Category Archives: Giveaways

September 19, 2014 · 7:35 pm

Stuck In A Good Book Blog Hop

StuckinaGoodBook Hop

I am happy to be participating in the latest blog hop hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Val at Stuck in Books.  I am offering a $25 Amazon Gift Card so that you can buy either your own hardcover, a couple of paper back books, or several e-books.

Amazon $25

I love it when I am reading a book that is so good that I lose all track of time and forget what’s going on around me.  I’ve even burned dinner a few times because I’ve been stuck in a good book.  I will give you suggestions of some of my favorite books that I have gotten “stuck” in lately.  Then I invite you to scroll down and enter the giveaway.

1. Literary Fiction: The Naïve Guys by Harry Patz

I just finished this book a few weeks ago and it was funny and poignant at the same time. I would classify THE NAIVE GUYS not just as literary fiction, but also as historical fiction because of its accurate depiction of life in the early 90’s in New York.  Mark, the main character, is trying to figure out his life and career now that the easy days of college are behind him.  Click here for my full review

 

2. Historical Fiction: Madame Picasso by Anne Girard

Ever since I read this book I have been fascinated with the works of Picasso.  This book is told from the point of view of one of his lovers, Eva Gouel.  This book is about love, inspiration, history and art.  If you like a Parisian setting in the early 20th century this is a must read.  Click here for my full review.

 

3. Classics: Journey by Moonlight by Antal Szerb

Journey by MoonlightThis is a book that I have actually gotten “stuck” in on more than one occasion.  The main character is sick of doing what his family, friends and society expect of him.  When he goes to Italy on a honeymoon with his wife he gets “lost” in many different ways.  This book kept me guessing the fate of the main character until the very end.  Click here for my full review.

Please click on this Entry-Form to enter to win the $25 Amazon Gift Card.  Giveaway ends on 9/25 and the winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond.  Thanks so much for stopping by my site.  If you like what you see please follow The Book Binder’s Daughter via e-mail so you don’t miss a review or giveaway!

 

Click here to see the other blogs participating in this hop!

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September 11, 2014 · 12:00 am

Review and Giveaway: I Looked For the One My Heart Loved by Dominique Marny

Book Synopsis:
I Looked For The One - coverAnne and Alexis are separated by war as children and reunited later by destiny. A powerful and dramatic love story that spans decades in spite of its seeming impossibility.

Anne, 9, and Alexis, 11, grow up together in the Montmartre area of Paris. While she has a major crush on him, he merely sees her as his friend’s little sister. After WWII begins, the two are separated as their families flee Paris to avoid the German occupation. When they say goodbye, Alexis promises to always protect Anne.

Anne holds on to this promise for years as she constantly thinks of Alexis, wondering where he may be. Anne grows up, finds works in an art gallery, and marries a kind, devoted man with whom she has two children. But her heart still belongs to Alexis and she never stops looking for him. Their paths cross fatefully one day in Brussels many years after they were separated.

Alexis, living in Canada and soon to be moving to San Francisco, has a family of his own; a wife in constant depression and a son. Despite their responsibilities to family and the geographical distance that keeps them apart, Anne and Alexis find a way to love one another, secretly yet passionately.

But after all this time, will they ever manage to be truly together, completely? [provided by the publisher]

My Review:

This was a lovely book that spans forty years of life in Paris beginning in 1939.  When World War II begins, neighborhoods of families and friends are scattered throughout France.  The main character in the book, Anne, and her family flee to the countryside to live with her grandparents until the turmoil of German occupation settles down.  Anne who, at the time is 9 years old, is very upset to leave her brother’s friend Alexis on whom she has a childhood crush.

At first I thought that Anne’s fondness for Alexis, which she thinks back on throughout her adult life, was unrealistic.  How many of us carry a torch for someone whom they met as a child?  However,  the circumstances surrounding the chaos and destruction of World War II leave an impression on Anne.  Her thoughts of Alexis appear to be more than just a childhood crush; she looks back on the time she spent with him as one of peace and happiness before the war ushered in a period sadness, destruction and change.

Anne seems to be fond of her husband Francois, but he never is the great love of her life.  He is comfortable and takes care her and they have two wonderful children.  They never have anything in common beyond their family.  So when Anne meets Alexis again later in life, she is easily tempted to have an affair with him because of their immediate connection.  They share a past and memories of their old neighborhood of Montmartre and they both have a deep love and appreciation for art.

The author keeps us wondering until the end of the story if Anne and Alexis will ever be able to break free of their unhappy marriages and be together.  I LOOKED FOR THE ONE MY HEART LOVED is a great read for those who appreciate historical fiction set in Paris.

About the Author:
I Looked For The One - MarnyDominique Marny was raised in a family that loves art, literature, adventure and travels. In addition to being a novelist, she is a playwright, screenwriter, and writes for various magazines.  Watch the video below in which Dominique talks about her book and how Paris inspired its setting. 

 

Giveaway:

The publisher is giving away one paperback copy to someone in the U.S. and one e-book to all other International entries. The giveaway is open until 9/14. Click on the link below to enter:

Entry-Form

Thanks so much to France Book Tours for hosting another great tour. Please click on the banner below to see all of the stops on this tour and to view other ongoing tours:
I Looked For The One - banner

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August 24, 2014 · 5:21 pm

Review and Giveaway: Darcy’s Tale by Stanley Michael Hurd

Austen In August

I am thrilled to be taking part in the Austen in August event.  Thanks so much to Lost Generation Reader for organizing such a great literary exchange.  Jane Austen has been one of my favorite authors since I was in high school.  Please click on the image above to see the full list of blogs participating in this event.  I will be reviewing Darcy’s Tale Volume III: The Way Home and giving away a copy of Darcy’s Tale Volume I: Into Hertfordshire so that you can get started on the series (open internationally).

Review:

Last fall I decided to reread all of Jane Austen’s works, including my favorite novel which is Pride and Prejudice. After I finished Austen’s works I was still eager for more of Austen’s stories and became curious about the genre of Austen fan fiction that is so popular. I was particularly looking for a novel that would give me the story of Pride and Prejudice from Darcy’s perspective and in my search I came across Stanley Michael Hurd’s books. I quickly devoured Darcy’s Tale Volumes I and II and I was Darcy's Taledisappointed to find that I would have to wait for summer to read Volume III. But it was well worth the wait.

I believe that of all the characters in what is arguably Austen’s most famous work, Darcy is the one who undergoes the biggest transformation. From the time of his prideful proposal to Elizabeth at Rosings, to his encounter with her at Pemberly he is a changed and humbled man. I, like many others,  have wondered what exactly happened during this time to make him reassess his attitude and approach towards Elizabeth. Stanley Michael Hurd’s latest book Darcy’s Tale Volume III: The Way Home fills in the story of Pride and Prejudice from Darcy’s perspective and picks up Darcy’s story just after the failed proposal.

In Darcy’s Tale Volume III, Darcy is at first angry at his rejected offer but he admits that he still loves Elizabeth and he cannot stop thinking about her. After a heart to heart talk with his aunt, Lady Andover, who is also Colonel Fitzwilliam’s mother, he understands the error of his ways. He vows if he ever sees Elizabeth again that he will prove to her that he is a humbled man and a true gentleman.

This book also fills in the details about Darcy’s involvement in tracking down Wickham and Lydia. I enjoyed this part of the book because it showed us a more daring and adventurous side of Mr. Darcy of Pemberly. Colonel Fitzwilliam is also a character in this part of the book which is very interesting since in Pride and Prejudice he has a very limited role.

The final part of the book, as one would expect, deals with Bingley’s proposal to Jane, Darcy’s successful proposal to Elizabeth and the double wedding. Georgiana is also a character who features prominently in these books and it was delightful to see her grow from being shy and unsure of herself to a true friend and sister to Elizabeth.  I truly enjoyed all three volumes in this set and if you are a fan of Pride and Prejudice then all three volumes of Darcy’s Tale are a must read.

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Giveaway (Open Internationally):

Darcy's Tale V1In order to get you started on this great series, I am giving away a copy of Darcy’s Tale Volume I: Into Hertfordshire.   Please leave a comment telling me what your favorite Jane Austen novel is.  I will randomly pick a winner on August 28th and email the winner.  This giveaway is open internationally as long as you can receive an Amazon gift code.  If you live in the U.S. you may choose an electronic or hard copy of the book.

*The winner of the giveaway is Sylvia.  Thanks so much to everyone who entered!

Thanks for stopping by my blog.  If you like what you read, please feel free to sign up for The Book Binder’s Daughter via email on the sidebar so you don’t miss any posts or giveaways.

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August 18, 2014 · 12:00 am

Review and Giveaway: East India by Colin Falconer

04_East India_Blog Tour Banner_FINAL

Today I welcome Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours back to the Book Binder’s Daughter with another great historical fiction novel, East India by Colin Falconer.  Please read my review, learn a bit about the author, enter the giveaway (paper copy for US, e-book for International) and see the full list of blogs on the tour.

Book Synopsis:

02_East India

In any other circumstance but shipwreck, rape and murder, a man like Michiel van Texel would never have met a fine lady such as Cornelia Noorstrandt.

He was just a soldier, a sergeant in the Dutch East India company’s army, on his way from Amsterdam to the Indies to fight the Mataram. Such a woman was far above the likes of him.

But both their destinies intertwine far away from Holland, on some god-forsaken islands near the Great Southland. When their great ship, the Utrecht, founders far from home, surviving the Houtman Rocks is the least of their worries.

As they battle to survive and the bravest and the best reveal themselves for what they are, Cornelia’s only hope is a mercenary in a torn coat who shows her that a man is more than just manners and money.

He makes her one promise: ‘Even if God forsakes you, I will find you.’

Described by one critic as ‘Jack and Rose in the seventeenth century’, East India will keep you wondering until the final page.

My Review:

East India is the grown up version of Lord of The Flies.  The Utrecht sets sail from Holland on a seven month voyage to India, laden with gold, silver and other treasures from the Dutch East India Company.  This unlucky ship becomes a place of misery for all of its passengers.  Of its 300 passengers, some are soldiers who are forced to spend most of the voyage below deck in darkness, some are regular Dutch citizens who are on their way to join loved ones in India, and some are the crew that are employed by the East India Company to sail the ship.  The first third of the book describes the wretched conditions of this long voyage when everyone on board experiences sea sickness, cramped quarters, rotten food and stale water.  The ship becomes a volatile atmosphere ripe for a mutiny.

The captain of the ship, Ambroise, keeps falling ill with a fever and his absence gives the mutineers plenty of time for plotting.  This gang of nasty men also knows that the captain has a weak spot and it is Cornelia Noorstrandt, a beautiful noblewoman who is sailing to India to meet her husband.  The fact that the captain and Cornelia have spent a lot of time together on the ship has not escaped anyone’s notice.

Just when they thought their situation couldn’t get any worse, the skipper steers the ship directly into a reef which slowly breaks the ship apart.  The passengers, in a fit of chaos and panic, take rafts to a nearby island where they can only hope and pray that someone will save them.  It is on the island where the “Lord of the Flies” atmosphere breaks out.  The undermerchant, who was the leader of the mutiny while they were still on board the ship, makes himself a sort of tyrannical king of the island and slowly starts to murder some of the other passengers.

The heroes on the island actually turn out to be the soldiers who especially come to the rescue of the women on the island who are being abused and brutalized by the undermerchant and his band of thugs.  I will warn you that there is a fair amount of violence in this book that might not be to everyone’s liking.

The greatest strength of the narrative is the descriptions of what it would have been like to spend months on end in a ship while traveling the rough and dangerous high seas.  Today we take for granted the fact that we can easily board a plane and go from one continent from another in a matter of hours.  Imagine having to sail on a ship in the 17th century under deplorable circumstance.

It was evident Colin Falconer did a lot of research about this famous shipwreck.  If you like historical fiction about ships, sailing, mutinies and shipwreck then this is the book to add to your “to-read” list.

Giveaway:

This Giveaway is for one hardcopy book (US only) and one e-book (International).  Winners will be chosen on 9/19 and will be notified via email. There are TWO easy steps to enter:

1. Please follow The Book Binder’s Daughter in ONE of the following ways:

  • Like My Facebook Page
  • Follow Me On Twitter
  • Subscribe to The Book Binder’s Daughter blog via e-mail (to the right)
  • Follow me on Google+
  • Follow me on Bloglovin (button to the right)

2. Fill out this Google Docs Form with some basic information:

Thanks so much to everyone that entered!  The winners are:

E-book: Mary P.

Paperback: Sharon B.

About the Author:

03_Colin FalconerBorn in London, Colin first trialed as a professional football player in England, and was eventually brought to Australia. He went to Sydney and worked in TV and radio and freelanced for many of Australia’s leading newspapers and magazines. He has published over twenty novels and his work has so far been translated into 23 languages.

He travels regularly to research his novels and his quest for authenticity has led him to run with the bulls in Pamplona, pursue tornadoes across Oklahoma and black witches across Mexico, go cage shark diving in South Africa and get tear gassed in a riot in La Paz.

He currently lives in Barcelona.

For more information please visit Colin Falconer’s website. You can also find him on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

 

East India Blog Tour Schedule:

Visit the other blogs on this tour-

Monday, July 28
Review at History & Women

Tuesday, July 29
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views

Wednesday, July 30
Review at Just One More Chapter

Tuesday, August 5
Review at Book Nerd

Thursday, August 7
Review at Bibliotica

Monday, August 11
Review at A Library of My Own

Friday, August 15
Review at Jorie Loves a Story

Monday, August 18
Review at The Book Binder’s Daughter

Thursday, August 21
Review at Beth’s Book Reviews

Monday, August 25
Review at Casual Readers

Saturday, August 30
Review at Book by Book

Wednesday, September 3
Review at Unshelfish

Tuesday, September 9
Review at The True Book Addict

Wednesday, September 10
Review at A Bookish Affair

Friday, September 19
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

 

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August 12, 2014 · 12:00 am

Review and Giveaway: The Wharf of Chartrons by Jean-Paul Malaval

Today I am very excited to welcome France Book Tours to the Book Binder’s Daughter with a unique historical fiction book The Wharf of Chartrons.  This book is set just before, during and after World War I, and continues my commemoration of the centenary of The Great War.  I hope you read my review, look at the other stops on the tour, and enter to win your own copy of this book.

Book Synopsis:

Wharf of Chartrons coverA family linked by wine and old rivalries sets out for new territory, during the turmoil of World War I. David and Gaspard are cousins, bonded by family and their allegiance to their winemaking heritage. Parting with tradition and moving their vineyards near Bordeaux threatens to upset the family peace, but that’s only the beginning of their trouble. Short on funds, they are forced to team with a wealthy but morally corrupt engineer—though perhaps at a cost too high for the cousins.  Despite the odds, David and Gaspard succeed in making a successful wine, Clos-Marzacq.  Along the way, they each fall in love, though not always in the best of circumstances. And now, to cement their successes, the cousins need to secure a stronghold on the Wharf of Chartrons, seen as the gateway to selling in England and America

My Review:
David and Gaspard are cousins who have been raised in the winegrowing region of Chantegrele.  For generations their families have made a living off of the land by producing wines from their vineyards.  But David and Gaspard want to break free of their families and move to Bordeaux, buy a plot of land, and make their own award-winning wines.  The first part of the book deals with David and Gaspard trying to separate themselves from their disapproving families and to establish their own vineyard.  They take on a partner, Castillard, who is a ruthless captain of industry and shows Gaspard the ways of modern business deals.  This book really leaves off where Malaval’s last book, The Winegrowers of Chantegrele leaves off.  If you want more background about the Pierrebrunne and Maldelbos families, I suggest reading his first book as well.

 

The second part of the book, which I found more engaging, deals with David’s and Gaspard’s struggles with relationships.  David meets, falls in love with, and marries a woman rather quickly but their marriage is tumultuous.  Gaspard spends years pinning over a woman he cannot have because she is married.  At one point he does manage to seduce this woman, named Constance, but she is never completely willing to let go of her husband and Gaspards’ obsession with her becomes pathetic.

 

The Wharf of Chartrons also describes the effects that France’s involvement has on the winegrowing industry during World War I.  There is also a brief description of the battlefield when Constance’s husband volunteers to go to the front lines to fight for his country.  I do wish that the author spent more time detailing the effects of World War I on French families, businesses and society in general.

 

Overall, The Wharf of Chartrons is an emotional read about two men trying to break free of their traditional families, to carve out their own success in a corrupt business world, and to find the loves of their lives.  If you appreciate fine wine and a French setting, then THE WHARFS OF CHARTRONS is the book for you.

About The Author:

Wharf of Chartrons - MalavalJean-Paul Malaval was a journalist before turning to a career as a writer of local photography books and later fiction.  In 1982, he began what would become a long-term relationship with the publishing house Éditions Milan, in Toulouse.  To date, Jean-Paul Malaval has written ten works of historical fiction, mainly based in the region where he grew up, the Corrèze, which is near the Dordogne. Five of his ten novels have been published by Presses de la Cité.  He is loyal to his home region and has been mayor of the town of Vars-sur-Roseix in Corrèze since 1995.

 

Giveaway:

This giveaway is open internationally, one print book for someone in the U.S. and on ebook for someone anywhere else in the world.   Giveaway ends 8/21. Click Here To Enter The Giveaway.Thanks so much to France Book Tours for organizing this great tour.  Don’t forget to visit the other stops on this tour. Click Here to view the full tour schedule and see the list of participating blogs.

 Wharf of Chartrons Banner
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