Thursday, June 27, 2013

The Riddle of Solomon by D.J. Niko

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Read: June 24, 2013

Cambridge archaeologist Sarah Weston and anthropologist Daniel Madigan team up for another expedition and adventure in this second book in the Sarah Weston Chronicles. While working on the Qaryat al-Fau archaeological site in Saudi Arabia, the pair uncovers a mysterious ancient scroll composed as a riddle. As they attempt to date and decipher the scroll, a flurry of ills befalls their expedition and the scroll is stolen. A trail of clues leads to India, Jerusalem, and the Judean wilderness, where the two discover the scroll was written by the enigmatic King Solomon as a map to an ancient manuscript. Meanwhile a privileged young Briton, Trent Sacks, has invested years and a fortune looking for his manuscript. Believing he is the last descendant of the House of David in the line of Solomon, Sacks will do whatever it takes to amass the ancient relics which will prove he is the Jewish Messiah. Leaving a string of murders in his wake, Sacks vows to crush Sarah and Daniel for challenging his quest. Journeying through the worlds of the occult, corporate greed, geopolitical conflict, Judaic mysticism, and biblical archaeology, Sarah and Daniel race to uncover the powerful ancient message that could have an explosive impact on modern Israel.

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Given the four star rating I obviously enjoyed D.J. Niko's The Riddle of Solomon. Not having read book one of The Sarah Weston Chronicles, I can't speak for the series as a whole, but book two certainly left me with a positive impression. 


It is no coincidence that this piece has been compared to Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Da Vinci Code. Niko seamlessly weaves together fact and fiction into a fast-paced adventure that is guaranteed to leave readers on the edge of their seats. Cover to cover I was captivated by the twists and turns Niko worked into the plot. 


Another noteworthy aspect is how Niko embraced the present day conflicts in the Middle East and used biblical and ancient history to bring these events into the fold of her story. I think that took a lot of courage in the current political climate and appreciate that her instinct for storytelling was not deterred by potentially touchy subject matter. 


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You will wait for eternity. Take my body, if you must. It means nothing. Only th soul matters, and that you cannot extinguish with your gun. The secret you seek, you're not worthy of. Therefore, you cannot buy it - at any price."
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Check out all the stops on D.J. Niko's The Riddle of Solomon Virtual Book Tour


Monday, June 24
Feature & Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Wednesday, June 26
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Interview at Bibliophilic Book Blog
Thursday, June 27
Review & Giveaway at Sir Read-a-Lot
Review & Giveaway at Flashlight Commentary
Friday, June 28
Review & Guest Post at The Lit Bitch
Monday, July 1
Review at Bitches with Books
Wednesday, July 3
Interview & Giveaway at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Thursday, July 4
Feature & Giveaway at So Many Precious Books, So Little Time
Monday, July 8
Interview at A Bookish Libraria
Tuesday, July 9
Review at Overflowing Bookshelves
Wednesday, July 10
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages
Monday, July 15
Review at Jenny Loves to Read
Review at A Writer’s Life: Working with the Muse
Thursday, July 18
Review & Interview at From the TBR Pile
Friday, July 19
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee


Interview with Anna Belfrage, author of The Prodigal Son

Today Flashlight Commentary is pleased to welcome author Anna Belfrage to discuss her latest release, The Prodigal Son. 

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Welcome to Flashlight Commentary, Anna. To start things off, please tell us a bit about The Prodigal Son.
Hi Erin, thank you for having me – even if I’ve had to scratch my head a bit over several of your questions. But that’s good, I think – it keeps me on my toes. 

Right; The Prodigal Son. In many ways, the story told in this book is the story that first attracted me to write about the 17th century, namely the religious conflicts that dominated the century. Sadly, in many ways, we still live in a world where religion is hijacked into one political context or other, but from a European perspective the 17th century was something of a high point (low point?) when it comes to wars fought in the name of God. I have an indirect personal connection to all this religious upheaval in that my husband’s ancestors were forced to flee Scotland during this period due to religious persecution (this despite being a minor member of the powerful Stuart family). Also, being Swedish, the 17th century coincides with Sweden’s days of glory – all of it built on the wars we fought to defend the Protestant faith. Personally, I think there were other, far more secular, motivations behind all that fighting…

What research went into The Prodigal Son and what, if any, challenges did you face in adapting your research to fiction? 
I read a lot about religion – a lot. And I am still less than enthused by theological thinkers such as Calvin and John Knox, even if I must give Knox credit for making divorce legal in Scotland already back in the 16th century. I also read a lot of books about the English Civil War and its spillovers into Scotland, plus I’ve spent many happy hours reading about Charles II, of whom I am rather fond.

The challenge is always to balance how much fact & detail you should load the book with versus what the reader needs to know. I could, should I want to, write an extremely detailed description of how Alex makes soap, or how she goes about stacking her winter apples, or how she makes tallow candles. I could also describe how Matthew spends his long winter evenings repairing the rakes, the wooden spades, the harnesses, but I think I’d end up with a boring manual rather than a novel – which is not my intention. So instead I try to have the odd detail here, the other there to create a sense of time. Also, I was really tempted to somehow work Charles II into the story, but my attempts were too construed and so I had to scrap them (sigh; big sigh). After all, what on Earth would Charles II be doing in Cumnock, Ayrshire?


 What is your favorite scene in the novel?
Difficult question: I have several, but I have a soft spot for the scene in which Matthew returns home after having blown up the munitions shed, and I go all tense during the scene in which Alex is waiting for Matthew to return from the ambushed Conventicle. But the scene that always makes me smile and hug myself is from the last few pages in chapter 36, starting from “this is ridiculous, Alex berated herself…” After all, I aspire to write not only a historical novel, but also to describe the love story between two people who should never have met – but did. I hope I’ve succeeded, at least to some extent.

What scene posed the greatest challenges for you as an author?
The last few pages in chapter six were difficult, as I had to describe a lot of anguish for both my characters without POV hopping. Chapter 26 was tough – really tough – as I kept on crying as I wrote it and the subsequent chapter. There’s also a scene where Matthew and Alex aren’t talking – she’s tongue tied with anger at what she perceives as his betrayal, he feels he has no choice – which caused a lot of rewrites. 

The Prodigal Son is the third installment of The Graham Saga. How does this book differ from its predecessors? 
The single biggest change is that The Prodigal Son is entirely set in the 17th century. Yes, Alex Graham is still a modern woman who had the misfortune (or not; I keep on telling her she is one lucky girl to have met up with Matthew. Mostly she agrees, sometimes she doesn’t…) of being propelled three centuries backwards in time, and yes, she still has a modern take on a lot of things. But successively there are some minor changes; Alex is adapting more than she thinks – or is aware of. So, in this book there are no chapters set in the present (our) time, it is all in the past. Actually, that is valid for most of the coming books as well, even if Alex’ strange provenance does rear its head now and then, causing quite some complications. 

On that note, what inspired the Graham series and what convinced you this was a story worth telling?
Alex did. She popped up in my head one night, and she just wouldn’t shut up! (My husband would tell you this is a trait she shares with me – I have no idea where he gets that from) When Alex made her appearance I was already very stuck in the 17th century, and the Scottish angle came from my husband’s family and so… It’s a bit like making a soup; one ingredient leads to the other, and suddenly the bouillabaisse is simmering on your stove. 

Sometimes fiction takes on a life of its own and forces the author to make sacrifices for the sake of the story. Is there a character in the series you wish you could have spent more time with?   Luke Graham – the bad brother. I have spent quite some time with him, but I chose to not have him grow into a character with his own POV, as I wanted to retain a clear cut line between the good guy (Matthew, in case you’re wondering) and the villain (Luke). In some of the future books I do give Luke some more space – mainly because he’s mellowed somewhat (and because he has a pivotal role to play). 

Your books are sometimes compared to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. For those who haven't read your work, how would you say your books differ?
I love Diana Gabaldon’s books and would be very flattered should anyone compare my books favourably to hers. First off, I think my books don’t weave quite as many different strands as Ms Gabaldon’s books do, and also I have a heroine who falls back in time and stays there, while Ms Gabaldon’s Claire does return to her time – for a number of years. I also made a point of having a modern woman who has an education that is of no use in her new life – being a computer engineer is of little help when you’re learning to make cider. 

By Kim Traynor (CC-BY-SA-3.0)],
via Wikimedia Commons
One of my favorite aspects of the books is the realistic qualities of Alex and Matthew's relationship. In your own words, there are times she thinks he's an overbearing bastard and times he is sorely tempted to belt her. I completely understand these feelings, but why did you opt to depict their relationship this way?
No relationship is a bed of roses – at least not all the time. For a modern woman to have to cope with a man who has decidedly old-fashioned views on a number of things – starting with who does the actual deciding – must be very difficult. Matthew and Alex have a lot of values in common, but there are definite differences in opinion in matters such as how to discipline your children f.ex. While Matthew is very proud of his wife, he is also worried that at times she is too outspoken and he hates it when she isn’t adequately dressed, exposing her physical assets for other men to gawk at. (Major controversy about that in a future book….) I also think that with passion comes an overload of feelings – Matthew and Alex are never lukewarm towards each other, and so things explode into fights, but this is not an issue for either of them as they both know, deep down, that they belong together no matter what. Love is the rock bottom on which their relationship is built and the foundation is strong enough for them to disagree, quarrel and make up. 

If you could sit down and talk with one of your characters, maybe meet somewhere and chat over coffee, who would you choose and why?
Matthew. Although he’d be rather skeptical to coffee (as am I)… Alex is easy for me to understand, but Matthew requires a lot of work, and so I spend a lot of time rooting about in his brain to define what makes him tick. (I can see him grinning, those beautiful hazel eyes of his crinkling at the corners. That’s because he’s convinced I have no idea what goes on behind his exterior – and quite often I don’t.) Anyway, I’d like to buy him a huge slice of carrot cake and have him tell me a bit more about his childhood and the mother he loved so much. 

What do you hope readers come away with after reading The Prodigal Son or any installment of The Graham Saga?
The Prodigal Son – well, The Graham Saga – is very much about love – not only that of man and wife, but also that of parents towards their children. It is also about facing up to the consequences of your decisions, of having the courage to revisit and revise your convictions when necessary. I also think the dedication reflects some of the content of The Prodigal Son: “This book is dedicated to all those people who open their hearts to a child not of their blood and take it as their own.”

My books depict times when things were tough, when women were often mistreated unless there was someone to protect them, when childbirth was a major risk and children died of something as mundane as a strep throat. They also depict times of unrest, of savagery and fights, and as a consequence, there are violent scenes in them.  And yet, I hope readers will close my books with a feeling of hope – hope that love prevails, hope that it is up to us to build our futures.  

Finally, what is next for you? Any new projects waiting in the wings?
Apart from the coming books in The Graham Saga, you mean? There’s a lot of work left there, but I do actually have a couple of other projects I’m working on as well. One is a book set in Sweden and England during the times of Queen Christina of Sweden. It’s a bit of a picaresque novel in that the heroine steals a casket of valuable jewels and must then flee for her life. I also have a contemporary fantasy trilogy that I now and then spend some time massaging, but there’s a LOT of work left on that one. Finally, I’d like to write something set in medieval Spain – I’m thinking Seville and the enforced conversions of Jews and Muslims in the late 15th century. 

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About the Author: I was raised abroad, on a pungent mix of Latin American culture, English history and Swedish traditions. As a result I’m multilingual and most of my reading is historical – both non-fiction and fiction. I was always going to be a writer – or a historian, preferably both. Instead I ended up with a degree in Business and Finance, with very little time to spare for my most favourite pursuit. Still, one does as one must, and in between juggling a challenging career I raised my four children on a potent combination of invented stories, historical debates and masses of good food and homemade cakes. They seem to thrive… Nowadays I spend most of my spare time at my writing desk. The children are half grown, the house is at times eerily silent and I slip away into my imaginary world, with my imaginary characters. Every now and then the one and only man in my life pops his head in to ensure I’m still there. I like that – just as I like how he makes me laugh so often I’ll probably live to well over a hundred. I was always going to be a writer. Now I am – I have achieved my dream. For more information, please visit Anna Belfrage’s website.

About the Book: Safely returned from an involuntary stay on a tobacco plantation in Virginia, Matthew Graham finds the Scottish Lowlands torn asunder by religious strife. The government of His Restored Majesty, Charles II, requires all his subjects to swear fealty to him and the Church of England, riding roughshod over any opposition. In Ayrshire, the people close ranks around their evicted ministers, stubbornly clinging to their Presbyterian faith. But disobedience comes at a price – a very steep price – and as neighbours and friends are driven from hearth and home, Alex becomes increasingly more nervous as to what her Matthew is risking by his continued support of the clandestine ministers – foremost amongst them the charismatic Sandy Peden. Privately, Alex considers Sandy an enervating fanatic and all this religious fervour is totally incomprehensible to her. So when Matthew repeatedly sets his faith and minister before his own safety and therefore per extension her safety and the safety of their children, he puts their marriage under severe strain. The situation is further complicated by the presence of Ian, the son Matthew was cruelly duped into disowning several years ago. Now Matthew wants Ian back and Alex isn’t entirely sure this is a good thing, watching from a distance as her husband dances round his lost boy. Things are brought to a head when Matthew yet again places all their lives in the balance to save his dear friend and preacher from the dragoons that chase him over the moor. How much is Matthew willing to risk? How much will he ultimately lose?

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Check out all the stops on Anna Belfage's The Prodigal Son Virtual book Tour


Tuesday, June 25
Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Wednesday, June 26
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Thursday, June 27
Interview at Flashlight Commentary
Friday, June 28
Review at The Worm Hole
Monday, July 1
Review at Oh, For the Hook of a Book!
Feature & Giveaway at Bibliophilic Book Blog
Tuesday, July 2
Interview & Giveaway at Oh, For the Hook of a Book!
Wednesday, July 3
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time
Friday, July 5
Guest Post at So Many Books, So Little Time
Monday, July 8
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee
Tuesday, July 9
Interview at Layered Pages
Wednesday, July 10
Guest Post at Historical Tapestry
Friday, July 12
Interview & Giveaway at The Maiden’s Court

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

The Prodigal Son by Anna Belfrage

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Obtained from: Netgalley/Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
Read: June 20, 2013

He risks everything for his faith - but will he be able to pay the price? Safely returned from an involuntary stay on a plantation in Virginia, Matthew Graham finds the Scottish Lowlands torn asunder by religious strife. His Restored Majesty, Charles II, requires all his subjects to swear fealty to him and the Church of England, riding roughshod over any opposition. In Ayrshire, people close ranks around their evicted Presbyterian ministers. But disobedience comes at a heavy price and Alex becomes increasingly more nervous as to what her Matthew is risking by his support of the clandestine ministers - foremost amongst them the charismatic Sandy Peden. Privately, Alex considers Sandy an enervating fanatic and all this religious fervour is totally incomprehensible to her. So when Matthew repeatedly sets his faith and ministers before his own safety he puts their marriage under severe strain. The situation is further complicated by the presence of Ian, the son Matthew was cruelly duped into disowning several years ago. Now Matthew wants Ian back and Alex isn't entirely sure this is a good thing. Things are brought to a head when Matthew places all their lives in the balance to save his dear preacher from the dragoons. How much is Matthew willing to risk? How much will he ultimately lose? The Prodigal Son is the third in Anna Belfrage's historical time slip series, which includes the titles The Rip in the Veil and Like Chaff in the Wind.

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I've grown to love Anna Belfrage's work. The imaginative story she has created for Alexandra Lind and Matthew Graham is a joy to read, but her attention to detail and sense of history make her books truly special which is why I was so eager to read her latest release, The Prodigal Son. 

The third installment of the Graham Saga focuses on the religious conflicts that marked the seventeenth century. As a result, there is significant focus on what constitutes religious and moral justice as well as what lengths one must go to uphold one's beliefs. While these questions fascinate me, they also illustrate Belfrage's talent for folding history into her narrative. You see, The Prodigal Son, indeed the entire Graham Saga, is at its heart about the life Alex and Matthew share, how despite all, it withstands the tempest of war and sway of political/theological upheaval. Belfrage never looses sight of that, carefully relating the larger story through the personalized experiences of her cast.   

Speaking of Alex and Matthew, I have to commend Belfrage for her realistic of romantic affection and the intricacies of married life. These books simply wouldn't work if Alex and Matthew enjoyed a traditional happily ever after. Make no mistake, the two are deliriously happy with one another, but their life together isn't all sunshine and roses. They disagree, they argue, they test one another, and they don't always make up right away. In general I think there is a tendency to sugar coat reality in fiction, but I also feel there is much to be said for pragmatism, the idea that a real happy ever after requires patience, dedication and compromise.  

This dedication to lifelike human emotion reaches to every member of Belfrage's cast, but is particularly evident when considering Ian and Alex. Perhaps it is because I can relate to him, having been in his shoes as a child, or because I could relate to her, as I walk in her shoes every day, but this relationship struck a huge chord in me. Yes, this is fiction, but Belfrage's profound understanding of the the human condition and sensitive representation of it in her novel is nothing short of extraordinary.   

Reading The Graham Saga in order isn't necessarily required, but personally I'd recommend starting from the beginning. Each installment represents a stand alone chapter in Alex and Matthew's life together, but I think the relationships between her cast members are best appreciated when the reader has full knowledge of their individual histories. That being said, I greatly enjoyed The Prodigal Son and can't wait to see where life will take the Graham family next. 


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"You're a right bonny lad; one to be proud of, to love and to care for. And I would have dearly wished that you were mine, but you're not." 
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Check out all the stops on Anna Belfrage's The Prodigal Son Virtual Book Tour


Tuesday, June 25
Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Wednesday, June 26
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Thursday, June 27
Interview at Flashlight Commentary
Friday, June 28
Review at The Worm Hole
Monday, July 1
Review at Oh, For the Hook of a Book!
Feature & Giveaway at Bibliophilic Book Blog
Tuesday, July 2
Interview & Giveaway at Oh, For the Hook of a Book!
Wednesday, July 3
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time
Friday, July 5
Guest Post at So Many Books, So Little Time
Monday, July 8
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee
Tuesday, July 9
Interview at Layered Pages
Wednesday, July 10
Guest Post at Historical Tapestry
Friday, July 12
Interview & Giveaway at The Maiden’s Court


The Secret History by Stephanie Thornton

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Obtained from: Netgalley/Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
Read: June 26, 2013

Where Theodora went, trouble followed… In sixth century Constantinople, one woman, Theodora, defied every convention and all the odds, and rose from being a common theater tart to become empress of a great kingdom, the most powerful woman the Roman Empire would ever know. But the woman whose image was later immortalized in glittering mosaic was, in fact, a scrappy, clever, conniving, flesh-and-blood woman full of sensuality and spirit whose real story is as surprising as any ever told… When her father dies suddenly, Theodora and her sisters face starvation on the streets. Determined to survive, Theodora makes a living any way she can—first on her back with every man who will have her, then on the stage of the city’s infamous amphitheater in a scandalous dramatization of her own invention. When her daring performance grants her a back-door entry into the halls of power, she seizes the chance to win a wealthy protector—only to face heartbreak and betrayal. Ever resilient, Theodora rises above such trials and by a twist of fate, meets her most passionate admirer yet: the Emperor’s nephew. She will thrive as his confidant and courtesan, but many challenges lie ahead. For one day, this man will hand her a crown. And all the empire will wonder—is she bold enough, shrewd enough, and strong enough to keep it?

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Arguably one of the most powerful women in history of the Byzantine Empire, Theodora was the wife of Emperor Justinian I. Noted as savior of her husband's throne, she used her prominent position and political acumen to her advantage during his reign, promoting a personal agenda of social and religious reform. Immortalized in the ancient mosaics of the Basilica of San Vitale, her regal likeness does credit to her legacy, but offers little insight to the woman beneath the golden halo of jewels and richly adorned robes of state. Where did regal lady come from? Who might she have been? What are the details of her story? These questions have taunted historians and chroniclers for centuries, but today serve an additional purpose, as they are the basis and inspiration behind Stephanie Thornton's The Secret History.

Beneath Thornton's pen, the Byzantine Empire comes alive - the dark depravity of life on her streets as well as the glittering splendor and pageantry enjoyed by her privileged elite. An ardent admirer of the history of this piece, I desperately needed this story to feel authentic. Theodora's is a tale of drive and ambition, a complex story that couldn't unfold against pale shades of brown and beige. Thornton understood this from the very beginning, embracing the ugly realities of life in the ancient world, vividly illustrating its shadowy underbelly with as much enthusiasm as she does its wine soaked palaces and silk draped villas.

Thornton's characterization of Theodora is also very unique. Having a certain appreciation for her historic counterpart, I was surprised by how easy it was to embrace this fictional interpretation. Here again, I needed it to work - Thornton's Theodora had to be someone I could both empathize and admire, someone who balanced vulnerability and strength, someone who fit the historic outline but at the same time defied all expectation. Yes, it was a high order, and yes, it was probably unfair to impose such demands on a debut author, but I make no apologies and in truth, Thornton wouldn't need them if I did. The Theodora that appears in The Secret History exhibits these qualities with such affect that one forgets she is crafted from ink on a page, she is believable from the first, a striking heroine that embodies every quality one would expect her real life counterpart to have possessed.

I realize readers aren't exactly used to my gushing over novels, but it does happen and this is what it looks like. The Secret History is a brilliantly absorbing and entertaining novel, the type of book that finds you sitting in bed at two in the morning hanging on the author's every word... I hesitate to compare Thornton to my favorite authors - I have a standard policy of reading at least two, if not three, of an author's books before adding any name to that prestigious list, but I can definitely say, without reservation, that I look forward to reading Thornton's work in future and hold great hopes for her sophomore release.

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"A rich patron was the only way to pluck myself from the gutters, but only if I could convince him to marry me..."
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Check out all the stops on Stephanie Thorton's The Secret History Virtual Book Tour



Tuesday, June 25
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Review at Enchanted by Josephine
Wednesday, June 26
Review & Giveaway at Flashlight Commentary
Thursday, June 27
Review & Giveaway at The Maiden’s Court
Monday, July 1
Review at Let Them Read Books
Tuesday, July 2
Interview & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books
Interview & Giveaway at Enchanted by Josephine
Wednesday, July 3
Review at Book Journey
Friday, July 5
Review at Layered Pages
Monday, July 8
Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Tuesday, July 9
Review & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair
Friday, July 12
Interview & Giveaway at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Monday, July 15
Review at Tanzanite’s Castle Full of Books
Tuesday, July 16
Review at Unabridged Chick
Wednesday, July 17
Interview & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick
Thursday, July 18
Review & Guest Post at The Lit Bitch
Friday, July 19
Interview & Giveaway at Tanzanite’s Castle Full of Books
Monday, July 22
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews
Wednesday, July 24
Review at Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews
Friday, July 26
Interview at A Bookish Libraria
Monday, July 29
Review & Giveaway at The True Book Addict
Friday, August 2
Review & Giveaway at Bippity Boppity Book