1066: What Fates Impose by G.K. Holloway

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Obtained from: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

Read: March 19, 2014

King William then utters the following words to the room: ‘I appoint no one as my heir to the Crown of England, but leave it to the disposal of the Eternal Creator, whose I am and who orders all things. For I did not attain that high honour by hereditary right, but wrested it from the perjured King Harold in a desperate bloody battle.’ England is in crisis. King Edward has no heir and promises never to produce one. There are no obvious successors available to replace him, but quite a few claimants are eager to take the crown. While power struggles break out between the various factions at court, enemies abroad plot to make England their own. There are raids across the borders with Wales and Scotland. Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex, is seen by many as the one man who can bring stability to the kingdom. He has powerful friends and two women who love him, but he has enemies will stop at nothing to gain power. As 1066 begins, England heads for an uncertain future. It seems even the heavens are against Harold. Intelligent and courageous, can Harold forge his own destiny – or does he have to bow to what fates impose?

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G. K. Holloway's 1066: What Fates Impose was a difficult book for me to get into, but once I did, the volume was impossible to put down.

Holloway's interpretation of Harold Godwinson is truly magnificent. I've seen the last Anglo-Saxon King of England depicted in fiction before, but nothing I've encountered compares to the multifaceted figure seen here. Being a fictional account, one cannot take Holloway's characterization as fact, but there is something very sympathetic and profound in his portrait of this oft overlooked monarch. 

Politically, some readers might find Holloway's work heavy-handed, but being familiar with the period, I actually found the story well-rounded and satisfying. His description of the years just prior to the Battle of Hastings add depth to the conflict, giving the reader a genuine sense of the era and better understanding of the campaign.

A word of warning friends, 1066: What Fates Impose isn't for the faint of heart. This isn't a historical romance in which the nastier cast members earn their comeuppance. This is hard hitting historic fiction. Bloody and unapologetic, Holloway recreates the brutal realities of the eleventh century within these pages and though I personally value the authenticity this piece, I wouldn't want to mislead anyone with my praise.

An authoritative and original fiction, 1066: What Fates Impose is a gripping tale of rivalry, ambition and deceit. Highly recommended. 

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‘You can tell Duke William that whatever either of us thought at the time, no one has the right to promise a crown, not even the King.’

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CHECK OUT ALL THE STOPS ON G.K. Holloway's 1066: What fates impose virtual book tour

Monday, April 14
Kincavel Korner
Historical Fiction Connection

Tuesday, April 15
Let Them Read Books

Wednesday, April 16
Svetlana’s Reviews and Views (Review)
To Read or Not to Read

Thursday, April 17
Closed the Cover
Historical Tapestry

Friday, April 18
Time 2 Read

Monday, April 21
Flashlight Commentary (Review)

Tuesday, April 22
Broken Teepee (Review & Giveaway)
Flashlight Commentary (Interview)

Wednesday, April 23
Oh, for the Hook of a Book (Review)

Thursday, April 24
Reading the Ages
Oh, for the Hook of a Book (Interview)

Friday, April 25
Impressions in Ink (Review)

Monday, April 28
Just One More Chapter
Kinx’s Book Nook (Review)

Tuesday, April 29
Historical Readings and Reviews
CelticLady’s Reviews (Review)

Wednesday, April 30
Historical Tapestry (Review)

Thursday, May 1
Caroline Wilson Writes

Friday, May 2
A Book Geek
Confessions of an Avid Reader (Review)

A Whisper in Time by Elizabeth Langston

Rating: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Netgalley

Read: April 19, 2014

Rescued from a life of servitude by the boy she loves, Susanna Marsh escapes across two centuries, only to be plunged into a world she's ill-prepared to face. Unable to work or go to school, Susanna finds herself dependent on others to survive. Immersed in the fun and demands of his senior year of high school, Mark Lewis longs to share his world with the girl who's captured his heart. But first he must tackle government bureaucracy to prove Susanna's identity. Overwhelmed by her new home, Susanna seeks refuge in history and in news of the people she left behind. But when she learns that danger stalks her sister, Susanna must weigh whether to risk her own future in order to save Phoebe's happiness.

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I'm sorry folks, I tried, but I am done with the Whisper Falls series. I was willing to overlook my concerns after book one, but book two, A Whisper in Time, gives me little hope for book three so I am opting out here and now.  

Like book one, the narrative is remarkably lopsided. Susanna and her younger sister, Phoebe, are hugely sympathetic characters, but Langston's leading man, for the second time, falls short of the competition. His story arc isn't remotely comparable to Susanna's and the disparity in their maturity levels undermine the authenticity of the relationship they share. 

Another problem I have? Consistency. Langston follows up with Susanna's mother, but doesn't reference Mr. Shaw, the fiancé she was about to marry at the conclusion of book one. I'm pretty sure Mrs. Lewis is bipolar as her character is drastically transformed. Langston even reimagined the parameters of traversing the space time continuum in ways that actually contradict the first novel. This is a follow-up, there is an obligation to build on the established foundation and Langston's decision to veer off course made her story very difficult to swallow. 

My tolerance was tested further by the wealth superfluous plot points. Gabrielle Stone was an entirely unnecessary addition to the cast. Whatever is going on with her boyfriend is never really explained, but the same could be said of Marissa's relationship woes one shouldn't be surprised by the lack of clarity. No one seems to care that Mark has lost interest in competitive biking which is odd since his training was so dominantly portrayed in Langston's debut and don't get me started on Susanna's quest for contemporary identification.

Not for me and not something I'd recommend readers in any age bracket. 

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The decision was made. I would return to the past. Yet I would do more than merely warn my sister against the dangers faving her. I would leave behind a cure. 

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Whisper Falls by Elizabeth Langston

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Netgalley

Read: April 17, 2014

While training for a mountain bike race, high-school senior Mark Lewis spots a mysterious girl dressed in odd clothing, standing behind a waterfall in the woods near his North Carolina home. When she comments on the strange machine that he rides, he suspects something isn’t right. When Susanna claims to be an indentured servant from 1796, he wonders if she's crazy. Yet he feels compelled to find out more. Mark enters a ‘long-distance’ relationship with Susanna through the shimmering--and temperamental--barrier of Whisper Falls. Curious about her world, Mark combs through history to learn about the brutal life she's trapped in. But knowledge can be dangerous. Soon he must choose between the risk of changing history or dooming the girl he can't stop thinking about to a lifetime of misery.

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I can't remember every book I've ever read, but I have a soft spot for Caroline B. Cooney's Time Travelers series. My cousin and I read the books together as tweens and I've always remembered them fondly which probably explains my nostalgic interest in Elizabeth Langston's Whisper Falls. 

A young adult piece, the book actually has a lot going for it in terms of content. Langston does a wonderful job illustrating the plight of the indentured servant and the desperation suffered by those mistreated by their employers. I particularly liked how Langston countered the harsh realities of Susanna's existence with the moments of joy and the contrast that brought to larger picture of her life with the Pratt family.

Unfortunately, Langston's inexperience is blatantly obvious and while I acknowledge this is her debut release, I think it clear she has room to grow and develop her skills. For one, there is a gross imbalance in terms of character development. On a scale of one to ten, Susanna dominates the competition with a perfect score, but Mark, our male lead, falls somewhere between a five and six. Primary supporting cast members like Mr. Pratt and Mrs. Lewis collect around four, but individuals like Carlton, Alexis, Keefe, Marissa, Dorcas and Jedidiah felt so vague and half-hearted that I can't even calibrate their scores which is disappointing as Langston's heroine proves she is capable of so much more.

Langston's tendency to introduce conflict that never evolves is another point of concern. Do Marissa and Mrs. Lewis ever figure it out? What kind of person is Fletcher? How did Carlton get mixed up with Mark's ex? Is Jedidiah a friend or foe? How does Susanna's mother fair with Mr. Shaw? Did John recover from his obscure head wound? Langston dropped the ball in failing to provide closure to her subplots, leaving readers to wonder at their necessity in the finished narrative.

When all is said and done, I found myself wondering where the editor was with this piece. Both of my previously mentioned points should have been easy enough to recognize, but there also continuity issues that should have been caught before this piece went to print. 

It was a good thing the research assistant could make copies, because I hadn’t thought to bring a camera. I’d take her up on her offer. For now, I was consumed by my first real exposure to Susanna’s master.

Langston's already made it clear Mark has a cell, he whipped it out of his pocket to show Susanna in the cave behind the falls, and since built-in cameras are a typically standard feature... I'd stop there, but this blunder is further emphasized in book two, where we find Mark taking photos of Phoebe’s journals in the archive basement with his phone.

Langston's target age bracket will probably appreciate Whisper Falls, but I personally found the haphazard construction left much to be desired. 

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I persisted, ignoring the velvet voice of my dream demon. Swiftly, I pushed through the tall grasses, then plunged into the darkening woods toward the home of my master.
Behind me, the falls whispered: come back

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Interview with Alison Morton, author of Perfiditas

Author interviews are one of my favorite things to post which is why I am super excited to welcome author Alison Morton to Flashlight Commentary to discuss her latest release, Perfiditas. 

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Welcome to Flashlight Commentary Alison. Great to have you with us. To start things off, please tell us a bit about PERFIDITAS.
Thank you for inviting me, Erin. PERFIDITAS is the second in my alternate history thrillers set in Roma Nova, a small but imaginary last province of the Roman Empire that has struggled through to the 21st century. Carina Mitela, a Praetorian Guard Special Forces officer, is falsely accused of conspiracy and flees into the criminal underworld. Weaving through a jumble of treachery and lies, she has to work out who are the betrayers and who the betrayed if she is save her beloved Roma Nova and her own life. 

What inspired you to write this story? 
PERFIDITAS is the sequel to INCEPTIO, and follows the further adventures of Carina. I’ve been a deep-steeped ‘Roman nut’ from the age of eleven, but I’ve always wondered what a modern Roman society based on traditional values but run by women would be like. 

You probably have many, but is there a scene you particularly enjoyed writing?
I loved the scene where Carina has to go back and confront her former criminal associates. (I can’t say more or I might give an important part of the plot away!)

What scene posed the greatest challenge for you as an author?
I find the emotional love scenes between my heroine and hero quite difficult – I’m happier in an action or confrontation scene – but my critique partner says some of them are my best scenes! I have to work a little harder on them, but perhaps they’re worth it.

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 or concept in PERFIDITAS you wish you could have spent more time with or expanded on? 
I’d like to have developed every character in full, but the resulting book would have been an impossible length! A thriller has to move along at a strong pace and although characterisation is important, sometimes, you just don’t have the space. But I try to give every named character some personality or quirk.

Historical novelists frequently have to adjust facts to make their stories work. Did you have to invent or change anything while writing PERFIDITAS and if so, what did you alter and why? 
Alternate history is by definition history that has diverged from the standard timeline, but it should follow historical logic as well as taking into account the social, economic and political development throughout that history. My imaginary country of Roma Nova tends to keep out of alliances and being sucked into wars, but it has interacted with the rest of Europe throughout its sixteen hundred years’ existence. For instance, remembering their Byzantine cousins’ defeat in the Fall of Constantinople, Roma Novan troops assisted the western nations at the Battle of Vienna in 1683 to halt the Ottoman advance into Europe. More of Roma Nova’s history here...

If you could sit down with one of your characters, maybe meet for a few hours and discuss things over drinks, who would you choose?
It would have to be Carina! She’s forthright and you would get her opinions as they are, but she’s also thoughtful and can be very kind to others. She’s a bit of a smartmouth so you’d probably be laughing a lot of the time. And that can’t be bad!

Where did the title of your book come from and how does it relate to the story? 
PERFIDITAS means ‘betrayal’ or ‘treachery’ and the concept applies on the personal, professional and national level. I think readers may enjoy working out exactly where the different levels of betrayal lie.

What do you hope readers come away with after reading your work?
First and foremost, the satisfaction of having been entertained with a gripping story that takes them out of their own world into another while retaining their trust. Readers have told me they truly engage with Carina who has shown them that a woman who had a rocky start in life can aspire to a decisive, if not pivotal, role beyond the traditional female stereotype. 

Authors are famous, or infamous, depending on your point of view, for writing their own experiences, friends and acquaintances into their narratives. Is there anything in PERFIDITAS that sprang directly from your personal history? 
Well, I was in the military for six years which helps with the action scenes, but there are no friends and acquaintances as such in my stories. That would definitely be opening the proverbial can of worms! I’ve picked and pinched characteristics, mannerisms from here and there, even hints of names, though. I do have experience of speaking different languages and crossing cultures, so I empathise with Carina when she feels lost sometimes in Roma Nova’s traditional and rather robust society.

Okay, we've talked a lot about your book. Let's switch gears and talk a little bit about you. How would describe your writing process? 
I’m not sure I can call it a process! The first set of characters had been maturing in my head for years so I had them nearly fully formed when I started to write the stories. Although I have a general outline of each plot, the detail tends to evolve as I go along. The characters’ quirks and interactions dictate how the story emerges to fit the overall outline. Sometimes the characters take over the show! But I have a little talk to them and we agree on a compromise and I nudge them back into the story.

I’ve developed a tracking grid which keeps the timeline straight and where I can jot down the main actions in each chapter – a kind of index to the book. After the first rough draft, I leave the file in a folder and ignore it for at least six weeks and work on something else.

When I open it again, I carry out the first edit with my red pen. Then off it goes to an external assessor. He/she will look for plot holes, character failings, extraneous or awkward scenes and inconsistent dialogue but more than anything for cohesiveness and whether the story grips. Without page-turning quality, the book won’t deliver a good read and that’s the writer’s duty.

Then revisions and on to a final edit. I’m very lucky to have a critique partner who is eagle-eyed, caring and scrupulously honest, so she had been a sounding board as well as critic all along. After all this, then it’s off to the publishing house to turn it into a book...

Oh, maybe it is a process after all. ;-)

Two words: writer's block. How do you deal with it? 
So far, I haven’t suffered from this. Sometimes, you feel uninspired or even a little worried you are going to write complete rubbish, but the best thing is to plough on and write that rubbish. After a while, the story will flow again. And, of course, you’ll tidy it up when you edit.

Who are your favorite authors? 
I could easily list 100 names! This is an impossible question to answer!

What are you currently reading? 
I’ve just finished Robert Fabbri’s Vespasian: Tribune of Rome which I loved – so vivid and engrossing. My next is revisiting Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks, a spy story set in the Second World War.

What do you like to do when you're not writing? Any hobbies?
Sleeping and eating! I enjoy my garden and drinking local wine here in France, and I run the local book club. 

Where do you stand on the coffee or tea debate? 
I sit firmly on the fence! I love my first cup of tea in the morning, but then savour my breakfast and mid-morning coffees. Then it’s tea for the rest of the day.

And finally, what's next for you? Do you have a new project in the works? Planning a vacation? Anything exciting and/or noteworthy? 
I’m busy drafting the fourth book in the Roma Nova series. In between times, I travel a lot to the UK for book events like the London Book Fair and summer conferences. I love catching up with friends when I’m over there. And most exciting, my third book, SUCCESSIO, comes out in June and will be launched in London.

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Alison Morton writes Roman-themed alternate history thrillers with strong heroines. She holds a bachelor’s degree in French, German and Economics, a masters’ in history and lives in France with her husband.

A ‘Roman nut’ since age 11, she has visited sites throughout Europe including the alma mater, Rome. But it was the mosaics at Ampurias (Spain) that started her wondering what a modern Roman society would be like if run by women…

INCEPTIO, the first in the Roma Nova series, was shortlisted for the 2013 International Rubery Book Award and awarded a B.R.A.G. Medallion® in September 2013. The next in series, PERFIDITAS, published October 2013, has also just been honoured with the B.R.A.G. Medallion®. Alison is working on the third book SUCCESSIO which will be out in June 2014.

Website ❧ Blog ❧ Facebook ❧ Twitter

Goodreads ❧ Amazon UK Author Page ❧ Amazon US Author Page

INCEPTIO Facebook Page ❧ PERFIDITAS Facebook Page

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Amazon CA Amazon US Amazon UK Barnes & Noble

Format: Paperback & eBook Publication Date: October 17, 2013 Released by: SilverWood Books Length: 288 pages ISBN-10: 1781321248 Genre: Alternate History Series: Roma Nova

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Be Sure to Check all the Stops on Alison Morton's Perfiditas Virtual Book Tour

Monday, April 14
Review at Flashlight Commentary

Tuesday, April 15
Interview at Flashlight Commentary

Thursday, April 17
Spotlight & Giveaway at Broken Teepee

Monday, April 21
Review at Book Nerd

Wednesday, April 23
Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective

Friday, April 25
Interview at Dianne Ascroft

Monday, April 28
Spotlight & Giveaway at Bibliophilic Book Blog

Tuesday, April 29
Review at Ink Sugar Blog

Wednesday, April 30
Interview & Giveaway at Ink Sugar Blog

Friday, May 2
Spotlight & Giveaway at Historical Fiction Connection

Monday, May 5
Review at A Bibliotaph’s Reviews

Thursday, May 8
Interview & Giveaway at Books and Benches

Monday, May 12
Guest Post at Royalty Free Fiction

Tuesday, May 13
Review & Interview at Tower of Babel

Friday, May 16
Spotlight at Reviews by Molly

Interview with H.H. Miller, author of Inscription

Author interviews are one of my favorite things to post which is why I am super excited to welcome author H.H. Miller to Flashlight Commentary to discuss her debut release, Inscription.

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Welcome to Flashlight Commentary. Great to have you with us. To start things off, please tell us a bit about Inscription.
Inscription takes place in a fictional country called Mainland in 1851. It's the story of twenty-year-old Caris McKay, whose life is turned upside down by people and events beyond her control: vindictive soldiers, scheming relatives, wild storms, and of course, the hero she falls in love with. We follow her through her adventures as she seeks to discover the secrets of her past.

What inspired you to write this story? 
I've always been an avid reader, but I fell into a reading rut about two years ago. I just couldn't find a book I LOVED. You know the kind . . . where you want to drop everything and spend the whole day immersed in the life and times of your favorite characters. I'd had this nugget of an idea for a story rambling around in my head, and I finally decided if I couldn't find a book I wanted to read, I'd write one myself. I guess you could say necessity was the mother of invention.

Inscription is set in 1851. I'm curious, how did you approached bridging the gap in time and geography while crafting their story? 
I would love to have lived in the time of corsets and gloves, carriage wheels splashing through puddles, romance and obligation, mud and horses. Some of my favorite novels are historical fiction set in England, but it's been done - and done very well - by many others. Rather than retread that ground, I was intrigued by the idea of imagining a world where the time period and customs were familiar, but the story was unconstrained by actual history. That meant I was free to create places, characters, and events as I wished them to be without regard for the way things actually were. I've read a lot about the time period, so I had a rich base for imagining what life might have been like. I also lived in England for a few months (many years ago).

You probably have many, but is there a scene you particularly enjoyed writing?
I discovered that I really enjoy writing the nasty characters. The insults and devilish plotting, the underhanded scheming, the malicious attacks. So the scenes with William and his mother, Lady Granville, were particularly fun to write.

What scene posed the greatest challenge for you as an author?
The scene in the hayloft with Tom and Caris made me blush the entire time I was writing it. I still cringe a little when I think of my kids reading it. Also, I re-wrote the opening chapter countless times. That was probably the hardest part to get right.

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 or concept in Inscription you wish you could have spent more time with or expanded on? 
I guess I would like to have spent a bit more time with Molly and Angus. Though secondary characters, they were very likable, and their relationship was just beginning to blossom when disaster struck.

Historical novelists frequently have to adjustment facts to make their stories work. Did you have to invent or change anything while writing Inscription and if so, what did you alter and why? 
That's the great part about writing "fictional" historical fiction. You're not constrained by the boundaries of historical accuracy. The setting is entirely fictional. Mainland looks a lot like England, with a dash of the Oregon Coast and Cascade Mountains thrown in for variety. But from a historical standpoint, the customs and characters are fairly true to form for the time period.

If you could sit down with one of your characters, maybe meet for a few hours and discuss things over drinks, who would you choose?
Definitely Angus. I'd be totally charmed by him.

Where did the title of your book come from and how does it relate to the story? 
Choosing a title was tough. I wanted something that evoked a feeling of mystery and history...parchment, quills, cryptic clues, wax seals, secrets of the past, adventure. Also, it needed to be catchy, simple, and not already taken! There are two places in the book where inscriptions make an appearance, and both serve to illuminate hidden truths.

What do you hope readers come away with after reading your work?
I hope people find it a diverting escape into the past, and come away having been well entertained.

Okay, we've talked a lot about your book. Let's switch gears and talk a little bit about you. How would describe your writing process? 
A process implies I have some sort of standard procedure or method. Far from it! Inscription evolved more organically (like a weed you pull that keeps growing back). Just after New Year's Day 2013, I began scribbling down ideas. My notes turned into a sort of messy, disjointed outline as I began to organize the flow of events. I didn't worry about the writing. I didn't edit or censor or try to make it sound good. I just spilled it all out as if I were telling it to a friend. "And then she did this, and then he said that..." That mish-mash became the basis for "what happens" in the story. From there, I took it scene by scene and began to actually write it, fleshing out the characters, events, and dialog as I went along. In the end, I had a finished book!

Two words: writer's block. How do you deal with it? 
I never thought of it as writer's block. It was more like putting a puzzle together. I wrote scenes pretty much in order, but there were gaps. The challenge was creating connections between one event and another to smooth out the plot, make the illogical logical, expand the relationship between characters, or show another side of someone's personality. 

Who are your favorite authors? 
J. K. Rowling, Diana Gabaldon, Jane Austen, Dan Brown, Charlotte Bronte, Alexandre Dumas. Weird assortment, I know, but I love them all for different reasons, and I took a bit of something from each.

What are you currently reading? 
Right now I'm re-reading A Tale of Two Cities by Dickens. 

What do you like to do when you're not writing? Any hobbies?
We (me, my husband, and 3 kids) like to spend time at our beach house on the Oregon Coast. I also love golden retrievers, big Broadway musicals, and walking the 3-mile round trip from my house to Starbucks and back.

Where do you stand on the coffee or tea debate? 
I often drink tea in the evenings, but coffee is an absolute must. Every morning.

And finally, what's next for you? Do you have a new project in the works? Planning a vacation? Anything exciting and/or noteworthy? 
I keep a file with notes and ideas for a sequel to Inscription, but I'm not quite ready to crack into it yet. I also have a real job as content director for a brand strategy firm, so that keeps me pretty busy. Vacations? Nothing on the schedule right now, but a tropical island is always a good idea.

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H. H. Miller is the author of the novel Inscription, a historically fictional romantic adventure. In real life, she’s content director at Stoke Strategy, a brand strategy firm in Seattle, Washington, where she specializes in transforming what some might call “boring” technology jargon into compelling, readable, memorable stories. Her favorite escape is Manzanita, Oregon – a place of beautiful beaches, wild storms, chilly nights around the bonfire (even in July), and time to enjoy life with her husband and three children.

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Amazon (Kindle Ebook) Amazon (Paperback)

Format: Print & ebook Publication Date: January 9, 2014 Released by: H.H. Miller Length: 278 pages ISBN-10: 0615944418 Genre: Historical Fiction

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Be Sure to Check all the Stops on H.H. Miller's Inscription Virtual Book Tour

Monday, April 14
Review at Flashlight Commentary

Tuesday, April 15
Interview at Layered Pages
Interview & Giveaway at Flashlight Commentary

Wednesday, April 16
Review & Interview at Oh, For the Hook of a Book

Thursday, April 17
Review & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair
Spotlight & Giveaway on Passages to the Past

Friday, April 18
Review at Jorie Loves a Story

Inscription by H.H. Miller

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

Read: April 12, 2014

The year is 1851 and the Grand Guard is ravaging Mainland. Arrests. Floggings. Swift executions. Twenty-year-old Caris McKay, the beautiful heiress of Oakside Manor, is sent to live with distant relations until the danger has passed. It's no refuge, however, as Lady Granville and her scheming son plot to get their hands on Caris's inheritance with treachery and deceit. Soon, alarming news arrives that the ruthless Captain James Maldoro has seized Oakside and imprisoned Caris's beloved uncle. And now he's after her. Caris escapes with the help of Tom Granville, the enigmatic silver-eyed heir of Thornbridge. But when a cryptic note about a hidden fortune launches them on a perilous journey across Mainland, Caris and Tom must rely on wits, courage, and their growing love for each other if they hope to survive. Filled with adventure, intrigue, and romance, Inscription will transport you to a historically fictional world you'll never want to leave.

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A pleasantly old fashioned adventure, I found H.H. Miller's Inscription an enjoyable and engaging love story. 

Though it doesn't appear overly original, I caution you not to be deceived. Miller adds some charmingly unique twists to the otherwise unassuming premise, making it her own in a way that is both unexpected and imaginative.

Caris, Tom, Molly, and even Angus are highly appealing protagonists and while I might have liked to see more depth and dimension in the makeup, I can't deny the pleasure I took in following their adventure. 

A lighter piece, I'm not sure I'd recommend it to one and all, but can certainly envision endorsing it to casual beach readers and fans of romantic fiction. 

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“William, sometimes you are painfully obtuse,” she spat. “Caris is the heiress to Oakside. She will inherit the estate in its entirety , including all the land and income. But if she marries first, she forfeits everything to her husband.”

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Be Sure to Check all the Stops on H.H. Miller's Inscription Virtual Book Tour

Monday, April 14
Review at Flashlight Commentary

Tuesday, April 15
Interview at Layered Pages
Interview & Giveaway at Flashlight Commentary

Wednesday, April 16
Review & Interview at Oh, For the Hook of a Book

Thursday, April 17
Review & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair
Spotlight & Giveaway on Passages to the Past

Friday, April 18
Review at Jorie Loves a Story

Perfiditas by Alison Morton

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Obtained from: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

Read: April 14, 2014

Captain Carina Mitela of the Praetorian Guard Special Forces is in trouble - one colleague has tried to kill her and another has set a trap to falsely incriminate her in a conspiracy to topple the government of Roma Nova. Founded sixteen hundred years ago by Roman dissidents and ruled by women, Roma Nova barely survived a devastating coup d'etat thirty years ago. Carina swears to prevent a repeat and not merely for love of country. If she turns to an old friend with interests on both sides of the law, it could wreck her marriage to the enigmatic Conrad. Carina is determined to hunt down the conspirators, but proscribed and operating illegally, she risks being terminated by both regular security services and the conspirators. As she struggles to overcome the desperate odds and save her beloved Roma Nova and her own life, she faces the ultimate betrayal.

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In the spirit of full disclosure I think it important to note I started Alison Morton's Perfiditas four times before actually finishing the novel. I'd no experience with the series, but had been told familiarity was of no consequence and naively jumped into book two without a second thought. 

Unfortunately, my information wasn't as accurate as I'd been led to believe and I quickly felt overwhelmed by the material. Aware my lack of understanding was negatively impacting my experience, I went back to the drawing board, returning to Perfiditas only after I'd finished Inceptio. Overkill? Perhaps, but the tactic worked better than I'd hoped.

Despite the rumors, Perfiditas is in many ways an extension of its predecessor. Picking up seven years after the initial installment, book two reunites readers with Karen Brown, now Captain Carina Mitela, inside Roma Nova and though the plot is in and of itself an independent adventure, it is heavily reliant on the relationships and background information illustrated in book one.

This observation aside, I liked the complex conspiracies a lot more this go round. Less straightforward than those seen in Inceptio, Morton's outdid herself, weaving a tangled web of intrigue that quite literally had me on the edge of my seat. 

Also of note, Morton's application of Roman culture. Though unmistakable in Inceptio, the scope of Perfiditas allowed her to delve deeper into Roma Nova's roots and in so doing, produce stronger historical themes than those recognized in the previous installment.

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He was a normal person caught in an abnormal dilemma. Despising people for not standing up to the threat of extreme violence was easy in theory, but when faced with it, the average person was shit-scared. They wanted it to go away. If pushed, they would run away to survive. Aidan didn't have that option. 

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Be Sure to Check all the Stops on Alison Morton's Perfiditas Virtual Book Tour

Monday, April 14
Review at Flashlight Commentary

Tuesday, April 15
Interview at Flashlight Commentary

Thursday, April 17
Spotlight & Giveaway at Broken Teepee

Monday, April 21
Review at Book Nerd

Wednesday, April 23
Review at History From a Woman’s Perspective

Friday, April 25
Interview at Dianne Ascroft

Monday, April 28
Spotlight & Giveaway at Bibliophilic Book Blog

Tuesday, April 29
Review at Ink Sugar Blog

Wednesday, April 30
Interview & Giveaway at Ink Sugar Blog

Friday, May 2
Spotlight & Giveaway at Historical Fiction Connection

Monday, May 5
Review at A Bibliotaph’s Reviews

Thursday, May 8
Interview & Giveaway at Books and Benches

Monday, May 12
Guest Post at Royalty Free Fiction

Tuesday, May 13
Review & Interview at Tower of Babel

Friday, May 16
Spotlight at Reviews by Molly