“Catch and Kill” refers to a tactic used by news organizations to get rid of stories they don’t like. They spend a (HUGE) sum of money to buy the rights to the […]
Ronan Farrow’s CATCH & KILL: Lies, Spies and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators
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.
THE DAUGHTERS OF PALATINE HILL by Phyllis T. Smith, narrated by Cristina Panfilio, Joyce Bean & Amy McFadden
THE DAUGHTERS OF PALATINE HILL is the sequel to I AM LIVIA. Whereas the first novel dealt with the life of Livia Drusilla and her relationship with the Emperor Augustus, DAUGHTERS deals […]
I AM LIVIA by Phyllis T. Smith, narrated by Joyce Bean
I AM LIVIA opens in an arresting way, when 15-year-old Livia Drusilla overhears her father and his friends plotting to murder Julius Caesar. Most novels would be a disappointment after that opening. […]
Read an eye-witness account of Pliny the Elder’s “Manifestation,” (POMPEII by Robert Harris, narrated by John Lee)
Having visited Pompeii a couple of years ago, I decided to read this book, and I was enthralled. The characters seem so real, especially that of Pliny the Elder (uncle of the […]
TRUE COLORS by Kristin Hannah, narrated by Sandra Burr
I have been reading Kristin Hannah’s novels in order, so that I can get to know this remarkable writer better. But I have NOT been reading all of her novels, just cherrypicking […]
THE MAN WHO DIED TWICE (Thursday Murder Club #2) by Richard Osman, narrated by Lesley Manville
Like many readers, I thought this book was better than the first one. That is because Richard Osman has learned to make things LESS complicated for his readers by cutting out the […]
Two Book Funnel Promos Starting Today!
Everyone, I thought you might like to know I’m running TWO Book Funnel Promos Starting Today!
George R. R. Martin’s A DANCE WITH DRAGONS (A SONG OF ICE & FIRE #5)
I’d like to start my review by mentioning all the positive things about this series, which keeps me reading. GRRM has created compelling characters in Sansa, Arya, Jon Snow, Jaime Lannister, Tyrion […]
A FEAST FOR CROWS (SONG OF ICE & FIRE #4) by George R. R. Martin
I can see why people have problems with this volume of A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, titled A FEAST FOR CROWS. We spend a great deal of time in the company […]
A STORM OF SWORDS (A SONG OF ICE & FIRE #3) by George R. R. Martin
In A STORM OF SWORDS George Martin shows how ruthless a truly great author has to be, for in this volume we come across the infamous Red Wedding. Those of you who […]
George R. R. Martin’s A CLASH OF KINGS (A SONG OF ICE & FIRE #2)
The King is dead and chaos reigns. Sitting on the Iron Throne is the vicious boy-king Joffrey, ruled over by his ambitious, ruthless, amoral and disquietingly beautiful mother Queen Cersei. But many […]
A GAME OF THRONES (SONG OF ICE & FIRE #1) by George R. R. Martin
I came to A GAME OF THRONES because I read (and write) historical novels set during the Wars of the Roses, so I wanted to see what this writer of epic fantasy […]
Book Funnel Promo starting Today!
Everyone, I thought you might like to know I’m running a Black Friday promo for FAREWELL MY LIFE on Book Funnel. Tap below to participate! Happy Thanksgiving! Warmly, Cynthia
HOUSE OF GUCCI MOVIE RELEASED TODAY!
What an amazing story! Who could resist a tale about Murder, Madness, Glamour & Greed? The following is a review of the original book by Sara Gay Forden narrated by Fajer Al-Kaisi. […]
THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB by Richard Osman, narrated by Lesley Manville
This volume was recommended to me by my sister, who absolutely adored it. I didn’t have quite the same reaction. Like many readers, I loved the beginning. How could you not when […]
FLY AWAY by Kristin Hannah, narrated by Susan Ericksen
Wow! What a book, and what a response! I’ll start with the book first. I actually enjoyed this book, partly because I know Kristin Hannah’s writing well enough to know that we […]
A THOUSAND SHIPS by Natalie Haynes, narrated by The Author
I have never heard of Natalie Haynes before, so I was completely unsure as to what this volume would entail, apart from it being (yet another) retelling of the Trojan War. In […]
SUMMIT AVENUE by Mary Sharratt
Like so many immigrants, 16-year-old Kathrin Albrecht believes that by coming to America she will escape a narrow, confining future in the Old Country (in this case, the Black Forest Germany), that […]
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