#BookReview The Tory and The Traitor by T.J. London #TJLondon #TheTory #TheTraitor #HistoricalFiction #HistFic #HistoricalRomance #BlogTour #HFVBTBlogTours #Giveaway @Joni2345zb @hfvbt @TJLondonAuthor

The Tory by T.J. London

Publication Date: April 11, 2018

Peperback & eBook; 517 Pages

Series: The Rebels and Redcoats Saga, Book #1

Genre: Historical Fiction

It is the winter of 1776, and Captain John Carlisle, one of His Majesty’s not-so-finest, has gone back to the scene of the crime to right a wrong so dark it left a permanent stain on what was once an illustrious career and left a man broken, defeated, in search of justice… In an effort to win back his commission, he must discover the true nature of the relationship between the Six Nations of the Iroquois and the Colonial Army. Undercover as a war profiteer, John travels to the treacherous Mohawk River Valley and infiltrates local society, making friends with those he’s come to betray. But a chance meeting with a beautiful half Oneida innkeeper, whose tragic history is integrally linked to his own, will provide him with the intelligence he needs to complete his mission—and devastate her people. Now, as the flames of war threaten to consume the Mohawk Valley, John has the chance to not only serve King and country, but to clear his name. When the truth he uncovers ties his own secrets to those in the highest positions of the British military and threatens the very life of the woman he’s come to love, he will be forced to make a choice…

"The pages fly as you immerse yourself in this fantastic adventure." - RT Book Reviews

Available on Amazon

The Traitor by T.J. London

Publication Date: October 26, 2018

eBook; 574 pages

Series: The Rebels and Redcoats Saga, Book #2

Genre: Historical Fiction

Spy. Liar. Scoundrel. Redcoat. Provocateur and spy for His Majesty, Captain John Carlisle returns to Fort Niagara with the secrets he stole in the arms of the beautiful Oneida innkeeper, Dellis McKesson. Determined to complete his mission and clear his name, he’ll see justice done—and damn the consequences. Now, he finds himself drawn into political intrigue as the British prepare to launch a three-pronged attack that will bring the Rebels and the Mohawk River Valley to its knees. A dangerous revelation finds Dellis as whispers of intrigue insinuate her beloved is not all that he seems. Unwilling to wait for her lover’s return, she sets out in search of the truth as the Onieda begin negotiations with the Rebels, breaking the neutrality agreement with the crown. A bold move that will stoke a fire between the brother tribes and lead to a bloody inter-confederacy war—one Dellis predicted, and one John incited. While war between the colonies and the King smolders, the punishing winter of 1777 allows the perfect opportunity for old enemies to settle scores, lying in wait, ready to exploit John’s one weakness—his heart. John is not an innocent man. The truth he’s long tried to hide from can no longer be ignored, the ghosts of the past seeking justice, and karma wanting payment for sins so dark they cannot be forgiven.

Available on Amazon

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to author T.J. London and blog tour host Amy Bruno of HF Virtual Book Tours for allowing me to take part in the blog tour and providing me copies of the books. The cover art for both of these books was amazing. I have been on a historical fiction kick for awhile now and these books did not disappoint. I haven't read many during the American Revolutionary time period so this was interesting to me.
The story begins with Lieutenant John Carlisle, a skilled map maker wishing to win back his commission by working undercover to find out the relationship between the Iroquois and the Colonial Army. John sets up his headquarters at the inn of a half-breed woman, Dellis McKesson, our heroine. Dellis' tragic past is linked to John's and he tries to trick the tribe into a peace treaty with Britain.
I loved both of these extremely well-written books. The research that went into them was evident. The two main characters were complex and realistic. The pacing was spot-on and held my interest throughout. Fans of historical fiction with a dash of romance are sure to enjoy this series. I can't wait for the story to continue in Spring 2019 with The Turncoat, book #3 in the Rebels and Redcoats Saga.

About the Author

T.J. London is a rebel, liberal, lover, fighter, diehard punk, and pharmacist-turned-author who loves history. As an author her goal is to fill in the gaps, writing stories about missing history, those little places that are so interesting yet sadly forgotten. Her favorite time periods to write in are first and foremost the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolution, the French and Indian War, the Russian Revolution and the Victorian Era. Her passions are traveling, writing, reading, barre, and sharing a glass of wine with her friends, while she collects experiences in this drama called life. She is a native of Metropolitan Detroit (but secretly dreams of being a Londoner) and resides there with her husband Fred and her beloved cat and writing partner Mickey.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, November 5 Interview at Passages to the Past Tuesday, November 6 Review at For the Sake of Good Taste (The Tory) Wednesday, November 7 Guest Post at Let Them Read Books Feature at Historical Fiction with Spirit Thursday, November 8 Review at Hoover Book Reviews Friday, November 9 Review at Pursuing Stacie (The Tory) Excerpt at Donna's Book Blog (The Tory) Tuesday, November 13 Review at Jorie Loves a Story (The Tory) Review at For the Sake of Good Taste (The Traitor) Wednesday, November 14 Excerpt at Spellbound By History Thursday, November 15 Feature at Donna's Book Blog (The Traitor) Friday, November 16 Review at LadyJ's Bookish Nook (Both) Review at Pursuing Stacie (The Traitor) Review at Jorie Loves a Story (The Traitor)

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away 3 sets of both books in Paperback, 3 sets of both books in eBook, and a $50 Amazon Gift Card! To enter, please see the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on November 16th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open to readers in the US & Canada only. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. TJ London

#BookReview for Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd #BlogTour @hfvbt @SandraByrd @Joni2345zb #LadyofaThousandTreasures #SandraByrd #HistFic #Christian #Victorian #HFVBTBlogTours

It was my pleasure to take part in another historical fiction blog tour hosted by Amy Bruno of HF Virtual Book Tours. Thanks so much to author Sandra Byrd for providing me a copy of the first book in this new series.

LADY OF A THOUSAND TREASURES BY SANDRA BYRD

Publication Date: October 9, 2018
 
Tyndale House Publishers
Hardcover, Paperback, & eBook; 480 Pages

Series: The Victorian Ladies Series, #1


Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

Description
Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquities, trained to know the difference between a genuine artifact and a fraud. But with her father’s passing and her uncle’s decline into dementia, the family business is at risk. In the Victorian era, unmarried Eleanor cannot run Sheffield Brothers alone.

The death of a longtime client, Baron Lydney, offers an unexpected complication when Eleanor is appointed the temporary trustee of the baron’s legendary collection. She must choose whether to donate the priceless treasures to a museum or allow them to pass to the baron’s only living son, Harry—the man who broke Eleanor’s heart.

Eleanor distrusts the baron’s motives and her own ability to be unbiased regarding Harry’s future. Harry claims to still love her and Eleanor yearns to believe him, but his mysterious comments and actions fuel her doubts. When she learns an Italian beauty accompanied him on his return to England, her lingering hope for a future with Harry dims.

With the threat of debtor’s prison closing in, Eleanor knows that donating the baron’s collection would win her favor among potential clients, saving Sheffield Brothers. But the more time she spends with Harry, the more her faith in him grows. Might Harry be worthy of his inheritance, and her heart, after all? As pressures mount and time runs out, Eleanor must decide whom she can trust—who in her life is false or true, brass or gold—and what is meant to be treasured.

Purchase Links
Amazon  Barnes & Noble   IndieBound

Praise for Lady of a Thousand Treasures

“Sandra Byrd’s amazing cast of characters and Victorian settings pull the reader right into the story. I became happily lost in this compelling, lovely book.” -Karen Harper, NYT bestselling author of The Royal Nanny

“Lady of a Thousand Treasures delivers mystery, romance, and suspense in a well-researched Victorian setting.” -Julie Klassen, bestselling author

“I’m always swept away by a Sandra Byrd novel, and Lady of a Thousand Treasures will be long remembered as one of Sandra’s best.” -Jane Kirkpatrick, NYT bestselling author of All She Left Behind

“Sandra Byrd is the rare writer whose evocative, prose grabs hold and doesn’t let go. The Victorian Ladies Series is off to a stunning start!” -Laura Frantz, author of The Lacemaker

“With stunning characters and impeccable research, Sandra Byrd has woven together an exquisite treasure hunt with an ending that will leave you breathless.” -Melanie Dobson, award-winning author of Catching the Wind

“Sandra Byrd’s writing is an absolute piece of art! If I had to sum up this story all in one word, it would be satisfying.” -Michelle Griep, award-winning author of the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series

My Review
The first thing I noticed about this book was the beautiful cover art...love it!! This is my first read by this author and my first Gothic romance novel and I enjoyed it a lot. This is the first book in a new series called The Victorian Ladies and what a great start. 

The author was able to grab my attention and keep it throughout. This is another book where I was able to learn new things. The main character Miss Eleanor Sheffield a talented evaluator of antiquities, able to tell the difference between true artifacts and a fraud.

I highly recommend this to those who love historical fiction mixed with a touch of danger and mystery. I can't wait for the next in this series!

About the Author

Bestselling author Sandra Byrd has published more than fifty books over her editing and writing career. Her traditionally published books include titles by Tyndale House Publishers, Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster, WaterBrook Press, a Penguin Random House imprint, and Bethany House. She’s also an independent author.

Sandra’s series of historically sound Gothic romances launched with the best-selling Mist of Midnight, which earned a coveted Editor’s Choice award from the Historical Novel Society. The second book, Bride of a Distant Isle, has been selected by Romantic Times as a Top Pick. The third in the series, A Lady in Disguise, published in 2017 and was named by the American Library Association’s Booklist as one of the Top Ten Inspirational Fiction books of the year.

Her contemporary adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, which was a Christy Award finalist, as was her first historical novel, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. To Die For was also named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2011, and The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr was named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2012.

Please visit www.sandrabyrd.com to learn more or to invite Sandra to your book club via Skype. You can also connect with Sandra on Facebook   Twitter  Instagram Pinterest  Goodreads

#BookReview for Clash of Empires by Paul Bennett #HistoricalFiction @Joni2345zb

Clash of Empires 
The Mallory Saga
by Paul Bennett

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Book Details:
Publication Date: December 8, 2016
 224 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction


Book Description:  In 1756, Britain and France are on a collision course for control of the North American continent. The eventual result can be described as the first world war, known as the Seven Year’s War in Europe and the French and Indian War in the colonies. The Mallory family uproots from eastern Pennsylvania, and moves to the western frontier, where they find themselves in the middle of war. Daniel, Liam, and Liza (the three Mallory siblings) become involved in the conflict in ways that lead to emotional trauma for each. The story focuses on historical events and includes historical characters. Clash of Empires is an exciting look at the developments leading to the events of July 1776, which are chronicled in the sequel as we follow the exploits and fate of the Mallory clan.

My Review
I love reading about American History so I was glad to review Paul Bennett's Clash of Empires. The book tells the military and political story of the French and Indian War.

The author does a great job sending us back in time and introducing us to the Mallory family. The Mallorys start out farming but soon decide to head west to help run a trading post. As the Mallorys move they find themselves in the middle of fighting between Britain and France. The main character Liam marries into the Mohawk Indian tribe. 


I totally enjoyed this well-researched, detail-rich historical novel. The characters are memorable and believable. The book contained plenty of action including the battle scenes. The pace of the book was spot-on and my interest was held throughout. I can't wait to read more in this series.  

About the Author
Paul’s education was of the public variety and when he reached Junior High he discovered that his future did not include the fields of mathematics or science. This was generally the case throughout his years in school as he focused more on his interest in history; not just the rote version of names and dates but the causes. Paul studied Classical Civilization at Wayne State University with a smattering of Physical Anthropology thrown in for good measure. Logically, of course, Paul spent the next four decades drawing upon that vast store of knowledge working in large, multi-platform data centers, and is considered in the industry as a bona fide IBM Mainframe dinosaur heading for extinction. Paul currently resides in the quaint New England town of Salem, Massachusetts with his wife, Daryl. The three children have all grown, in the process turning Paul’s beard gray, and have now provided four grandchildren; the author is now going bald.

Blog Tour for The Underground River by Martha Conway #TheUndergroundRiverBlogTour #MarthaConway #UndergroundRailroad #histfic #historicalfiction #blogtour #HFVBTBlogTours

THE UNDERGROUND RIVER BY MARTHA CONWAY

Publication Date: June 20, 2017
Touchstone
Hardcover, eBook, AudioBook

Genre: Historical Fiction







The New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice


Set aboard a nineteenth century riverboat theater, this is the moving, page-turning story of a charmingly frank and naive seamstress who is blackmailed into saving runaways on the Underground Railroad, jeopardizing her freedom, her livelihood, and a new love.

It’s 1838, and May Bedloe works as a seamstress for her cousin, the famous actress Comfort Vertue—until their steamboat sinks on the Ohio River. Though they both survive, both must find new employment. Comfort is hired to give lectures by noted abolitionist, Flora Howard, and May finds work on a small flatboat, Hugo and Helena’s Floating Theatre, as it cruises the border between the northern states and the southern slave-holding states.

May becomes indispensable to Hugo and his troupe, and all goes well until she sees her cousin again. Comfort and Mrs. Howard are also traveling down the Ohio River, speaking out against slavery at the many riverside towns. May owes Mrs. Howard a debt she cannot repay, and Mrs. Howard uses the opportunity to enlist May in her network of shadowy characters who ferry babies given up by their slave mothers across the river to freedom. Lying has never come easy to May, but now she is compelled to break the law, deceive all her new-found friends, and deflect the rising suspicions of Dr. Early who captures runaways and sells them back to their southern masters.

As May’s secrets become more tangled and harder to keep, the Floating Theatre readies for its biggest performance yet. May’s predicament could mean doom for all her friends on board, including her beloved Hugo, unless she can figure out a way to trap those who know her best.
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | INDIEBOUND | BOOKS-A-MILLION | POWELL’S
 
My Review
This is my first read by author Martha Conway but I'm planning to go back and read her other books. Her first novel, 12 Bliss Street was nominated for an Edgar Award for Best First Novel. The setting for this novel is twenty years before the Civil War on the Ohio River which was the natural division between the free states in the North and the slave holding states of the South. 

My favorite character was May Bedloe. The novel was told in her point of view. I loved her bluntness and quirkiness. The story line flows smoothly. The author is a great storyteller. The author used some realistic historical events like the sinking of the steamboat Moselle. When I read historical fiction I love looking up things online to learn more about the subject. So glad I took part in this blog tour. I live close to the Ohio River making it all the more interesting. 


Praise for The Underground River

“Creating a perfectly straight seam finds echoes throughout the book in plot devices and metaphors, even in saving souls, and it may come as a surprise how lively and sustaining this lost art can be. Twain has his ‘Life on the Mississippi.’ Conway’s life on the Ohio makes you see the place, through May’s eyes, in all its muddy glory.” (The New York Times Book Review)

“The Underground River is both a dear love story and a page-turning adventure about the Underground Railroad—and an unwilling participant. An extraordinary cast of memorable characters gives this book irresistible appeal while the setting on the watery boundary between North and South places them in dangerous and morally ambiguous territory. A captivating, thoughtful, and unforgettable read.” (Kathleen Grissom, author of The Kitchen House and Glory over Everything)

“It is part of Martha Conway’s gift as a writer to weave stories from the richest and most interesting periods of American history. Set on a nineteenth century floating theatre on the Ohio River, The Underground River is a riveting and atmospheric novel about slavery, betrayal and redemption, with a memorably forthright heroine, and a plot as fast flowing and twisty as the river itself.” (Louisa Treger, author of The Lodger)

“Warning: The Underground River is a page-turner. Be prepared to stay up late reading, because once you start you won’t want to put it down. From the first page to the last, Martha Conway’s novel is riveting, immersing the reader in the adventures of an unlikely heroine who finds courage, independence and love amid the social turmoil of the Underground Railroad. Vividly drawn settings, original characters, and perilous situations make this mesmerizing book one you will remember for years to come.” (Amy Belding Brown, author of Flight of the Sparrow)

“Martha Conway’s The Underground River is simply wonderful, a novel in which the women—good and bad—matter. The tale is told by young May Bedloe, who grows up and falls in love as the modest little show-boat drifts down the river between the small towns of the slave-holding South and the free North. May is pitched into the middle of the Slave vs Free drama not through conviction–though she does indeed know what’s right–but by blackmail, until eventually she musters the courage to risk everything for another woman. I loved May, and I very much hope we have not seen the last of her.” (Beverly Swerling, author of City of Dreams)

“Well-researched and gripping to the end, The Underground River is a vivid look at a pivotal chapter in American history.” (The Mercury News)

“The Underground River evokes Twain in both story and setting. A compelling book that would no doubt please the Master of the Mississippi….A compelling story of a young woman who is trying to find her way in a world that, in a few years, will be ripped apart by war. A tale worthy of Twain.” (The Free Lance-Star)

“May herself is a marvelous creation, more than a little reminiscent of Mattie Ross in Charles Portis’ True Grit….You’ll root for her till the last page. Add a gentle love story and an especially sinister villain (who enters stage left, rather late) and The Underground River has the makings of a cult classic.” (Wilmington Star-News)

“Thanks to the success of Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad, the subject of the abolition movement is popular in fiction now. Conway (Thieving Forest; Sugarland) offers a novel take on the topic, and book groups will especially enjoy the distinctive setting, the rich historical details, and the thorny issues begging to be discussed.” (Library Journal)

“Readers will profit from narrator May’s attention to detail and will appreciate the richly drawn showboat and the North-South border 

setting.” (Booklist)
About the Author
Martha Conway grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, the sixth of seven daughters. Her first novel was nominated for an Edgar Award, and she has won several awards for her historical fiction, including an Independent Book Publishers Award and the North American Book Award for Historical Fiction. Her short fiction has been published in the Iowa Review, Massachusetts Review, Carolina Quarterly, Folio, Epoch, The Quarterly, and other journals. She has received a California Arts Council Fellowship for Creative Writing, and has reviewed books for the Iowa Review and the San Francisco Chronicle. She now lives in San Francisco, and is an instructor of creative writing for Stanford University’s Continuing Studies Program and UC Berkeley Extension. She is the author of The Underground River.

For more information, please visit Martha Conway’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads.
 Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, June 18
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Review at Just One More Chapter

Wednesday, June 20
Excerpt at Teaser Addicts Book Blog

Thursday, June 21
Guest Post at Let Them Read Books

Friday, June 22
Feature at Donna’s Book Blog

Saturday, June 23
Interview at T’s Stuff

Tuesday, June 26
Review at Creating Herstory

Wednesday, June 27
Review at Reviewing Nerds

Saturday, June 30
Review at Clarissa Reads it All

Monday, July 2
Review at What Cathy Read Next

Wednesday, July 4
Review at Library of Clean Reads

Friday, July 6
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views

Saturday, July 7
Review at Lady J’s Bookish Nook

Monday, July 9
Feature at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Wednesday, July 11
Review at Jorie Loves a Story
Excerpt at Jathan & Heather

Friday, July 13
Guest Post at Passages to the Past

Monday, July 16
Review at Pursuing Stacie

Tuesday, July 17
Feature at CelticLady’s Reviews

Friday, July 20
Excerpt at What Is That Book About

Monday, July 23
Review at Donna McCabe

Wednesday, July 25
Review at Writing the Renaissance

Thursday, July 26
Guest Post at Writing the Renaissance

#BlogTour for Trouble in Glamour Town by S.R. Mallery @SarahMallery1 #BookReview @Joni2345zb @hfvbt #HistoricalFiction #Giveaway

#BlogTour for Trouble in Glamour Town by S.R. Mallery. Be sure to check out what other bloggers are saying!

Book Details
Title: Trouble in Glamour Town
Author: S.R. Mallery
Publication Date: November 12, 2017

Murder. Corruption. Romance. Movie stars. A modern day TV shoot ‘em up?

No. It’s 1926 Old Hollywood, and a film producer is gunned down in cold blood. In comes Rosie, a pretty bit-player, who, in spite of her stage-mother’s expectations, just longs to be happy. Silent screen idols Clara Bow, Gloria Swanson, Lon Chaney, and Rudolph Valentino float in and out, as Los Angeles’ corruption is exposed, the era described, and a chase to find the killer revs up before there’s another hit.
“Trouble in Glamour Town is very historically accurate, portraying the real workings of the Hollywood sleaze, dishonesty and corruption happening at that time. S.R. Mallery is a gifted author who drew me into the story from the first word and kept me reading until the very last page…Trouble in Glamour Town is an old fashioned type of murder mystery story and is a very good read.” – Trudi LoPreto for Readers’ Favorite

 
AMAZON US | AMAZON UK

My Review
Trouble in Glamour Town, a historical mystery set in 1920’s Hollywood, is my first read by S.R. Mallery. The book begins with a film producer being gunned down in cold blood from a long distance and piqued my interest from the start. The cover art was amazing.

Detective Frank Lozano is the straight-arrow detective investigating the homicide. Rosie Paige is an actress trying to make it big as a Hollywood star while trying to keep her morals which is rare in her business. I really liked both of these authentic characters. Historical fiction/mystery is one of my favorite genres and the 1920’s old Hollywood is also a favorite time period/setting. The author mixes in real celebrities from the time period like Clara Bow, Lon Chaney, Gloria Swanson, and Rudolph Valentino. It was fun for me to look up and read more about them.

The mix of historical mystery, a little romance, and old Hollywood makes for a great read. I recommend this to those who love historical mysteries and 1920’s Hollywood. Loved it!! Just an overall great book. Thanks to S.R. Mallery and Amy Bruno at HF Virtual Book Tours for the opportunity to review this book. 

Author Bio

S.R. Mallery, two-time READERS’ FAVORITE Gold Medal Winner, has been labeled nothing short of ‘eclectic’. She has been a singer, a calligrapher, a quilt designer, and an ESL teacher. As a writer, History is her focus and is woven into her stories with a delicate thread. When people talk about the news of the day, or listen to music, her imagination likens the story to a similar kind of news in the past and is conjuring up scenes between characters she has yet to meet.

S.R. Mallery’s books include The Dolan Girls, Genteel Secrets, Unexpected Gifts, Sewing Can Be Dangerous And Other Small Threads, Tales to Count On, and Trouble in Glamour Town.

For more information, please visit S. R. Mallery’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

 
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away two eBooks of Trouble in Glamour Town! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on May 18th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
https://gleam.io/LgeXS/trouble-in-glamour-town

#BlogTour Madam of My Heart by Gini Grossenbacher @hfvbt @ggrossenbacher #HistoricalFiction #Giveaway @Joni2345zb

So excited to be taking part in the Blog Tour for Madam of My Heart by Gini Grossenbacher. I will be sharing an excerpt during my stop. Please be sure to check out the other stops on the tour listed below.

Book Details
Title: Madam of My Heart
Author: Gini Grossenbacher
Publication Date: February 6, 2017
Genre: Historical Fiction/Victorian
Series: American Madams #1
Pages: 476
ISBN-13: 978-0998380605

Baltimore, 1849. During a scandalous crisis, the young Irish Brianna Baird flees her home at Fells Point. With little cash and only a seamstress’s trade, she braves the hypnotic streets of New Orleans. The tantalizing Madam DeSalle lures her to her brothel, then sells her to the dashing but questionable gambler, Edward Spina, who falls in love with her. In a tawdry alliance with these two profiteers, Brianna embarks on a journey through the French Quarter’s debauched and glittering Voodoo world. Facing the horrors of slavery, she triumphs by gaining freedom papers for her maid Emma’s enslaved husband and son. Brianna and Edward escape with them to San Francisco. There she becomes one of the most sought after madams in the gold rush parlor house trade. But will her fame and pluck be enough to save Edward from the Vigilante noose? This is the first book in the American Madams series.

“A debut historical novel that chronicles the struggles, loves, and joys of an exceptional madam in 19th-century America. Grossenbacher’s book, the first in a planned series, dramatizes the early life and busy career of a woman named Brianna Baird. Grossenbacher’s prose is both graceful and inventive. She absorbingly limns the various cities Brianna inhabits, from New Orleans and its ‘web of Creole cottages, chaotic marketplaces, and secretive balconies, simmering outside her window, ‘ to the rowdy atmosphere of frontier-era San Francisco. The occasional marvelous metaphor will surprise readers, as when ‘the truth hit Brianna like a badly aimed bowling pin.’ This isn’t just a novel for lovers of history’s more prurient corners; it’s for everyone who likes well-deployed language and intense stories. A seamier side of American history, engagingly told through one woman’s unexpected adventures.” -Kirkus Reviews, A Recommended Review 

Buy Links
Amazon 
Barnes and Noble 
Indiebound 

Excerpt:
 Madam of My Heart: A Novel of Love, Loss and Redemption
Gini Grossenbacher
JGKS Press, ©2017
Chapter Nineteen: Chocolate Cream Filling
New Orleans, Louisiana
May 1850
Brianna devoured the chocolate cream filling while Nancy hooked her elbow, guiding her from the French Market out onto the street. If the woman threatened her, she could always run back to Poet and Love. On the other hand, DeSalle might be a showier version of her idol, Mrs. Whipple. She’d followed Mrs. Whipple’s every move about the Inn, learning from someone in charge, someone to imitate as she’d planned her own seamstress shop. So, she paid attention while Nancy peppered her with the regulations posted in the upstairs rooms at the parlor house.
As they stepped out onto the street, DeSalle said, “Of course, any men visitors will need my approval. My girls drink no alcohol on the premises at any time. You will not have any money in your possession, since your earnings, room, and board are managed by the house.”
Brianna stopped, struggling with uncertainty. “Does that mean I would have to ask you for any spending money?” Would she like that agreement? Her thoughts returned to Baltimore. A few seamstresses at Miss Osborne’s had told her about such arrangements, when they had worked in-house at a hotel or on a private estate.
Nancy faced her. “Of course, of course, although you’ll have very little use for spending money since the house provides for all your needs.”
Brianna chewed her bottom lip. She and Nancy resumed their walk, stepping around a pile of steamy horse droppings. A milk truck rumbled past, followed by a boy driving a flock of sheep down to the loading docks.
She noticed Nancy’s sideways glance as she spoke. “Above all, chérie, do your best to get along with all the girls at the house. Any fighting or discord and I’ll put you back onto the street to fend for yourself.” The woman’s eyes took on a threatening cast. “You wouldn’t want that again, now would you?”
“No, of course not,” Brianna said. She digested the details along with her chocolat, and
her nervousness lessened. She remembered Father throwing the plates. These were hardly rules.
Not compared to Father’s. She felt a bit of hope and reassurance. She’d do her best to get along.
As long as she worked hard and did her part to be agreeable, DeSalle would meet all her needs.
What more did she deserve? She’d fallen to the bottom of a well and she’d have to claw her way back out.
* * *
Brianna and Nancy DeSalle fell into an easy rhythm on their walk together on Chartres
Street. Their footsteps kept time with a Congolese drummer’s beat. White clouds streaked with gray sailed overhead. They passed the tall, creamy façades of the Presbytère Courthouse and St. Louis Cathedral. The Latin call-and-response of the priest and the congregation floated out
through the open doors. Morning mass, Brianna thought. She peered into the vestibule and down the nave. Outside DeSalle guided her onward through a cluster of artists painting the scene. They dipped their brushes on easels, then dabbed paints on canvases.
A hefty Negro crossed their path as they neared the Cabildo, another tall-columned court
building on her right. The man whistled a song; he pushed a large box on a wheelbarrow toward the wharf. Across from the Place D’Armes, sailing and steam ships anchored at an angle, and around them, the brown Mississippi glistened like café au lait. Steamboats and flatboats frothed the waters as they churned upriver.
A hunchback drove a rickety conveyance between them, the horses kicking up dust and
mud on St. Peter Street. Brianna coughed into her sleeve. This wagon, crammed with colored men, women, and children, creaked by on its way from the slave market. Sweat-lined faces
stared at her, blank, unseeing. Chains jangled against the wood floor. She drew back, picturing the scene a few months ago when Mr. Ginn had told her about the human trade in New Orleans.
He’d told her that white and colored men of means examined naked men, women, and children, then dickered on their worth.
Plantation owners retained all rights to these human lives and their generations. Brianna
had not seen such a cruel display since the time she had witnessed a slave whipping on a dock
back in Fells Point. All the same, she closed her eyes. Please God, help those unfortunates and
me. She followed DeSalle’s abrupt right turn at the red brick Pontalba building onto St. Peter
Street, where shoppers were strolling. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted two men in straw hats. They paused to stare at her and DeSalle from across the narrow street.
Accustomed to flaunting her wares, DeSalle bent down to pick up a leaf, gravity tugging
her breasts from her chemise. The taller man elbowed the shorter at the sight of the madam, but the other’s steady gaze found Brianna’s. She worked to maintain what delicate control she had over herself when all she wanted to do was get to DeSalle’s house. She brushed brioche flakes
from her chin.
The same man removed his hat, bowing in her direction. A man had never hailed her in
such a way before, and Brianna blushed. She felt the encouraging press of Nancy’s arm, so she bent her knee and the men tipped their hats. A laugh ricocheted across the street. What kind of
snicker was it? At first she found it mocking, but the next moment, she thought the men were
being playful, entertaining.
Brianna squinted in order to get a better view of them. The shorter man had slim, dark
features. Spanish or Italian? So many cultures mixed here in New Orleans. She looked at hisolive skin and black moustache. His straw hat glowed white against the dingy building behind him. He wore a pressed linen jacket, red cravat, and fine black leather boots. He looked to be a bit older. A troubling thought took hold. Could he be one of the many gamblers in town?

About the Author:

California author Gini Grossenbacher was a successful high school English teacher until she abandoned grades and term papers, choosing to write historical novels instead. Now she leads small writing groups and coaches other writers. She loves researching the history behind her novels, and enjoys traveling to the setting where they take place. Her hobbies include needlepoint, nature walks, and Scrabble. She lives in the Sacramento Valley where she grew up, east of San Francisco.

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