Like many readers, I purchased this volume because I am fascinated by Genghis Khan, especially his relationships towards the women in his life. Most everyone knows that Genghis Khan swept onto the […]
THE SKY WORSHIPERS by F. M. Deemyad
Cynthia
Cynthia Sally Haggard was born and reared in Surrey, England. About 30 years ago she surfaced in the United States, settling in the Mid-Atlantic region as she wound her way through four careers: violinist, cognitive scientist, medical writer, and novelist.
In June, 2015, Cynthia graduated with an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University, Cambridge MA.
Her first novel, "Thwarted Queen," a frustrating tale (hence the title) of a woman who was nearly crowned Queen of England, was shortlisted for many awards, including the 2012 Eric Hoffer New Horizon Award for debut authors. To date, sales have surpassed 38,000 copies.
Her second novel, "Farewell My Life," a Cinderella-ish tale with not-so-charming princes who inhabit the edgy setting of 1920s and 1930s Berlin during the rise of the Nazis, won a Pinnacle Award for Historical Fiction (2019) and was a Distinguished Favorite for the 2019 New York City Big Book Awards.
FIREFLY LANE by Kristin Hannah, narrated by Susan Ericksen
In the beginning, FIREFLY LANE reads like the backstory to BETWEEN SISTERS, Kristin Hannah’s previous novel. As in BETWEEN SISTERS, we have two very different women. Like Meghan Dontiss in SISTERS, Tully […]
How do you like to experience fiction?
Good afternoon everyone! I’m running a poll over on LinkedIn about how people like to experience fiction, particularly Historical Fiction. If you’d like to join in, please tap on the image! Thanks […]
SIDROC THE DANE by Octavia Randolph narrated by Nano Nagle
At first glance, this volume did not impress as it seemed to be about young (and very young) men having a whale of a time (pun intended) sailing on stormy seas and […]
BIG MAGIC, Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert, read by the author
I think it is tremendously hard to write a self-help book about anything WITHOUT coming across as unbearably narcissistic. So kudos to Elizabeth Gilbert for putting herself out there, knowing full well […]
BETWEEN SISTERS by Kristin Hannah narrated by Laural Merlington
Despite many negative reviews, I found BETWEEN SISTERS compelling. And I found Laural Merlington’s narration superb. I think many of us who have sisters (or siblings) know how fragile those relationships can […]
FOR ME FATE WOVE THIS (Ceridwen #8) by Octavia Randolph narrated by Nano Nagle
This novel is the third of three about the younger generation, the sons and daughters of Ceridwen, Sidroc, Gyric, Godwin and Aelfwin. The first of these three (SILVER HAMMER, GOLDEN CROSS) ends […]
WILDSWEPT (Ceridwen #7) by Octavia Spencer narrated by Nano Nagle
Instead of being in the foreground of WILDSWEPT, as one might expect, the war formed a slightly edgy backdrop to a story about the relationships that the heirs to Ceridwen, Sidroc, Godwin […]
DISTANT SHORES by Kristin Hannah
How I loved this atmospheric novel that exuded such quiet power! Elizabeth and Jack Shore married when very young in their early twenties, and quickly had two children. Of course, they adore […]
REVELATIONS by Mary Sharratt narrated by Polly Lee
How I loved this book! How refreshing to read about a Saint who was a continual source of irritation to everyone around her! From her sharp tongue to her noisy weeping (which […]
BRIGID OF KILDARE by Marie Benedict writing as Heather Terrell, narrated by Terry Donnelly
BRIGID OF KILDARE is a skillfully-written well-paced novel by author Marie Benedict, writing under the name Heather Terrell. Like many such novels, it is a braided narrative. However, the present day (which […]
SUMMER ISLAND by Kristin Hannah narrated by Joyce Bean
It is always fascinating to read earlier works by authors who have now become well-known. Kristin Hannah’s magnificent novel THE NIGHTINGALE gave her well-deserved fame, but prior to writing that novel, she […]
HOUSE OF VERSACE by Deborah Ball, narrated by Jo Anna Perrin
After reading HOUSE OF GUCCI I was dying to find out more about the Versace family, and this book didn’t disappoint. My favorite part was the beginning, which described what it was […]
HOUSE OF GUCCI by Sara Gay Forden narrated by Fajer Al-Kaisi
What an amazing story! Who could resist a tale about Murder, Madness, Glamour & Greed? This volume was not solely focused on the murder of Maurizio Gucci. Instead, it provided a […]
ANGEL FALLS by Kristin Hannah
It had never occurred to me before that Kristin Hannah’s novels resemble Jodi Picoult’s. Like Jodi Picoult, this novel has a punning title. Like her, the novel takes place in small-town USA […]
K IS FOR KILLER by Sue Grafton read by Mary Peiffer
Lorna Kepler, a stunning loner, dies suddenly. Her body is so badly decomposed when someone eventually finds it in the lonely hut she called home, the cops think she may have died […]
THE LOST APOTHECARY by Sarah Penner
I am puzzled as to why so many authors have recently taken to writing braided narratives as they are very hard to do. (Especially for debut authors.) Inevitably the part set in […]
THE NIGHT HAWKS (RUTH GALLOWAY #13) by Elly Griffiths read by Jane McDowell
For those of you who may not know, Norfolk is in a remote part of the UK, so it is no wonder that old tales about enormous dark dogs whose bark is […]
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