Book Spotlight and Cover Reveal - The Blue by Nancy Bilyeau

What would you do to possess the most coveted color in the world? The year is 1758, and a headstrong woman artist, 24-year-old Genevieve Planche, is caught up in a high-stakes race to discover the ultimate color, one that threatens to become as deadly as it is lucrative. When Genevieve's mission is complicated by her falling in love with the chemist behind the formula, she discovers the world of blue is filled with ruthless men and women and how high the stakes really are. The story sweeps readers from the worlds of the silk-weaving refugees of London’s Spitalfields and the luxury-obsessed drawing rooms of Grosvenor Square to the porcelain factory of Derby and, finally, magnificent Sevres Porcelain in the shadow of Versailles. And running through it all: the dangerous allure of the color blue.


"Bilyeau’s sumptuous tale of mystery and intrigue transports the reader into the heart of the 18th century porcelain trade—where the price of beauty was death"’ E.M. Powell, author of the Stanton & Barling medieval mystery series.

Praise for Nancy Bilyeau's Fiction

"Bilyeau deftly weaves extensive historical detail throughout, but the real draw of this suspenseful novel is its juicy blend of lust, murder, conspiracy, and betrayal." —Review of The Crown published in Oprah, which made the book a pick of the month.

 "English history buffs and mystery fans alike will revel in Nancy Bilyeau's richly detailed sequel to The Crown." —Parade magazine review of The Chalice

 "The story in The Tapestry is fiction, but it is a sheer joy to have Henry’s court recreated with an eye to the reality of its venality, rather than the trendy Wolf Hall airbrushing of its violence and rapacity. The tone is always modern and light, but with none of the clumsy thigh-slapping faux period language. Bilyeau’s writing is effortless, vivid, gripping and poignant, bringing Tudor England to life with sparkling zest. If you want to see the Reformation from the side of the English people rather than the self-serving court, it is tough to do better than this trilogy." —Review of The Tapestry by Dominic Selwood, published in The Catholic Herald

 "As always, Bilyeau has done her historical homework, bringing the drama, and details of Henry VIII’s court to life. You’re basically watching the rise and fall of Catherine Howard, Thomas Cromwell, Walter Hungerford and Thomas Culpepper through Joanna’s eyes. Her private moments with the king were among my favorites in this book. This a true historical thriller. It’s a Tudor novel full of suspense, intrigue, brutality, and death. It’s a well researched page turner. If you’re looking for an exciting historical read, this will be on your list." —Review of The Tapestry by Sandra Alvarez for Medievalists.net

 “Nancy Bilyeau's passion for history infuses her books and transports us back to the dangerous world of Tudor England. Vivid characters and gripping plots are at the heart of this wonderful trilogy. Warmly recommended!” —Alison Weir, author of The Marriage Game: A Novel of Queen Elizabeth I and many bestsellers

 "Nancy Bilyeau's polished, inventive debut has all the ingredients of the best historical fiction: a broad cast of characters, well-imagined settings, and vivid story-telling... In Joanna Stafford, Bilyeau has given us a memorable character who is prepared to risk her life to save what she most values, while Stafford's desperate search for a lost religious relic will satisfy even the most ardent mystery fans." —Deborah Harkness, author of A Discovery of Witches

Author Bio
Nancy Bilyeau has worked on the staffs of InStyle, DuJour, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Good Housekeeping. She is currently a regular contributor to Town & Country and the editor of the digital magazine The Big Thrill. Her screenplays have placed in several prominent industry competitions. Two scripts reached the semi-finalist round of the Nicholl Fellowships of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

A native of the Midwest, she earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan. THE CROWN, her first novel and an Oprah pick, was published in 2012; the sequel, THE CHALICE, followed in 2013. The third in the trilogy, THE TAPESTRY, was published by Touchstone in 2015. The books have also been published by Orion in the UK and seven other countries.

Nancy lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

For more information, please visit Nancy Bilyeau's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

 
 

Dear Abby - Linky and Summer Break

Dear Friends,

I am planning to take a Summer break from blogging!   My Momma will post a note here next week, and then we are off for the Summer.  I am hoping for a fun Summer, with lots of sunshine and time to relax.

I wanted to share a few of my favorite links from this year's blog posts with you.

I enjoyed looking at favorite dog movies.  A few of my favorites:
The Ugly Dachshund
Lady and the Tramp
One Hundred and One Dalmatians
The Wizard of Oz

Here is a glimpse of an exciting new Dachshund museum in Germany!

If you enjoy vintage dog imagery, you'll find some here:
Vintage Easter cards featuring dogs
Vintage dachshund Valentines

Close up from the Dairy Queen picture above -- that Dachshund is ready for her ice cream (and so am I!).

I hope you enjoy these links, and I hope you have a wonderful Summer!  I look forward to catching up with you again after Labor Day!

Love,

Abby xoxoxo

 

Dear Abby - Favorite Dog Movies: Honorable Mentions

Dear Friends,

I really have enjoyed visiting with you here and talking about dog movies.  It has been fun chatting about these movies, especially some of my personal favorites like One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Lady and the Tramp, and The Ugly Dachshund.

When I started this project, friends sent in many wonderful dog movie suggestions!  I wanted to mention some other movies that were recommended by readers:

Where the Red Fern Grows - sad movie about a boy and two hunting Coonhounds (1961). 
Beethoven - a Saint Bernard dog leads to family adventures (1992).
Marley and Me - a couple's life with their Lab, through his whole lifespan (2008).
My Dog Skip - a Jack Russell changes a boy's life in the 1940's (2000).
All Dogs Go to Heaven - a dog casino owner returns to earth from Heaven (1989). 
Turner and Hooch - a police officer inherits a dog.  (1989)
K-9 - comedy about a police officer working with a drug-sniffing dog (1989).
Firehouse Dog - a Hollywood dog is adopted by firefighters (2007).
Rin Tin Tin - series of movies about a brave German Shepherd (1922 - 1947).
Best in Show - comedy set in the dog show world (2000).
Because of Winn Dixie - a lonely girl adopts a dog named Winn Dixie (2005).
Beverly Hills Chihuahua- a spoiled Beverly Hills Chihuahua is lost in Mexico (2008).
The Artist - making a silent movie, featuring a Jack Russell Terrier (2011).
Beginners - a man inherits his father's Jack Russell (2010).

I have seen a few of these movies (Beethoven, All Dogs Go to Heaven, Turner and Hooch, Best in Show, and Beginners).  I still want to see My Dog Skip, Because of Winn Dixie, and The Artist.

Have you seen any of these movies, or do you have other dog movies that you particularly enjoy?

Love,

Abby xoxoxo

 

Book Review - Becoming the Talbot Sisters by Rachel Linden

Book Synopsis
Twin sisters Waverly and Charlie Talbot have drifted far apart as they pursue opposite dreams of stardom and service to the poor. On an astonishing journey across Central Europe, they must come together to face their fears, find their courage and fight for what they love.

Celebrity chef Waverly Ross has built a successful career with her home-entertaining show Simply Perfect. Yet she and her husband, Andrew, have never been able to realize the true desire of Waverly’s heart: to become a mother. Meanwhile Waverly’s twin sister, Charlie Talbot, buries her bitter disappointment and shattered idealism beneath a life spent serving others as an international aid worked in Budapest, Hungary.

When the beloved aunt who raised them passes away, Waverly and Charlie come together in their grief after living years on separate continents. Struck by a fierce desire to bridge the distance between them, Charlie offers Waverly and her husband the selfless gift of surrogacy.

But soon the sisters find they are each in danger of losing their jobs, seemingly putting their dreams on hold once again. When Waverly shows up unannounced in Budapest with a plan to rescue Simply Perfect, the sisters embark on an adventure across Central Europe that could save them both from occupational hazards. Though the twins haven’t had to rely on each other since childhood, an unforeseen dangerous turn in their journey across Europe forces them to stand together to save their careers, the baby, and each other.

 

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

My Review
Becoming the Talbot Sisters is the story of twin sisters Waverly and Charlie.  Although they are twins, they could not be more different.  Waverly has a Food Network show, a handsome husband, and a perfect life - but she wants a baby.  Charlie is single, adventurous, and independent, working for a nonprofit in Budapest.  The sisters come together when their Aunt Mae, who raised them, passes away.  They reconnect after some time apart and Charlie surprisingly offers to be a surrogate mother so Waverly can have the baby she longs for.   This changes their lives immeasurably.

This is such a lovely novel!  The book focuses on both the sisters, their perspectives, and their stories.  I liked Charlie right away.  Waverly seemed a bit too perfect to me at first, but she grew on me as I saw her interacting with Charlie through the book.  I loved the scenes between the sisters.  They were exactly the way I would expect siblings reconnecting to act, and yet the book was also fresh and full of unexpected surprises.

Although Aunt Mae did not appear in the novel, except in the twins' memory, I loved the glimpses we had of her.  I especially loved her homespun wisdom, like "You girls stick close together, you hear?  Family's the only tie that don't break" (p. 44).

I found the scenes in Budapest and Europe fascinating.  The human trafficking storyline was heart wrenching, and I greatly admired Charlie's courage in taking a stand and trying to make a real difference.

Waverly's foodie storyline was also fun to read.  I enjoyed reading about her cooking show and the behind the scenes details.  The food descriptions were amazing, and I have been craving strudel since reading this book!  (I will admit I also am craving butterscotch pudding cups because of the frequent mentions of Waverly's pudding addiction.)

I loved the many twists and turns in this book.  I finished reading it at 2:30 A.M. because I could not put it down!  I had to know what happened.  These were characters I came to care about and I really wanted them to have a happy ending.

Becoming the Talbot Sisters was such a warm and satisfying read.  I really enjoyed it and recommend it highly to fans of women's fiction and anyone who enjoys novels about family relationships.

Author Bio
Rachel Linden is a novelist and international aid worker whose adventures living and traveling in fifty countries around the world provide excellent grist for her stories. She holds an MA in Intercultural Studies from Wheaton College, a BA in Literature from Huntington University, and studied creative writing at Oxford University during college. Currently, Rachel splits her time between Seattle, Washington and Budapest, Hungary where she lives with her husband and two children. Rachel enjoys creating stories about hope and courage with a hint of romance and a touch of whimsy.

 

Connect with Rachel

Website | Facebook

I received a copy of this book from TLC Book Tours.

Book Review - Death at the Selig Studios by Frances McNamara

Book Synopsis
The early summer of 1909 finds Emily Cabot eagerly anticipating a relaxing vacation with her family. Before they can depart, however, she receives news that her brother, Alden, has been involved in a shooting death at the Selig Polyscope silent movie studios on Chicago’s northwest side. She races to investigate, along with her friend Detective Henry Whitbread. There they discover a sprawling backlot, complete with ferocious jungle animals and the celluloid cowboys Tom Mix and Bronco Billy. As they dig deeper into the situation, they uncover furtive romantic liaisons between budding movie stars and an attempt by Thomas Edison to maintain his stranglehold over the emerging film industry. Before the intrepid amateur sleuth can clear her brother’s name she faces a serious break with the detective; a struggle with her adolescent daughter, who is obsessed with the filming of the original Wizard of Oz movie; and threats upon her own life.  

My Review
Emily Cabot, university lecturer who sometimes helps the police solve crimes, is back with a new adventure.   Death at the Selig Studios takes place in Chicago in 1909.  Emily's brother, Alden, has been accused of murder at the early silent movie studio, and she works to find answers and to clear his name.

I have a long time interest in silent movies, and belonged to a wonderful silent film society in my city for several years.  That said, I was not familiar with the Selig Studios in Chicago.   I found the silent film aspect of this novel absolutely fascinating.   I loved the glimpses of filming, especially the early production of The Wizard of Oz.  As an animal lover, I am horrified to learn that animals were actually killed during early movie production, like the lion who was shot while making a jungle adventure movie at Selig.

Frances McNamara writes such a smart, well researched mystery.  Her books are a perfect example of what a good historical mystery should be -- well rounded characters, terrific plot with some unexpected turns, and a wealth of historical detail.

Emily is a wonderfully smart character, and I enjoyed watching her solve the murders in this book.  I also liked more details about her family life, and 1909 Chicago.   

The writing is also a treat.  For instance:

"There were still horse-drawn carriages on the streets but more and more motorcars were taking their place.  The streetcars had been electrified and there were many more women riding them, as young women came to the city for jobs.  Every day, Chicago became more crowded.  I usually felt invigorated by the energy of the city, but, by this time of year, I was worn out.  The summer was for wading in saltwater pools with my children, eating clams and lobsters, and having adventures on boats" (p. 3.).

I really enjoyed Death at the Selig Studios and have already recommended it to friends.  I look forward to future books in the Emily Cabot mystery series!

Author Bio

Frances McNamara grew up in Boston, where her father served as Police Commissioner for ten years. She has degrees from Mount Holyoke and Simmons Colleges, and recently retired from the University of Chicago. She now divides her time between Boston and Cape Cod.

Emily Cabot Mysteries publication order:
Death at the Fair
Death at Hull House
Death at Pullman
Death at Woods Hole
Death at Chinatown
Death at the Paris Exposition
Death at the Selig Studios

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.