Posted by Teddyrose@1 on May 27, 2011 Posted in Tour
Back in June 2010, I posted my review of this fabulous book. I am posting it again in celebration of the Virtual Book Tour. Please be sure to come back here on June first for C.W. Gortner’s guest post and a giveaway!
Shortly after I finished reading and reviewing The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner, I asked him if I could review The Confessions of Catherine de Medici when he was finished writing it. I loved The Last Queen and I wanted more by this talented author.
I’m so glad that he agreed!
In this fictional memoir, Catherine De Medici, the last of the Italian Medicis, is sent to France as a young woman to marry Henri, the son of King Francois. Henri has no interest in Catherine, as he has a mistress, Diane le Poithers, that he is very much in love with. After years of not having a child together due to lack of trying, Catherine is forced to bargain with Diane to have a heir and secure her future in France. They come to an understanding and Diane even stays in the room while Catherine and Henri have sex, coaching them into different positions that will help Catherine become pregnant.
They finally have heirs but what Catherine doesn’t bargain for, is that Diane raises her children. The later come to resent Catherine for that arrangement, even though it was beyond her control.
After Henri dies Catherine seizes power to secure the crown for her sons. Four of her sons became King, in succession but Catherine either served as regent or advisor to each of them.. She tried to broker peace and tolerance between the Catholics and the Protestant Huguenots again and again.
History has labelled Catherine De Medci as an evil witch, as Queen of France however, C.W. Gortner shows a different side of her. He treats her in a much more balanced view, as a mother, friend, lover, and Queen. He pulls this off smoothly and keeps the pages turning in a fury to see what happens next.
A lot of the story focused on the conflict between the Catholics and the Protestant Huguenots. Although Gortner had to do this, I thought the story got just a little bit bogged down with all of the details. This is a very minor flaw and otherwise the story seems flawless.
I don’t know what Gortner’s next book will be about but I can hardly wait! I’d love to review it Christopher.
4.5
Thanks to Cheryl C. Malandrinos of Pump Up Your Book and C.W. Gortner for this book and for letting me part of the tour.
Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.
Thanks to Brianne Beers of Hachette Book Group, I am giving away up to 3 copies of Ripe for Pleasure by Isobel Carr.
Book Description:
Second in line, first in love A secret society of younger sons, sworn to aid and abet each other, no matter the scandal or cost…. Their fathers and brothers may rule the world, but they run it . . . and when it comes to passion, they refuse to accept second best.
Searching for hidden treasure,finding forbidden fantasy. London’s most sensual former courtesan, Viola Whedon, is incapable of being seduced-she does the seducing. Until she meets Leonidas Vaughn. Her salacious memoirs have made her the target of half the lords in England, and Vaughn is the only man she can turn to. When he promises to protect her-and to make her beg for his touch-the alluring beauty finds both offers impossible to refuse.
Leonidas Vaughn secretly believes Viola possesses a fortune given to his family by the King of France. So the strong and sexy Vaughn charms his way into Viola’s life . . . and her bed. But when their arrangement is consummated, he’ll experience pleasure far beyond his wildest fantasies-and realize his heart may need the most protection of all.
About the Author:
ISOBEL CARR is single, child-free, and a committed “dog person” (the bigger the dog the better). She has taught creative writing, horseback riding, and seminars on historical costuming. She can start a fire without matches and hitch a team of horses to a wagon. She can also spend nine hours in a Victorian corset without a problem but can’t wear heels for more than four hours. She laughed all the way through every episode of Colonial House, and if she could only watch one movie for the rest of her life, it would be Impromptu.
The number of entrants to this giveaway will determine how many copies of this book I will giveaway:
1-10 entrants= 1
11-20 entrants = 2
21-or more entrants = 3
To Enter:
Leave a comment with your email address, so I can contact you if you win.
Extra Entries: (please leave a separate comment for each, for instance you you are a follower, leave 3 comments that you are a follower).
+3 Old or new follower of this blog.
+3 Old or new follower on Twitter (@teddyrose1). +2 Tweet about this Giveaway (Up to 1 time per day)
+3 “Like” the post about this giveaway on Facebook
+3 Be my friend on Goodreads (Teddy). +3 for Joining my Books Won Reading Challenge (be sure to follow the rules and then let me know you joined here.)
+4 for filling out the Tour Host Interest Form(please do this if you have a book blog and you are serious about wanting to be a tour host)
+2 for each comment on a book review I have done. (Be sure to tell me which ones).
+1 for clicking to give free food at The Animal Rescue Site (tell me you did it).( Up to 1 time per day)
+1 for clicking to give free books at The Literacy Site (tell me you did it). ( Up to 1 time per day)
That’s 31 or more possible entries! Sorry, this giveaway is only open to U.S. and Canada.
The winner’s mailing address: No P.O. Boxes
Only one entry per household/IP address
Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if you win the same title in two or more contests, you will receive only one copy of the book.
This giveaway will end on Saturday June 4th, 11:59 P.M. E.S.T. The winners will be notified by email. Winners must respond within TWO days or will be disqualified.
Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.
Who’s going to the BEA? Please comment, so I can look for you there!
Last year I attended the first ArmChair BEA. We had a lot of fun and this year it is suppose to bigger and better. If you can’t go to the BEA I highly recomend The ArmChair BEA.
I put away money all year so that I can attend this years BEA in New York City. I is amazing how it came together for me. My brother found out that I wanted to go and called his best friend who lives in NYC and he offered his keys to his apartment as he will be out of town. Accommodations was going to be my biggest expense, so I then had no excuses not to go.
Not only will this be my first time at the BEA and Book Blogger’s Convention but it will be my first time at NYC. I am excited and overwhelmed all at the same time.
I am going to NYC early, May 19th so I can get my bearing and get some sightseeing in. My 19 year old niece, Rachel is going with me, although she won’t be attending the BEA. I’m looking forward to doing some sightseeing with her and taking in a show.
There have been some tips for the BEA from bloggers that have been there before. I have been reading them over and thought it would be nice to post links here, for everyone who is going this year:
Do you have any tips for the BEA? If you are attending and want to make sure we meet up at some point, email me at teddyr66 at yahoo dot com.
Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.
