version of history/the world and use that vision creatively and expansively. The action may be somewhat toned down in Evelyn's second novel, but there's plenty afoot to keep her and the characters busy and readers invested. Evelyn remains a lively and interesting point of view for both her station and her abilities; a strong main character with power and relateability. She has changed a lot over the course of both novels; she's accepted herself and her power, but that doesn't mean her character evolution is complete. The romance(s) of the previous novel are once again on display here, though less overt and less central to the main plot of the story and to Evelyn herself.

I enjoyed Evelyn and Mr. Kent as always, but there were several new characters introduced and older characters that were used less. I appreciated the various new angles introduced with the Society of Aberrations but some of the cast camaraderie from book one was lost because of it. I really missed the humor in These Ruthless Deeds. Book one was hilarious -- I lol'd THREE TIMES in the first 100 pages -- and there's very little of that in these three hundred and twenty pages. There's very little of substance happening here at all, tbh. I enjoyed it overall because of the affection I have for the characters. The plot was admittedly minimal and feels inconsequential at the close of the story. Sequel syndrome strikes again!

Though it was not a perfect sequel, These Ruthless Deeds is still a fun and imaginative read for fans of the first novel. It suffers a bit for being the bridge book in a series of three, but readers who enjoy secret societies, powers, and/or Regency historical reads will find a new niche read.

 

Book Blast: Hannah Fielding's Andalucían Nights Trilogy

Indiscretion (Andalucían Nights #1) by Hannah Fielding

A young woman's journey of discovery takes her to a world of forbidden passion, savage beauty, and revenge.

Spring, 1950. Alexandra de Falla, a half-English, half-Spanish young writer abandons her privileged but suffocating life in London and travels to Spain to be reunited with her long-estranged family.

Instead of providing the sense of belonging she yearns for, the de Fallas are driven by seething emotions, and in the grip of the wild customs and traditions of Andalucia, all of which are alien to Alexandra.

Among the strange characters and sultry heat of this country, she meets the man who awakens emotions she hardly knew existed. But their path is strewn with obstacles: dangerous rivals, unpredictable events, and inevitable indiscretions. What does Alexandra's destiny hold for her in this flamboyant land of drama and all-consuming passions, where blood is ritually poured on to the sands of sun-drenched bullfighting arenas, mysterious gypsies are embroiled in magic and revenge, and beautiful dark-eyed dancers hide their secrets behind elegant lacy fans?

"Indiscretion"is a story of love and identity, and the clash of ideals in the pursuit of happiness. But can love survive in a world where scandal and danger are never far away?

Publication Date: April 9, 2015
Publisher: London Wall Publishing
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, AudioBook

Genre: Romance/Historical Fiction
 

Amazon

Praise for Indiscretion

"A captivating tale of love, jealousy and scandal… their romance is fraught with drama, and the reader is swung around in a flurry of passion and denial towards an unexpected conclusion." – The Lady magazine

"A powerful story that really captures you and pulls you in… Full of passion, danger, love and a fantastic setting, Indiscretion is a stunning story that is truly consuming and gripping." – Reading in the Sunshine

"A tense, compelling story… kept me enthralled to the very last page." – Novelicious

"A powerful and romantic story, one to savor and enjoy… Written in a flowing, vivid style, Indiscretion grips from the first." – Lindsay Townsend

Masquerade (Andalucían Nights #2) by Hannah Fielding

From the award-winning author of The Echoes of Love. Love, mystery and desire under the scorching Spanish sun.

A young writer becomes entangled in an illicit gypsy love affair, pulling her into a world of secrets, deception and dark desire.

Summer, 1976. Luz de Rueda returns to her beloved Spain and takes a job as the biographer of a famous artist. On her first day back in Cádiz, she encounters a bewitching, passionate young gypsy, Leandro, who immediately captures her heart, even though relationships with his kind are taboo. Haunted by this forbidden love, she meets her new employer, the sophisticated Andrés de Calderón. Reserved yet darkly compelling, he is totally different to Leandro but almost the gypsy's double. Both men stir unfamiliar and exciting feelings in Luz, although mystery and danger surround them in ways she has still to discover.

Luz must decide what she truly desires as glistening Cádiz, with its enigmatic moon and whispering turquoise shores, seeps back into her blood. Why is she so drawn to the wild and magical sea gypsies? What is behind the old fortune-teller’s sinister warnings about ‘Gemini’? Through this maze of secrets and lies, will Luz finally find her happiness… or her ruin?

Masquerade is a story of forbidden love, truth and trust. Are appearances always deceptive?

Paperback Publication Date: February 1, 2017
Publisher: London Wall Publishing
Pages: 448

Genre: Romance/Historical

Amazon

Praise for Masquerade

"A brilliant romance concerned with love, revenge, identity and honour… Hannah Fielding writes of love, sexual tension and longing with an amazing delicacy and lushness, almost luxury." – Lindsay Townsend, author

"A beautiful journey back in time to a beautiful city to experience a story filled with passion, heartbreak, revenge, betrayal, and love… If you’re a fan of beautiful settings, fabulous imagery, and descriptions that make you feel, smell, and sense the place then definitely read Masquerade." – Unwrapping Romance

"I am in love with the writing style of the author! It brings not only the world alive, but the characters as well. She creates so much emotion and feeling… She truly did justice with bringing the beauty and drama of Spanish society alive yet again." – Carole Rae’s Ramblings

"A beautiful love story of passion and love, curses and family secrets… With beautiful descriptions and exotic locations the author weaves a heart wrenching tale of love and revenge… This story led me on an emotional roller coaster and I loved every minute of it." – Curse of the Bibliophile

Legacy (Andalucían Nights #3) by Hannah Fielding

A troubled young journalist finds her loyalties tested when love and desire unearth dark secrets from the past.

Spring, 2010. When Luna Ward, a science journalist from New York, travels halfway across the world to work undercover at an alternative health clinic in Cadiz, her ordered life is thrown into turmoil.

The doctor she is to investigate, the controversial Rodrigo Rueda de Calderon, is not what she expected. With his wild gypsy looks and devilish sense of humour, he is intent upon drawing her to him. But how can she surrender to a passion that threatens all reason; and how could he ever learn to trust her when he discovers her true identity? Then Luna finds that Ruy is carrying a corrosive secret of his own…

Luna’s native Spanish blood begins to fire in this land of exotic legends, flamboyant gypsies and seductive flamenco guitars, as dazzling Cadiz weaves its own magic on her heart. Can Luna and Ruy’s love survive their families’ legacy of feuding and tragedy, and rise like the phoenix from the ashes of the past?

Legacy is a story of truth, dreams and desire. But in a world of secrets you need to be careful what you wish for…

Paperback Publication Date: March 2 2017
Publisher: London Wall Publishing
Pages: 448
Genre: Romance/Historical

Amazon

Praise for Legacy

"Legacy is filled to the brim with family scandal, frustrated love and hidden secrets. Ruy is the ideal love interest, exuding both charm and intelligence, and Luna fits the part of innocent and fragile heroine perfectly. Fast-paced and addictive, it will keep you hooked from start to finish." – The Lady magazine

"Epic and timeless… In the vein of ‘Gone With The Wind’, this particular book is just as epic and timeless. Written with lively detail, you are IN Spain. You are engulfed in the sights, sounds and smells of this beautiful country." – Have You Heard Book Reviews

"I just got completely swept away… Just when I thought this trilogy could not get any better, it did! As with books 1 and 2 in this trilogy, I just got completely swept away by the detailed descriptions of locations and the history of each of the characters." – Debra’s Book Cafe

"This story has a magical quality to it, telling a fervent, tantalizing, and sweeping love story, is rich in details, and captured my imagination as well as my attention." – Romancing the Book

About the Author

Hannah Fielding is an incurable romantic. The seeds for her writing career were sown in early childhood, spent in Egypt, when she came to an agreement with her governess Zula: for each fairy story Zula told, Hannah would invent and relate one of her own. Years later – following a degree in French literature, several years of travelling in Europe, falling in love with an Englishman, the arrival of two beautiful children and a career in property development – Hannah decided after so many years of yearning to write that the time was now. Today, she lives the dream: writing full-time at her homes in Kent, England, and the South of France, where she dreams up romances overlooking breath-taking views of the Mediterranean.

To date, Hannah has published four novels: Burning Embers, ‘romance like Hollywood used to make’, set in Kenya, 1970; the award-winning Echoes of Love, ‘an epic love story that is beautifully told’ set in turn-of-the-millennium Italy; and books 1 and 2 of the Andalucian Nights trilogy, set in sultry Spain, entitled Indiscretion and Masquerade.

For more information, please visit Hannah Fielding's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

Sign up for Hannah Fielding's newsletter for news & updates.

Giveaway

To celebrate the Book Blast, we have one copy of the entire trilogy up for grabs! To enter, please see the Gleam form below.

Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on March 3rd. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open to residents in US & Canada only. – 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 has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

Enter the Giveaway Here