Book Spotlight - The Unwilling: A Novel by Kelly Braffet + Giveaway

Brand: MIRA

Categories: Historical Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Epic Fantasy

On Sale Date: February  11, 2020

Publication Month: February 2020

ISBN: 9781488055393

Praise for THE UNWILLING

"Kelly Braffet is extraordinary... Familiar yet entirely unique, The Unwilling is the sort of story that seeps under your skin and pulses there, intimate and vibrant and alive. Fantasy at its most sublime." —Erin Morgenstern, New York Times bestselling author of The Starless Sea and The Night Circus

"A juggernaut of an epic fantasy novel with ingenious, thrilling twists and turns. Put this on the shelf beside Naomi Novik and George R. R. Martin. Kelly Braffet is a marvel and I'll read anything she writes." —Kelly Link, MacArthur Genius Recipient and of Get in Trouble

"Kelly Braffet's The Unwilling is a viscerally powerful book. Full of complex and compelling characters, this is the story of the corruptions of power and the strength it takes to resist. This is an incredible, brilliant story." —Kat Howard, author of Roses and Rot

"Gorgeously told, The Unwilling is at once a sweeping epic and an intimate portrait of being trapped in an oppressive regime. Meet your new favorite fantasy writer." —Gwenda Bond, New York Times bestselling author of Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds

"Suspenseful, magical, wonderfully written, and never predictable, Braffet's first foray into speculative fiction is an essential addition to all epic-fantasy collections." —Booklist, STARRED Review

"Wow...The characters, the world, the magic and greed and politics and pain--all of it adds up to something wonderful. I love it." —Ellen Datlow, award-winning editor and anthologist

A penetrating tale of magic, faith and pride…

The Unwilling is the story of Judah, a foundling born with a special gift and raised inside Highfall castle along with Gavin, the son and heir to Lord Elban’s vast empire. Judah and Gavin share an unnatural bond that is both the key to her survival…and possibly her undoing.

As Gavin is groomed for his future role, Judah comes to realize that she has no real position within the kingdom, in fact, no hope at all of ever traveling beyond its castle walls. Elban—a lord as mighty as he is cruel—has his own plans for her, for all of them. She is a mere pawn to him, and he will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

But outside the walls, in the starving, desperate city, a magus, a healer with his own secret power unlike anything Highfall has seen in years, is newly arrived from the provinces. He, too, has plans for the empire, and at the heart of those plans lies Judah… The girl who started life with no name and no history will soon uncover more to her story than she ever imagined.

An epic tale of greed and ambition, cruelty and love, this deeply immersive novel is about bowing to traditions and burning them down.

You can purchase The Unwilling at the following Retailers:

        

Photo Content from Kelly Braffet

Kelly Braffet is the author of the novels The Unwilling, Save Yourself, Josie and Jack and Last Seen Leaving. Her writing has been published in The Fairy Tale Review, Post Road, and several anthologies. She attended Sarah Lawrence College and Columbia University and currently lives in upstate New York with her husband, the author Owen King.

      

WEEK ONE — REVIEWS/INTERVIEW

FEBRUARY 10th MONDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW

FEBRUARY 11th TUESDAY Nay's Pink Bookshelf REVIEW

FEBRUARY 12th WEDNESDAY Casia's Corner REVIEW 

FEBRUARY 13th THURSDAY Here's to Happy Endings REVIEW

FEBRUARY 13th THURSDAY MetalPhantasmReads REVIEW

FEBRUARY 14th FRIDAY Movies, Shows, & Books EXCERPT

FEBRUARY 14th FRIDAY On My Bookshelf REVIEW 

WEEK TWO — REVIEWS

FEBRUARY 17th MONDAY BookHounds REVIEW 

FEBRUARY 18th TUESDAY Ya It's Lit REVIEW 

FEBRUARY 19th WEDNESDAY Gwendalyn's Books REVIEW

FEBRUARY 19th WEDNESDAY Two Points of Interest REVIEW 

FEBRUARY 20th THURSDAY Book Briefs REVIEW 

FEBRUARY 20th THURSDAY Adventures Thru Wonderland REVIEW

FEBRUARY 21st FRIDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rituals Honey Touch Indian Rose & Himalaya Honey Rich and Nourishing Body Cream

The Rituals honey touch body cream is packed with Himalayan honey, Indian rose extracts, shea butter, sunflower seed oil, and cocoa butter. The creamy luxurious cream goes on smoothly and doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy. I found the soft rose scent to be relaxing and stayed on my skin throughout the day.

Book Review - Promise for Tomorrow by Michelle DeBruin + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Logan and Karen decide to live a life of faith but, things are not going as they planned. Karen Millerson hoped to be teaching at a high school but, she is now teaching at a country school while boarding with a family of farmers.  She becomes engaged to  Logan De Witt and shares a life of faith with him. However, after a tragic accident occurs and the school catches on fire, Karen is blamed. Her future at the school remains uncertain.

Logan De Witt is working to remove his family from financial debt. However, when he accidentally breaks his leg, he is unable to work the farm which affects his ability to repaid the debt. Logan is faced with difficult decisions that might affect his desire to marry Karen. Will Logan and Karen find a way to care for his family and protect his love for Karen?

This the second novel in the series and while it can be read as a standalone, I felt like I was missing as few references as I didn't read the first book. For example, the struggles that Logan and Karen faced before agreeing to get married were already sorted in the beginning but, the couple didn't want their relationship to be noted as scandalous as they were courting while she lived with him. There were a few places were the book was a bit slow but, I enjoyed the plot twists. I enjoyed the part where the kids were playing pranks with each other even though, I felt for Karen.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Promise for Tomorrow
By Michelle De Bruin
Christian Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 290 Pages
November 19th 2019 by Mantle Rock Publishing

Living a life of faith isn’t going the way Logan and Karen hoped until some special visitors arrive and offer them their future back.

Karen Millerson dreamed of teaching high school but now finds herself boarding with a farm family and teaching country school. She is engaged to marry Logan De Witt and is getting prepared to share in ministry with him. But when she gets blamed for the tragic fire at the school, Karen’s future grows uncertain.

Logan De Witt is working to clear his family’s name with the bank. But when he breaks his leg, hindering his ability to work the farm, Logan is faced with life-changing decisions. When his best friend can’t offer the help he requested, can Logan find a way to care for his family and court Karen at the same time before his love for her destroys all of them?

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Other Books in the Series

Hope for Tomorrow
By Michelle De Bruin
Christian Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 294 Pages
October 23rd 2018 by Mantle Rock Publishing LLC

When Logan De Witt learns of his father’s sudden death, he returns home to the family’s dairy farm. During his stay, he discovers his mother’s struggle with finances and his younger sister’s struggle with grief. Concern for his family presses Logan to make the difficult decision to leave his career as a pastor and stay on the farm. As a way to make some extra money, he agrees to board the teacher for their local school.

Karen Millerson arrives from Chicago ready to teach high school but her position is eliminated so she accepts the role of country school teacher. Eager to put her family’s ugly past behind her, Karen begins a new career to replace the trust she lost in her own father who had been in ministry when she was a child.

Logan and Karen both sense a call from the Lord to serve him, but neither of them expected that one day they would do it together.

Can Karen learn to trust again? Will Logan lay aside his grief in exchange for God’s purpose for his life?

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

About the Author

Michelle De Bruin lives in Iowa with her husband and two teenage sons. She has a bachelor’s degree in Religion with a Christian Ministry emphasis, and in Music. Michelle is the spiritual services provider for an organization that offers services for people with mental and physical disabilities. She has been a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) since 2015. Michelle writes inspirational historical romance about people who live in rural communities. Characters that bring to life the delights of farm and small-town living, whispers of Dutch heritage, and Christian faith make Michelle’s stories distinct. A romantic at heart, Michelle is always on the lookout for glimpses of God’s love through the window of a good story. Her first book, Hope for Tomorrow, released in 2018. The sequel, Promise for Tomorrow, released November 2019.

Website | Goodreads | BookBub | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a signed print copy of Promise for Tomorrow, chocolates, and a winter-themed quilted table runner (US only)

Ends February 26, 2020

ENTER HERE

Book Review - Courting Mr. Emerson by Melody Carlson

Photo Credit - Amazon

Willow West is a gallery owner who is spontaneous and loves to have fun. When she crosses path with George Emerson, who is a button-up retired English teacher, she wasn't sure what to think of him.  However, she finds George interesting and wants him to loosen up and enjoy life.  While trying to make George embrace life, she finds herself falling for him.

George straddles the line of being irritated and attracted to Willow. He thinks Willow is around to often but, he misses her when she isn't around. George isn't interested in making new friends or trying new things as it hurts when you lose people you care about.

I thought the novel was an interesting premise. I thought both characters were flawed but, continue to grow and learn throughout their relationship. I did get annoyed during some parts of the novel, where they both accused each other of overstepping their bounds but, they both do the same thing.  They try to make the other person happy without actually considering the person's feelings. I also, felt like George and Willow were the most developed characters. I felt like the daughter and grandson felt forced and their conversations didn't feel authenticate. Another example, George knows he is closed off but, he becomes dismayed when his retirement party didn't have a big turnout.  This book wasn't my favorite by the author but, I will continue to read her novels.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez

Photo Credit - Amazon

Serving as a decoy Condesa, an Illustrian royal is all Ximena knows. She lost everything, including her family when Atoc, used an ancient relic to summon ghosts to gain control of La Ciudad from the Illustrians. Ximena's revenge is fueled by the grief of losing her loved ones. She decides to use her rage to seek vengeance against Atoc utilizing her rare ability to make thread from the moonlight.

When Atoc demands Condesa's hand in marriage, Ximena goes in place of the real Condesa, in hopes to find a way to end the war. She decides to become a spy and try to locate Atoc's deadly weapon for her cause to return the rightful Condesa to the throne. However, when she spends time with the inhabitants of the court, her mission becomes complicated. 

I thought the novel had an interesting premise and I enjoyed Ximena's ability. At first, I thought weaving moonlight was silly but, as the novel progressed I thought it was pretty cool.  I thought the novel was an enjoyable read but, the first half of the novel was very boring and slow.  I am interested in reading more books in the series (hopefully!).

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Spotlight - The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh by Candace Fleming + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

About the Book:

Title: THE RISE AND FALL OF CHARLES LINDBERGH

Author: Candace Fleming

Pub. Date: February 11, 2020

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 384

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD

SIX STARRED REVIEWS!

Discover the dark side of Charles Lindbergh--one of America's most celebrated heroes and complicated men--in this riveting biography from the acclaimed author of The Family Romanov .

First human to cross the Atlantic via airplane; one of the first American media sensations; Nazi sympathizer and anti-Semite; loner whose baby was kidnapped and murdered; champion of Eugenics, the science of improving a human population by controlled breeding; tireless environmentalist. Charles Lindbergh was all of the above and more. Here is a rich, multi-faceted, utterly spellbinding biography about an American hero who was also a deeply flawed man. In this time where values Lindbergh held, like white Nationalism and America First, are once again on the rise, The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh is essential reading for teens and history fanatics alike.

About Candace:

Candace Fleming awarded herself the Newbery Medal in fifth grade after scraping the gold sticker off the class copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond and pasting it onto her first novel—a ten-page, ten-chapter mystery called Who Done It? She’s been collecting awards (her own, not Elizabeth George Speare’s) ever since.

Today, Candace is the versatile and acclaimed author of more than forty books for children and young adults, including the Los Angeles Times Book Prize honored The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of the Russian Empire; Boston Globe/Horn Book Award-winning biography, The Lincolns; the bestselling picture book, Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!; the Sibert-Award-winning Giant Squid; and the beloved Boxes for Katje. She contributed the chapter on Katharine of Aragon to Fatal Throne. Photo credit: Michael Lionstar.

Website |  Twitter | Instagram | Facebook |  Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a signed finished copy of THE RISE AND FALL OF CHARLES LINDBERGH, US Only.

Rafflecopter link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba21046/?

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/3/2020	Texan Girl Reviews	Excerpt
2/4/2020	BookHounds YA	Interview
2/5/2020	Lifestyle of Me	Review
2/6/2020	She Just Loves Books (Blog) / @shejustlovesbooks (Instagram)	Review
2/7/2020	Hurn Publications	Review

Week Two:

2/10/2020	momfluenster	Excerpt
2/11/2020	Two Chicks on Books	Interview
2/12/2020	ChristenKrumm	Review
2/13/2020	notinjersey	Review
2/14/2020	Two Points of Interest	Review