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.
This volume gripped me from beginning to end, enhanced greatly by narrator Nicola Barber. We learn about the meeting between Miss Agatha Miller and Subaltern Archibald Christie at a ball in 1912, […]
In LINEAGE OF GRACE, Francine Rivers explores the lives of five women who lived in the Middle East during the time of the Old Testament. I never expected to enjoy this volume […]
I could almost feel a storm gathering in the prickles going up and down my neck. Leave, a small voice whispered. I frowned and shook myself. Don’t be ridiculous, I whispered back. […]
I loved this volume! I loved Diane Zahler’s alternative “history” to SLEEPING BEAUTY (interwoven with the tale we know & love) in which when the princess pricks herself, her naughty sister pinches […]
A TRUE PRINCESS is a fresh take on a well-loved fairy tale. It was so cleverly written that it wasn’t until near the end that I finally figured out which fairy tale […]
I wasn’t sure what to think when I picked up this book. I hoped for some inspiration, as I’m dipping my toe into retelling Fairy tales for the YA crowd, but it’s […]
I held his gaze with my own, determined not to betray the fluttering in my chest as my heart leapt into my throat. I knew from watching Mrs. Clayton that a lady […]
This volume picks up where volume 3 left off, and concerns the younger generation of Romans: Faustina’s daughters, their friends and suitors. Kate Quinn’s writing has great strengths. The way she does […]
FAREWELL MY LIFE, which recently won the 2021 Independent Press Award prize for Women’s Fiction is running a 99-cent promo this week: https://preview.mailerlite.com/d6n9s8. If you wish to sign up for my newsletter, […]
This volume picks up where Volume 1 left off. Thea and her husband are living in Scotland, raising a second family, while their eldest son 18-year-old Vix (short for Vercingetorix) joins the […]
As is usual with second volumes in a series, this one did not quite match up to Kate Quinn’s first, her MISTRESS OF ROME. What drove the first novel was the high-stakes […]
The clock hand crawled to eleven o’clock, then carriage wheels groaned up the hill and rolled to a stop. Maria flew out of her seat, disappearing into the foyer while I followed […]
Before I talk about this stunning debut novel, I would like to give a shout-out to the narrator, Elizabeth Wiley. Our pleasure in the audiobook experience is so dependent on the narrator. […]
THE LION & THE ROSE really made this duology. I already loved THE SERPENT & THE PEARL, where Carmelina is making her crostata, marzipan & tortes, Giulia is running downstairs gossiping & […]
Kate Quinn is such a talented writer. THE SERPENT & THE PEARL (the first in a duology about the Borgia Pope Alexander VI in 1490s Rome) begins with a sniff. Carmelina is […]
“Your father is busy,” she replied after a clipped silence. “You may blame his absence on the Emperor Napoleon.” There was a short pause. “You know who he is, don’t you child?” […]
This volume is very similar to CHILDREN OF EARTH AND SKY, but whereas CHILDREN takes place in around 1478, i.e. around 25 years AFTER the fall of Constantinople (Sarantium), BRIGHTNESS takes place […]
You must be logged in to post a comment.