October TBR

Thanks to these Litsy folks for today's prompt:

#FALL TREASURES

@Eggs

@AlwaysBVeenALoverOf Books

Today's Prompt: OCTOBER TBR

 

What does YOUR October look like?

Spotlight of The Duchess by Wendy Holden

PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA
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THE DUCHESS

WENDY HOLDEN

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Bestselling author Wendy Holden takes an intimate look at one of the most notorious royal scandals of the 20th century and offers a fresh perspective on Wallis Simpson, the villainized woman that the public blamed for King Edward VIII renouncing his kingdom.

Few royal scandals have ended a King's reign, but that's exactly what happened in 1936 when King Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson.

She became one of the most divisive women ever linked to the royal family and has been villainized by the press for almost a hundred years. 

But is it possible that she served as an escape route for a monarch who never wanted to rule? Wendy Holden humanizes Wallis and presents an authentic, nuanced portrayal of the complicated, funny and smart woman she was.

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THE DUCHESS by Wendy Holden

Berkley Trade Paperback Original; September 28, 2021

Historical Fiction

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF DANIELLE KEIR OF PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE

 

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ABOUT THE DUCHESS:

It was a love so strong, a king renounced his kingdom—all for that woman. Or was she just an escape route for a monarch who never wanted to rule? Bestselling author Wendy Holden takes an intimate look at one of the most notorious scandals of the 20th century.
 
1928. A middle-aged foreigner comes to London with average looks, no money and no connections. Wallis’s first months in the city are lonely, dull and depressing. With no friends of her own she follows the glamorous set in magazines and goes to watch society weddings. Her stuffy husband Ernest’s idea of fun, meanwhile, is touring historic monuments.
 
When an unexpected encounter leads to a house party with the Prince of Wales, Wallis’s star begins to rise. Her secret weapon is her American pep and honesty. For the prince she is a breath of fresh air. As her friendship with him grows, their relationship deepens into love. Wallis is plunged into a world of unimaginable luxury and privilege, enjoying weekends together at his private palace on the grounds of Windsor Castle.
 
Wallis knows the fun and excitement can’t last. The prince will have to marry and she will return to Ernest. The sudden death of George V seems to make this inevitable; the Prince of Wales is now King Edward VIII. When, to her shock and amazement, he refuses to give her up--or recognize that they are facing impossible odds--herr fairy tale becomes a nightmare. The royal family close ranks to shut her out and Ernest gives an ultimatum.
 
Wallis finds herself trapped when Edward insists on abdicating his throne. She can’t escape the overwhelming public outrage and villainized, she becomes the woman everyone blames—the face of the most dramatic royal scandal of the twentieth century.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

PHOTO AND AUTHOR INFORMATION TAKEN FROM AMAZON

Wendy Holden is a British novelist of comedies of manners. She's authored ten Sunday Times top ten bestsellers and has sold over three million copies worldwide. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

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The Woman At The Front by Lecia Cornwall

PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA
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THE WOMAN AT THE FRONT

LECIA CORNWALL

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Acclaimed author Lecia Cornwall is adored by readers for her sexy and totally captivating historical romance novels. 

 

Now, Cornwall makes her women’s fiction debut at Berkley with another historical tale, THE WOMAN AT THE FRONT, a WWI-set historical fiction about a female doctor who sets out to break society’s expectations and to save lives on the battlefield at a time when women rarely held roles outside the home.

THE WOMAN AT THE FRONT is perfect for fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, and for readers of Kate Quinn. Cornwall, who lives in Canada, was inspired to write THE WOMAN AT THE FRONT by her own family history during WWI. A trip to France to visit the grave of her late uncle lost on the battlefield informed her research.

If there’s ever a time to celebrate the remarkable healthcare professionals in our world, it’s now ―and THE WOMAN AT THE FRONT is a reminder to appreciate their service.

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF TARA O'CONNOR | PUBLICIST AT BERKLEY, AN IMPRINT OF PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE.

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ABOUT THE WOMAN AT THE FRONT:

Eleanor Atherton has dreamed her entire life of one day becoming a doctor, much to the dismay of her parents. After all, it’s 1917, there’s a war on, and an upper class young woman should really be settling down and getting married―not graduating from medical school. But the knowledge that soldiers are wounded and dying every day, and male doctors are being called to the front to tend to them, leaves Eleanor even more eager to practice medicine in her hometown.

No one seems to take Eleanor seriously as a medical professional―but as an unexpected twist of fate would have it, Eleanor is asked by a family friend to go to the battlefields in France and serve as private doctor for an injured soldier. It’s just the chance she needs to lend a hand and serve her duty.

 

The battlefields are bloody, and death is everywhere. Eleanor soon discovers that medics are in short supply. It’s a chance to prove herself as a doctor – and also to show her numerous critics, including her family, the male doctors at the front, and the very patients she aims to serve―that a woman deserves an equal place in medicine.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

PHOTO AND AUTHOR INFORMATION TAKEN FROM AMAZON

Lecia Cornwall lives and writes in Calgary, Canada in the beautiful foothills of the Canadian Rockies, with five cats, two teenagers, a crazy chocolate lab, and one very patient husband. 

She's hard at work on her next book. 

Come visit Lecia at www.leciacornwall.com, or drop her a line at leciacornwall@shaw.ca.

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Spotlight of House of Glass Hearts by Leila Siddiqui

PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA
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HOUSE OF GLASS HEARTS

LEILA SIDDIQUI

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF JODIE HOCKENSMITH OF JH PUBLIC RELATIONS.

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Leila Siddiqui’s ambitious debut novel takes readers into an event from history that is little-known to western audiences – the Partition of India and Pakistan following WWII.

 

Seamlessly blending the experience of a modern teen from an immigrant family with a lesser-known myth and a forgotten piece of WWII history, HOUSE OF GLASS HEARTS explores how the horrors of the past continue to shape the lives of South Asians around the world and heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice in YA fiction. 

 

HOUSE OF GLASS HEARTS (Yali Books; September 30, 2021)

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PRAISE FOR HOUSE OF GLASS HEARTS:

A BuzzFeed Best Book of September 2021!

“This stunning debut is sure to entertain.” — BuzzFeed

“A genre-bending debut that highlights the intergenerational echoes of pivotal historical events.” — Kirkus Reviews

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ABOUT HOUSE OF GLASS HEARTS:

While both Pakistan and India celebrate the August 15^th anniversary as their Independence Day every year, the truth of what happened on that day in 1947 is much more complicated.

 

It was one of the largest migrations in human history - a violent and historic event where tens of millions of Hindus and Muslims had to crossover to Pakistan if they were Muslim, or to India if they were Hindu or Sikh.

 

The death toll has been estimated to be between 200,000 to two million people, but the event itself is shrouded in mystery in our western culture.

 

Siddiqui, who was born and raised in the United States, grew up understanding and celebrating her Pakistani roots, but with little idea that her family’s origins were actually in Kanpur, in present-day India, or that her grandparents were among those who had been forced to flee their homeland with whatever belongings they could carry, to set up a new life in the newly created nation of Pakistan.

 

Siddiqui wrote about Pakistan’s Independence Day for the Daily News recently - see it HERE and she drew on her fascinating family history to create HOUSE OF GLASS HEARTS.

The book tells the story of Maera, a teenager, living in America, whose brother went missing during a family trip to Karachi ten years ago.

Maera lives with her mother, and her brother’s disappearance, along with her parents’ subsequent divorce is one of the subjects they don’t discuss, ever.

But then Maera’s grandfather dies in Pakistan, and a mysterious greenhouse, one that Maera recognizes as her his, magically appears overnight in the family’s backyard.

Maera becomes convinced that the greenhouse is the key to unlocking her family’s secrets – and perhaps recovering her long-lost brother.

Part magical realism, part horror, part history, HOUSE OF GLASS HEARTS is told in two intertwined narratives.

 

The first, a quest featuring Maera and her friends attempting to discover the mysteries of the greenhouse, and the second, unraveling the story of Maera’s grandfather – known to her as a bitter, angry old man – and the night he was forced to flee India with his teenage love, a night that would alter the entire course of his family’s history.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

PHOTO CREDIT:  PAUL CLARKE

Leila Siddiqui is a Chicago-born Texan who calls New York home. She currently works in publishing in the marketing department. 

She is a horror film devotee and when not writing spends her time fawning over her very floofy cat. 

She lives with her partner in Queens, and House of Glass Hearts is her first novel. 

Find her on Twitter @leilawrites or online at www.LeilaSiddiqui.com.

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This Week At Silver's Reviews

 

I can't believe it's the last week of September.

Hope you can stop by.

SPINE POEM

SPINE POEM:

THE TALENTED MISS FARWELL

"WAS" TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

"SO" WE "CAN" HOPE FOR BETTER THINGS.

 

Starts with "D"

A mail-order husband that turned out to be perfect until one morning a knock at the door shattered Sophie’s life...REVIEW HERE

Secrets, secrets, and more secrets.  How many did Tanya have, and who killed her?...REVIEW HERE

A secret from her past and someone who happens to show up that may ruin everything...REVIEW HERE

Spotlight of Dad by Steven Manchester

 

PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA
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DAD

STEVEN MANCHESTER

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Dad: A Novel chronicles the sacred legacy of fatherhood. 

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It's become a bit of a signature for Steven to include a poem at the very end of his novels. 

Here's what he has selected for this one.

The Greatest Teachers
by Steven Manchester

My children have taught me…
that trust is sealed before the first step
and real understanding does not require words;
that a baby’s breath and angels’ wings make the same sound,
and bonds forged on sleepless nights are eternal.

My children have taught me…
that the greatest wonders are found within the smallest moments;
and the grip of a tiny hand slips away much too fast;
that the word “proud” can inspire unimaginable feats,
while the word “disappointed” can scar the soul.

My children have taught me…
that doing something means so much less than being there,
as one day at the park is more valuable than ten visits to the toy store;
that laughter is contagious and can destroy all worries,
and Santa Claus is alive and well—all that’s needed is faith.

My children have taught me…
that the most powerful prayers are made up of the simplest words,
humbled, grateful and spoken from the heart;
and that for most ailments, the best medicine is a kiss
or a hug for someone who wouldn’t dream of asking.

My children have taught me…
that friends can be made with no more than a smile
and real blessings are found amongst family and friends;
that the future promises magic and wonder,
and that dreams must be chased until each one comes true. 

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR.

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PRAISE FOR DAD:

“Heartfelt and uplifting, DAD is Steven Manchester at his best. An absorbing story of reconciliation, love, and the ripple effects of the past.” -- Carla Neggers, New York Times bestselling author, COLD RIVER

“Steven Manchester's DAD is a poignant portrait of fatherhood and the triumphs and tragedies of being a husband, a father, and a son. A must read for men of all ages.” -- Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author, THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF SAM HELL

“Steven Manchester writes with heart. Raw, probing and honest―keep the hankies close.” -- Tanya Anne Crosby, New York Times bestselling author, THE KING'S FAVORITE

“Steven Manchester once again proves he doesn't just tell a good story so much as he paints a vivid, multi layered portrait. Enthralling from its frantic start, and written with all the confidence of a seasoned literary veteran, DAD is both a poignant and inspiring read.” -- Vincent Zandri, New York Times bestselling author, THE GIRL WHO WASN'T THERE and THE REMAINS

“Steven Manchester is a master at understanding the psyches of ordinary American men, and a poet at writing about them. You will reach the end of this book smiling through your tears.” -- Judith Arnold, USA Today bestselling author, THE DADDY SCHOOL and FULL BLOOM

“From a perspective too seldom explored, Steven Manchester offers a sensitive and sympathetic recounting of the significant challenges and rewards of fatherhood through the eyes of three men experiencing its different stages.” -- Donald Hubin, PhD, Chair of National Parents Organization

“DAD: A NOVEL demonstrates the psychological power and importance of fatherhood and a father's love. This is a welcome addition to the culture's growing interest in and appreciation for fathers' emotional engagement with their family.” -- Raymond A. Levy, PsyD, Founder and Director, The Fatherhood Project at MGH

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ABOUT DAD:

Three generations of dads, playing traditional roles in each other's lives, arrive simultaneously at significant crossroads. The decisions they make and the actions they take will directly – and eternally – affect each other.

After a life of hard work and raising children, Robert is enjoying his well-deserved retirement when he discovers that he has an illness he might not be able to beat. At 19, Jonah is sprinting across the threshold of adulthood when he learns, stunningly, that he's going to become a father. And Oliver – Robert's son and Jonah's dad – has entered middle age and is paying its demanding price. While reconciling the time and effort it has taken him to reach an unfulfilling career and an even less satisfying marriage, he realizes that it's imperative that he keep it all together for the two men who mean everything to him.

When different perspectives lead to misunderstandings that remain unspoken – sometimes for years – it takes great strength and even more love to travel beyond the resentment.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestsellers Twelve Months, The Rockin' Chair, Pressed Pennies and Gooseberry Island; the national bestsellers, Ashes, The Changing Season and Three Shoeboxes; and the multi-award winning novels, Goodnight Brian and The Thursday Night Club. 

His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, CNN's American Morning and BET's Nightly News. Three of Steven's short stories were selected "101 Best" for Chicken Soup for the Soul series. 

He is a multi-produced playwright, as well as the winner of the 2017 Los Angeles Book Festival and the 2018 New York Book Festival. 

When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula, or their four children, this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing. 

Visit: www.StevenManchester.com

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Spotlight of Ravens in The Rain by Christie Santo & Jeff Santo

PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA
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RAVENS IN THE RAIN

CHRISTIE SANTO &  JEFF SANTO

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF THE AUTHORS.

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 Click Here For The Book Trailer

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This romantic suspense is a turbulent flight; like dating in the 21st Century, it's dangerous and daring.

 

A Noir Love Story

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Book Release Date: Sept. 22, 2021

Genre: Romantic Suspense / Contemporary Romance

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PRAISE FOR RAVENS IN THE RAIN:

"A dark romance that will keep readers guessing."--Kirkus Reviews 

This somewhat chilling not-quite-a-romance will satisfy readers looking for a mystery with a side of sexuality. Great for fans of: Kaira Rouda's Best Day Ever, James M. Cain's The Postman Always Rings Twice."--BookLife Review

"It is as much fun as watching a noir film."--Alex The Shadow Girl

 

I’ve never been much of a Noir fan; Ravens in the Rain changed that. 

 

From the moment Pru and Carney meet at a Las Vegas casino, I was rooting for them. I anticipated a roller coaster ride, but I couldn’t have imagined the twists and turns that awaited my new favorite couple. 

 

Christie and Jeff Santo pack the short novel with unique set pieces that Pru and Carney must navigate: a ‘bloody’ heavy metal concert, the zaniness of ‘Venis Beach,’ a sexed-up Hollywood mansion, a police station. 

 

The dialogue is both somehow realistic and fanciful. My only complaint is that I wanted more.”--Peter Conti Author of Amazon #1 bestseller, Gringo: My Life on the Edge as an International Fugitive

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ABOUT RAVENS IN THE RAIN:

Ravens In The Rain is an unconventional noir love story between a woman with a past and a man with no future where love is no fairy tale.

 

Carney and Pru, down on luck and down on love, meet over a game of chance, and the mystery of the other’s intentions, compounded by their overwhelming attraction toward each other, compels them into a game of cat and mouse.

 

They ante up and play this game of love or survival that has you wondering who’s the villain and who’s the hero and how it will all play out.

 

When murder is brought to their doorstep the game gets serious.

 

A psychological tale between a poet and a filmmaker that has even the cat wondering if it's really the mouse, what is real, and who is telling the truth.

 

Is love on the table? Or is it life?

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Married over 10-years, Christie & Jeff Santo, lucky in love, never would’ve met if Christie didn’t miss her airplane.

 

Luckier still, when a motorcycle accident almost took their lives, it became the driving force toward their writing career together.

 

Coming from the independent film industry, Jeff has over 25-years of film making experience, directing and writing, with memberships in both the WGA and DGA. 

 

Christie has her Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing from California State University Long Beach.

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