Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop - March 26th to April 2nd

 

Hi everyone,

Last year I read Dewitched: The Untold Story of the Evil Queen (Dewitched #1) and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I just cannot stop praising it (read on to see my review). I also adore the gorgeous cover.

When I found out that I Am A Reader, Not A Writer , The Book Rat and A Backwards Story were hosting a Giveaway for fairytale-themed books, Dewitched came to mind and I signed up immediately.

I was so touched when Ellen offered to give away both an ebook copy and a signed paperback copy to two lucky readers. Thank you so much, Ellen.

To enter the giveaway, please use the Rafflecopter.

DESCRIPTION

After serving time for Snow White’s attempted murder, the Evil Queen is about to get a makeover. Just not the kind she expected. Thinking she’s being sent to a luxurious spa that will enable her to restore her beauty and recapture her title, Fairest of All, Jane Yvel instead finds herself at Faraway, a rehab center that caters to Fairytalelanders addicted to evil.

Upon confronting her love-hate relationship with her magic mirror and the demons of her past, she is sent back to the world of happily-ever-after. Her goal: to discover the true meaning of beauty. Her assignment: to work for Marcella, a demanding Princess-In-Waiting. Jane finds herself irresistibly drawn to Marcella's dashing fiancé, Prince Gallant, and his exquisite seven-year old daughter, Calla Rose. Will the Evil Queen who had no heart end up with a heart that’s broken?

Wickedly funny, darkly shocking, and deeply moving, DEWITCHED unravels the Snow White story as we know it and will make you see the evil legend in a new light as she rewrites her life.

MY REVIEW (written August 2012)

Dewitched blew me away. I started off hating Jane because of what she did to Snow, but in the course of the novel the author gave me a peek into Jane's past life and helped me understand what makes her do the things she does. Why she is so addicted to evil. Before my eyes and with every word and page, E. L. Sarnoff made Jane human. Until I got to the point where my heart really went out to her.

E. L. Sarnoff is a very talented author who is very skilled at painting with words. The world (Lalaland) she created was very real, magical, and beautiful. And so inviting, I felt like one of the inhabitants.

Thank you so much E. L. Sarnoff for breathing new life into the fairytale characters from my childhood. It was a delightful reunion. The great thing about this novel is that even if it was mostly about Jane's life, at the same time all the other fairytale characters (E.g. Hook, Rumpelstiltskin, Pinocchio etc.) got a fair chance to tell their own backstories.

For a while after the story ended, I felt so empty. It will be hard to start reading another book. You have no idea how much I look forward to the sequel of Dewitched.

Don't miss out on this amazing fairytale, the chance to get reacquainted with your childhood characters. Be warned though. This novel comes with one huge side effect--sleepless nights. You wouldn't want to put it down.

I'm off to add E. L. Sarnoff to my list of favorite authors. 

The second book in the Dewitched series, Unhitched: The Untold Story of the Evil Queen 2,  was released in October and of course I bought it immediately. I wasn't disappointed.

DESCRIPTION

Reformed Evil Queen, Jane Yvel, now has it all--her handsome Prince Gallant, a loving daughter, and a successful career. The only thing missing is a baby with her husband, something she both desires and fears in light of her sordid past.

But happily ever after may go up in smoke when Jane discovers a love letter to Gallant from a woman from his past--Princess Aurora aka Sleeping Beauty.

Jane becomes obsessed with her prince’s affair. As she gathers evidence, she gets disturbing news that will change her life forever and makes a shocking discovery that threatens both her life and Gallant’s.

Will the Fairest of All be able to save her fairy tale marriage and those she loves? Or will the forces of evil triumph?

The evil legend’s journey continues in this wickedly funny, deeply moving, and darkly shocking sequel to DEWITCHED: The Untold Story of the Evil Queen.
Now for your chance to win:
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway Visit other blogs participating in the Giveaway Hop:

Super Book Blast Tour: Summerset Abbey: A Bloom in Winter by T.J. Brown

Dear friends and visitors,

I have a little something for fans of Historical Women's Fiction. I’d like to introduce you to Summerset Abbey: A Bloom in Winter by T.J. Brown. I LOVE the cover. Isn't it gorgeous?

To thank you for your support, the author brought along a  4 piece Whimsical Butterfly Tea set to be awarded to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour (US only). This tea set is handcrafted by artist April Cook of white stoneware slip and painted with a unique whimsical design of a butterfly in lime green and plum glaze. It is both dishwasher and microwave safe. The set includes a 32 oz. tea pot with lid, creamer and sugar bowl. 

Did that put you in the mood for a cup of tea? Then follow the tour and comment to increase your chances of winning. The tour dates are available HERE.

Summerset Abbey: A Bloom in Winter

by T. J. Brown

BLURB:

After Prudence’s desperate marriage and move to London, sisters Rowena and Victoria fear they have lost their beloved friend forever. Guilt-ridden and remorseful, Rowena seeks comfort from a daring flyboy and embraces the most dangerous activity the world has ever seen, and Victoria defies her family and her illness to make her own dream occupation as a botanist come true. As England and the world step closer to conflict, the two young women flout their family, their upbringing, and their heritage to seize a modern future of their own making.

Victoria Buxton

With her delicate constitution but strong, unflappable spirit, Victoria has never followed societal conventions, the rules of fashion, or the pursuit of a husband. Instead, she finds herself drawn to the controversial—and dangerous—fight for women’s suffrage. But her dream is compromised, and her heart divided, when her struggles for equal rights collide with unexpected love.

Rowena Buxton

After yearning to no avail for a certain young pilot to fly back into her life, Rowena fears her chances for happiness have been jeopardized by recklessness and scandal. Burdened with guilt for bringing her sister Prudence to Summerset Abbey as a lady’s maid while she herself led a life of privilege, Rowena hopes to one day make amends. But her desire to set things right is complicated by her passion for flight and a sudden engagement…to the wrong man.

Prudence Tate

Raised like a sister to Victoria and Rowena, then banished to the servants’ quarters when their father passed away, Prudence has seen both sides of life, upstairs and down. But once the truth about her parentage was revealed, Prudence forged a new life for herself, married to a penniless veterinary student. Living in poverty in a shabby London flat, she wonders if she’s made a terrible mistake—and there’s no turning back...

EXCERPT

The nurse got Victoria into bed and settled the covers over her. Victoria’s bones ached and even the roughness of the gray woolen blankets and the hard mattress felt wonderful. When the woman moved to leave, Victoria caught her arm. “Wait,” she pleaded. It seemed as if this woman was the only person between Victoria and unknown terrors. “When will I see a judge? When can I see my family?”

The woman shook her head and flicked a switch off. The only light now came from the open door, and long shadows spilled over Victoria’s bed “I don’t know. It’s hard to tell.”

“What’s your name?” Victoria pleaded. Anything to keep the door from shutting.

“Eleanor. I’ll check on you before my shift is up. Now try to get some sleep.”

The light slivered and then was gone. The darkness, once the door had closed, was absolute, and Victoria trembled. She’d never liked being alone at night, and for years she had slept with Prudence to keep the nightmares away.

There was no one to keep the nightmares away now. Of course, how could anything her mind conjured be worse than her current reality?

Tears rose and fell down her cheeks in the darkness. How did she get here? Why hadn’t she just ignored Mary’s note? The woman was mad. Victoria wondered where she was and then realized that Mary was no doubt locked in a cell in this very prison.

She wiped the tears with her hands. Her uncle would get her out if he could. He was an important man and a rich one to boot. Surely he could do something.

With a sinking heart, she remembered some of the newspaper articles she’d read over the preceding months. Public opinion might be mixed on the suffragettes, but the justice system was not. Most judges had no sympathy whatsoever, and they had been known to throw a suffragette in jail and toss the key at the same time. And if they really thought she had plotted to destroy the painting . . . Victoria shuddered.

Something dropped outside the door and she stilled. She could hear muffled voices for a bit as the nurses and orderlies worked their way from room to room, checking on patients, and she listened intently. At least she knew there were people out there and she wasn’t all alone. But the noises grew fainter and fainter and soon there was only the sound of her own ragged breathing. Then a soft moaning began and her heart leapt jaggedly in her chest. She screwed her eyes up tight against the darkness and began to recite:

Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe. . . .

Victoria paused with a shudder. No. Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky” was much too frightening for this situation. Her father used to run his fingers through his hair and recite it while making the most horrible faces. Father! She swallowed and began again. This time choosing Rudyard Kipling’s, “The Bee Boy’s Song.”

Bees! Bees! Hark to your bees!

"Hide from your neigbours as much as you please,

But all that has happened, to us you must tell,

Or else we will give you no honey to sell!"

  

AUTHOR Bio:

TJ Brown is passionate about books, writing, history, dachshunds and mojitos. If she could go back in time, she would have traveled back to England, 1910, Paris, 1927 or Haight-Ashbury, 1967. She resides in the burbs of Portlandia, where she appreciates the weirdness, the microbreweries, hoodies, Voodoo Donuts and the rain. 

 www.tjbrownbooks.com

Twitter: @teribrownwrites

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teri.foremanbrown

Purchase Links:

• S&S:  http://books.simonandschuster.com/buy/Summerset-Abbey-A-Bloom-in-Winter/9781451699050/from-other-retailers#book_retailers

• AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1451699050/simonsayscom

• B&N: http://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?mid=36889&id=PwUJvmDcu1U&murl=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.barnesandnoble.com%2FbookSearch%2FisbnInquiry.asp%3Fr%3D1%26ISBN%3D9781451699050

• BAM: http://www.booksamillion.com/ncom/books?isbn=1451699050

• INDIEBOUND: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781451699050