What The Lady Wants by Renee Rosen

​Glamor, glitter, love, shopping, and ​famous names thrown around...what fun it was reading WHAT THE LADY WANTS.

WHAT THE LADY WANTS is set in Chicago during the 1800's when retail stores and innovations were beginning to surface. Famous industrialists such as Pullman, McCormick, Potter, Swift, Field, and Armour filled the pages.  Hearing these names brought out the historical fiction aficionado in me.

Along with the business side of Chicago​,​ WHAT THE LADY WANTS tells​ the story of the personal life of Delia Spencer, Arthur Caton, and Marshall Field revealing ​Delia and Marshall​'s ongoing, infamous ​love ​affair.  You will want to look up th​eir ​names to find ​more ​information on them and on Marshall Field & Company.

Both Delia and Marshall were captivating characters, and Ms. Rosen perfectly portrayed their life and the lifestyles of the wealthy ​during that time.

​A little bit of romance along with the history of Chicago makes WHAT THE LADY WANTS an intriguing, alluring ​read.

​You will also find out where the book's title came from.  ENJOY!!​  5/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.​

Citizens Creek by Lalita Tademy

From Lalita Tademy, the New York Times bestselling author of Red River and Oprah’s book club pick Cane River comes this fall’s historical fiction must-read, CITIZENS CREEK.

On sale now, CITIZENS CREEK is the evocative story of a once-enslaved black man who buys his freedom after serving as a translator during the American Indian Wars and the Indian Removal westward, and his granddaughter Rose, who sustains his legacy of courage.

Cow Tom, born into slavery in Alabama in 1810 and sold to a Creek Indian chief before his tenth birthday, possessed an extraordinary gift: the ability to master languages. What would become of him and his family in the aftermath of the Civil War?

Once you’ve read CITIZENS CREEK and checked out the reading group guide, Atria Books knows you’re going to want to discuss this fascinating book with a friend – or maybe even with the author.

Join Lalita and the Southern Independent Bookseller Alliance (SIBA) for a Facebook Q&A book club chat on November 20^th at 8 pm EST on the Reader Meets Writer Facebook page – you can RSVP here.

CITZENS CREEK is a November Indie Next Pick, the SIBA One Book, One South inaugural selection, and an Okra pick.

Praise for CITIZENS CREEK

 “Each of the novel’s characters speaking in a compelling voice…completely engrossing.” –Starred Booklist

“Tademy’s work sheds light on a complex and undertold chapter of American history.” –Library Journal

“Citizens Creek is an absorbing and unforgettable trip through a past that remains unexplored.” –Essence Magazine

” I was completely captured by this family’s adventures, misfortunes, and triumphs.” – Dolen Perkins-Valdez, author of Wench

“ This is a powerful and moving novel about a little known chapter in our past and about one family’s legacy of courage. I’ll remember it for a long time.” – Ann Packer, author of The Dive From Clausen’s Pier.

About the Author: Lalita Tademy is the author of Cane River, a New York Times bestselling novel and the 2001 Oprah Book Club Summer Selection, and its critically acclaimed sequel Red River. She lives in Northern California.

GONE WITH THE WIND SWEEPSTAKES

To celebrate the publication of Ruth’s Journey, Atria Books has partnered with BookPage to offer fans a chance to win a collection of Ruth’s Journey treasures!

One Grand Prize Winner will receive a Gone with the Wind 75th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s edition on blu-ray and digital HD with ultraviolet, a signed first edition copy of Ruth’s Journey, and a Ruth’s Journey audiobook.

Five Runners-Up will receive first edition copies of Ruth’s Journey.

USA ONLY

To enter, visit Bookpage.com/Contests

What Color Are YOU?

Go to the site below, and choose your favorite color.

 http://www.personalityquiz.net/colortests/colors.htm

I am green, and I think it describes me perfectly.

Put your color in the comment section please, and let us know if you think it truly describes you.

*Rainbow Image courtesy of:

 www.webweaver.nu

The Paris Winter by Imogen Robertson

Who wouldn't want to spend the winter in Paris?  Maud was in Paris starving and freezing as an art student when Tanya, a wealthy woman, befriended her and helped ​Maud ​obtain a position ​in a home to take care of a young lady.

​Maud found out the accommodations brought about more than a warm place to stay and good meals.  Sylvie, the young lady she was taking care of, smoked opium and stole things​, her "brother" wasn't very honest, and nothing was what it seemed. What else was going to happen, and what did she get herself into?

What was supposed to be a life-changing winter turned out to be a winter of lies, ​danger​, deceit, and murder​. 

The beginning of THE PARIS WINTER was a bit slow, but as the tale unraveled, there was nothing slow​, ​​nothing short of deviousness, and nothing ​short of
intrigue​.  Don't give up too soon.

You will feel sorry for Maud, you will love Tanya and Yvette - they are actually comical and so loyal to Maude, you will hate Sylvie and her "brother," and you will question all that goes on with them and question their motives.

I thoroughly enjoyed THE PARIS WINTER because of the well-developed, unlikeable, devious, corrupt characters and the unpredictable, twisted plot with a marvelous, thrilling ending.   This thrilling ending was set during the Paris flood of 1910 and was a perfect connection to Maud's intentions.

Don't miss reading THE PARIS WINTER.  You will be pulled in just like the flood waters of Paris pulled in its citizens.  THE PARIS WINTER is an alluring, captivating historical read. 4/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.

Giveaway and Review of An Unseemly Wife by E. B. Moore

Giving up the only life she knew, leaving all her possessions for a new life she was ​not ​excited about, following her husband's wishes and keeping​ silent.  That is what Ruth's life was like as she followed the rules of her Fold​.

We follow Ruth and her family as they get ready to leave their secure community for the unknown in Idaho and follow them on their difficult, two-thousand-mile trek.  A trip that was supposed to give them a better life.

The writing in AN UNSEEMLY WIFE is beautiful, and Ms. Moore smoothly and masterfully moves from one time period to the other revealing what Ruth's life was before marrying Aaron and what it was like now.  As the journey west continued, Ruth realized that her life with Aaron would never be the same.  She had no family close by, and the people they met were not like her Fold at home.

AN UNSEEMLY WIFE is actually an account of the author's great grandmother.  I enjoyed this book because I do like historical fiction, but definitely wouldn't want to be living in the 1800's as a woman.

AN UNSEEMLY WIFE did drag a bit, though, but it was quite educational to see the difficulties of traveling in and living in a covered wagon along with the hardships of everyday life. You will feel the family's pain as sad things happen, and all the characters definitely grow on you.  The children were so innocent and good.  Ruth was obedient and a very good mother.  Aaron was a good husband, but not one that I would want. He was kind but too strict.

If you are interested in the early days of settling America, you will enjoy this book.  4/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation in return for an honest review.

*******************

Enter the giveaway here from October 30 to November 6.  USA ONLY

Good Luck

A Spooky Twitter Party at 2 p.m. ET

Time to roll out the orange and black carpet because Atria is having a spooky Twitter party!

Share your favorite #SpineChillingReads today at 2pm ET to give your favorite thrilling, chilling, too-close-to-real-life scary tales a little Halloween love!

You can list many books, tell why one book is particularly spine-chilling, and share yours using the hashtag to join in.

AND if you’re in love with our Atria #SpineChillingReads, here are some e-cards to take a look at.

Hope to see you there!!