2/22/2022 Jane and the Year Without a Summer (Being a Jane Austen Mystery Book 14) @AUSTENPROSE @sbarronauthor

 

· Title: Jane and the Year Without a Summer

· Series: Being a Jane Austen Mystery (Book 14)

· Author: Stephanie Barron

· Genre: Historical Mystery, Austenesque

· Publisher: Soho Press (February 8, 2022)

· Length: (336) pages

· Format: Hardcover, eBook, & audiobook

· ISBN: 978-1641292474

· Tour Dates: February 7-20, 2022

"If you have a Jane Austen-would-have-been-my-best-friend complex, look no further . . . [Barron] has painstakingly sifted through the famed author's letters and writings, as well as extensive biographical information, to create a finely detailed portrait of Austen's life—with a dash of fictional murder . . . Some of the most enjoyable, well-written fanfic ever created."—O Magazine

May 1816: Jane Austen is feeling unwell, with an uneasy stomach, constant fatigue, rashes, fevers and aches. She attributes her poor condition to the stress of family burdens, which even the drafting of her latest manuscript—about a baronet's daughter nursing a broken heart for a daring naval captain—cannot alleviate. Her apothecary recommends a trial of the curative waters at Cheltenham Spa, in Gloucestershire. Jane decides to use some of the profits earned from her last novel, Emma, and treat herself to a period of rest and reflection at the spa, in the company of her sister, Cassandra.

Cheltenham Spa hardly turns out to be the relaxing sojourn Jane and Cassandra envisaged, however. It is immediately obvious that other boarders at the guest house where the Misses Austen are staying have come to Cheltenham with stresses of their own—some of them deadly. But perhaps with Jane’s interference a terrible crime might be prevented. Set during the Year without a Summer, when the eruption of Mount Tambora in the South Pacific caused a volcanic winter that shrouded the entire planet for sixteen months, this fourteenth installment in Stephanie Barron’s critically acclaimed series brings a forgotten moment of Regency history to life.

ADVANCE PRAISE

“Outstanding...Barron fans will hope Jane, who died in 1817, will be back for one more mystery.”— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“No one conjures Austen's voice like Stephanie Barron, and Jane and the Year Without a Summer is utterly pitch-perfect.”— Deanna Raybourn, bestselling author of the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries

“…a page-turning story, imbued with fascinating historical detail, a cast of beautifully realized characters, a pitch-perfect Jane Austen, and an intriguing mystery. Highly recommended.”— Syrie James, bestselling author of The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen

“Jane and the Year Without a Summer is absolute perfection. Stephanie Barron expertly weaves fact and fiction, crafting a story that is authentically Austen in its elegance, charm, and wit. The characters and setting will enchant you, and the mystery will keep you guessing to the last page. This Regency-set gem is truly a diamond of the first water.”— Mimi Matthews, USA Today bestselling author of The Siren of Sussex



PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS

MY REVIEW:

JATYWS is the fourteenth installment in the Jane Austen Mystery Series written by Stephanie Barron. Set during the Sumer of 1816 when Jane’s sudden onset ailments leads to seeking an apothecary’s advice - so off to Chaltenham Spa Jane goes for its curative waters with her sister Cassandra. While there m, the sisters are faced with some difficult boarders who may have a taste for murder.

I really enjoyed the superlative writing and extensive research without distracting and overwhelming the story. As a nurse, I really appreciated the medical historical facts sprinkled throughout the novel - including history about vaccines and also the determination of some physicians blaming the uterus for much of female maladies and discomforts.

Overall, an enjoyable quick read perfect for fans of Jane Austen, who will devour this Historical Regency Murder Mystery read.

Thank you Austen Prose for having me in the tour.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT:

Francine Mathews was born in Binghamton, New York, the last of six girls. She attended Princeton and Stanford Universities, where she studied history, before going on to work as an intelligence analyst at the CIA. She wrote her first book in 1992 and left the Agency a year later. Since then, she has written twenty-five books, including five novels in the Merry Folger series (Death in the Off-Season, Death in Rough Water, Death in a Mood Indigo, Death in a Cold Hard Light, and Death on Nantucket) as well as the nationally bestselling Being a Jane Austen mystery series, which she writes under the penname, Stephanie Barron. She lives and works in Denver, Colorado.

 

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GOODREADS

 

 

2/22/2022 Getting Clean with Stevie Green By Swan Huntley @otrpr

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gallery Books (February 1, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1982159626

BUYING LINKS: Amazon, Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble

The author of the “sparkling dark romance” (Redbook) We Could Be Beautiful brings her “wit and verve” (The New York Times Book Review) to this quirky, feel-good novel about one woman’s messy journey from self-delusion to self-acceptance.

At thirty-seven, Stevie Green has had it with binge drinking and sleeping with strange men. She’s confused about her sexuality and her purpose in life. When her mother asks her to return to her hometown of La Jolla to help her move into a new house, she’s desperate enough to say yes. The move goes so well that Stevie decides to start her own decluttering business. She stops drinking. She hires her formerly estranged sister, Bonnie, to be her business partner. She rekindles a romance with her high school sweetheart, Brad. Things are better than ever—except for the complicated past that Stevie can’t seem to outrun.

Who was responsible for the high school scandal that caused her life to take a nosedive twenty years earlier? Why is she so secretive about the circumstances of her father’s death? Why are her feelings for her ex-friend, Chris, so mystifying? If she’s done drinking, then why can’t she seem to declutter the mini wine bottles from her car?

A winsome, fast-paced read, Getting Clean With Stevie Green is about coming to terms with who you are, resolving the pain of your past, and accepting the truth of your life in all its messy glory.

“What to Read When 2022 is Just Around the Corner” — The Rumpus
“Most Anticipated LGBTQ+ Adult Fiction” — LGBTQ Reads
“Most Anticipated LGBTQ Books of 2022” — Buzzfeed
“10 Books We Can’t Wait to Read” —PureWow

Booklist raves, “Loyal readers of Kelly Harms, Lia Louis, and Maria Semple will fall for this compelling novel of identity, reinvention, and the contrast between ordered spaces and hidden chaos.”

MY THOUGHTS:

I love imperfect characters – the messier the better. Getting Clean with Stevie Green is a darkly funny, witty read that looks at life on how one woman’s past (a high school scandal) lead down into a rabbit hole of a mess. It is a heavy read, but very hopeful. I love the process of seeing Stevie Green gets cleaned up physically, mentally, and metaphorically.

Stevie Green is a fast paced read with short chapters that moved the story forward. Though the story dealt with issues of alcoholism, sexual identity, and family relationships, I found the story enjoyable and delightful. This was certainly a different read, and I am glad have had the opportunity to read this.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT:  

Swan Huntley is a writer living in Los Angeles. Her novels include Getting Clean With Stevie Green (2022), The Goddesses (2017), and We Could Be Beautiful (2016). She earned her MFA at Columbia University and has received fellowships from The MacDowell Colony and The Corporation at Yaddo, where she was the 2019 recipient of The LeSage-Fullilove Residency. Her writings have appeared on Salon, The Rumpus, and Autostraddle, among others.

2/19/2022 BRILLIANCE BEYOND BORDERS REMARKABLE WOMEN LEADERS SHARE THE POWER OF IMMIGRACE by Chinwe Esimai Hosted by @TLCBOOKTOURS

 

What if the traditional narrative about immigrant women--that those who come to the United States will succeed as long as they work hard, stay focused, and have supportive families--is a lie?



Of the 73 million women in the US workforce, 11.5 million are foreign-born. The truth is--even in the midst of headlines and political debates about immigration reform and in the wake of MeToo and other female-centric movements--millions of immigrants, especially women, aren’t living their fullest potential.

Based on her personal experience and the stories of trailblazing women from around the world and in diverse industries, author Chinwe Esimai shares five indispensable traits that make an ocean of difference between immigrants who live as mere shadows of their truest potential and those who find purpose and fulfillment--what Chinwe refers to as their immigrace:


Saying yes to your immigrace, an immigrant woman’s expression of her highest purpose and potential
Daring to play in the big leagues
Transforming failure
Embracing change and blending differences
Finding joy and healing
These five traits are the foundation of the Brilliance Blueprint, a step-by-step guide to help readers achieve to their own extraordinary results and build their own remarkable legacies.

MY REVIEW:

TITLE: Brilliance Beyond Borders: Remarkable Women Leaders Share the Power of Immigrace
AUTHOR: Chinwe Esimai
PUB DATE: 03.15.2022

Did you know that of the 73 million women in the US workforce, 11.5 million are foreign-born?

Chinwe Esimai proves that the traditional narrative about immigrant women is a lie. It takes more than just working hard, staying focused, and having supportive families. instead we need to channel our individual immigrace to find purpose and fulfillment.

The book highlights inspirational stories of seventeen women’s accomplishments, and hurdles to achieve their success, with many coming from humble beginnings.

Esimai shares her Brilliance Blueprint offering easy step by step guide to achieve truest potential.

Do check out this amazing and powerful read!

About the Author

Chinwe Esimai is a multiple award-winning lawyer, trailblazing corporate executive, writer, and speaker who helps women leaders discover and embrace their genius and live lives of impact and fulfillment. She is managing director and chief anti-bribery officer at Citigroup, Inc, the first person to hold this title in the bank’s history.

Chinwe spent five years at Goldman Sachs in various regulatory risk-management roles and also served as a law professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Chinwe has received numerous awards: American Banker's Most Powerful Women in Banking; Leading Ladies Africa’s 100 Most Inspiring Women; Tropics Magazine's Most Powerful Africans Shaping the Future of Africa; Nigerian Lawyers Association Trailblazer of the Year; Face2Face Africa Corporate Leadership Award; and Diversity Magazine's Elite 100. She is an executive council member of the Ellevate Network and serves as a Cherie Blair Foundation mentor.

Chinwe is the host of the Brilliance Beyond Borders podcast, and her leadership insights have also been featured in leading publications including Forbes, Thrive Global, Black Enterprise, Medium, and Knowledge@Wharton. She has delivered keynotes to prestigious audiences and has spoken three times at the United Nations. She obtained a bachelor of arts in political science, summa cum laude, from the City College of New York and a juris doctor from Harvard Law School. She lives in Sparta, New Jersey, with her husband and three children.

2/1/2021 RAMÓN AND JULIETA by Alana Quintana Albertson Berkley Trade Paperback - BOOK REVIEW & EXCERPT OF THE BOOK

 

RAMÓN AND JULIETA by Alana Quintana Albertson

Berkley Trade Paperback Original | On sale: February 1^st, 2022

Early Praise for RAMÓN AND JULIETA

“Ramón and Julieta is a passionate and joyful romance about honoring family legacies, celebrating your heritage, the importance of community, and the power of love. A beautiful novel!"

—Chanel Cleeton, New York Times bestselling author

"Albertson’s emphasis on Mexican cuisine puts a refreshing twist on the Shakespearean tragedy."

—Publishers Weekly

About RAMÓN AND JULIETA

When fate and tacos bring Ramón and Julieta together on the Day of the Dead, the star-crossed pair must make a choice: accept the bitter food rivalry that drives them apart or surrender to a love that consumes them.

Ramón Montez always achieves his goals. Whether that means collecting Ivy League degrees or growing his father’s fast-food empire, nothing sets Ramón off course. So when the sexy señorita who kissed him on the Day of the Dead runs off into the night with his heart, he determines to do whatever it takes to find her again.

Celebrity chef Julieta Campos has sacrificed everything to save her sea-to-table taqueria from closing. To her horror, she discovers that her new landlord is none other than the magnetic mariachi she hooked up with on Dia de los Muertos. Even worse, it was his father who stole her mother’s taco recipe decades ago. Julieta has no choice but to work with Ramón, the man who destroyed her life’s work—and the one man who tempts and inspires her.

As San Diego’s outraged community protests against the Taco King take-over and the divide between their families grows, Ramón and Julieta struggle to balance the rising tensions. But Ramón knows that true love is priceless and despite all of his successes, this is the one battle he refuses to lose.

MY REVIEW:

Ramon and Julieta
By Alana Quintana Albertson


Who doesn't love Tacos - I am here for it! This book was yummy and hot! AYAYAY Delicioso!

I am from Los Angeles and surrounded by King Taco restaurants, my favorite spot. So reading about Ramon and the Montez family empire of Taco King made this a really fun read for me. I enjoyed the retelling of Romeo and Juliet enveloped in the beautiful sights, sounds, and tastes of the Mexican Tradition. I was completely lost in this story and hungry for Tacos constantly drooling not by the food but also by the sexy descriptions of the attraction between Ramon and Julieta.

I was intrigued from the first sound of Ramon's voice as a balladeer, the strum of his guitarron, and the hum of his McLaren. Ohhh yes he is also rich - filthy rich! Julieta was so smitten by this mariachi ... until she discovers who he really was. Their love was so complex and beautifully told. I loved the families, the side story lines, and the beautiful story telling style that was as vivid and compelling as the writing of the mouth watering food descriptions, and the beautiful culture and traditions.

I really enjoyed this book and so will you!

About the Author

Alana Albertson is a multi-award winning author, current President of Romance Writers of America's Contemporary Romance Chapter and the former President of both Romance Writers of America’s Young Adult and Chick Lit chapters. Alana Albertson holds a Masters of Education from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Stanford University. A recovering professional ballroom dancer, Alana currently writes contemporary romance, new adult and young adult fiction. She lives in San Diego, California, with her husband, two young sons, and four dogs. When she’s not spending her time playing with her sons, dancing, or saving dogs from high kill shelters through Pugs N Roses, the rescue she founded, she can be found watching episodes Homeland, Devious Maids, or Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.

Excerpt

Sometimes, Ramón envied his carefree younger brothers. They worked hard, but they played harder. Even so, Ramón struggled with that work-life balance. For Ramón, a self-proclaimed perfectionist, to give anything less than one hundred percent was unacceptable. It explained his bachelor's degree in Economics with a minor in English from Stanford University, and his MBA from Harvard.



He read over the numbers on his computer one more time. The only thing that mattered to Ramón was the bottom line. And the bottom line was that the Montez Group wanted a piece of Barrio Logan and a Taco King front and center on the main drag.



His cell buzzed.



Ramón answered on the first ring. "Apá. ¿Qué tal?"



"Good, Ramón. Good. I called to check on the Barrio deal. How's it going?"



Ramón smirked. It was like Papá could read his mind.



"Great. I've finalized the numbers for the offer. I'm ready to bid tomorrow."



"Ah, good." Papá hesitated. "You know, I could always check those figures, and-"



"Apá, isn't it time you retired? I'm the CEO now. You should be relaxing, kicking back with a beer on the beach tomorrow, not heading to a meeting."



Papá sighed as if he wasn't quite convinced. "I know, but I am chairman of the board."



Ramón sighed. There was no use arguing with Papá. "I'm confident we have this in the bag." And he was-extremely confident.



Papá exhaled. "I believe in you, mijo. I can't wait to close this deal. I've wanted a holding in Barrio for years, but it was never the right time . . ."



His wistful tone needed no explanation. There was a damn good reason why the Montez Group had never secured a property in Barrio Logan.



It was clear.



They weren't wanted.



Papá had been accused of being a sellout, which was just plain ridiculous. His father was a proud Chicano man who always gave back to his community. So what if he catered to the tastes of non-Hispanics? Sure, the restaurants served mild salsa, and the tortillas weren't made from scratch. Still, Papá had created jobs for Latinos and given to countless charities. And that was what mattered.



But Ramón understood the sting of not always being accepted by his community. He'd grown up rich and privileged and hadn't faced the struggles that many others had. He felt Mexican in his soul but wasn't always perceived as a real Latino. His cousins used to call his brothers and him coconuts-brown on the outside, white on the inside. Ramón's heart soared when mariachi music played but sank every time he spoke in Spanish to fellow Mexicans and was answered back in English. He had to constantly prove to his company and to his culture how Mexican he was. And he hated being called not just a gentrifier, but even worse: a gentefier.



But, as painful as it was to admit, he was one.



"Don't worry about it, Apá. I got this."



"I'm proud of you, Ramón. You remind me of myself at your age-young, passionate, full of ambition. But you have to remember to take a break sometimes. You know my work cost me my marriage to your mother."



Yup, Ramón was well aware of his parents' horrible marriage. His mother reminded him constantly. Though lately, she was too busy with her new love interest, a boy toy Ramón's age, to bother with her sons.



Ramón zoned out at his computer screen, which had a screensaver of Cabo San Lucas. The turquoise water rimmed around the natural rock arch. "After this deal closes, let's take a vacation."



"I'd like that." Papá paused. "I have one more favor to ask of you."



"Sure. What is it?"



"Would you stop by the party in Old Town? There will be reporters there and the mayor. I think since we are going to try to acquire in Barrio, we need to be present at cultural events to show we support our community."



"The Día de los Muertos party? ¿En serio?" The Day of the Dead party in Old Town was hands down the best fiesta for the holiday in San Diego, if not the state. Family fun, bro bashes, and cultural classes were all part of the event. There was something about the quaint, historic neighborhood that added genuine authenticity to the holiday. San Diego, which neighbored Mexico, was a true border beach town. With twenty percent of San Diego's 1.5 million population Hispanic, politicians were usually found circulating at these bicultural celebrations. Old Town was literally the oldest settled town in California-a place that could be the set for the next Zorro adaptation. Now it was a tourist mecca that consisted of sarsaparilla shops and tasty taquerías.



"Yes, I am. I'd go myself, but you are the face of the company, Mr. People en Espa–ol's sexiest eligible bachelor."



Ramón groaned. That title had been nothing but trouble. All the gold diggers had placed a target on his back. Those women didn't like him for who he was, but instead for what he was worth. He'd never wanted to be the face of the company; he was proud of his work but craved anonymity. He'd gladly give that role to his youngest brother, Jaime, who was a model, influencer, and director of the company's social media platforms.



"Not sure that matters, because if I went, I would have to wear face paint."



Papá laughed. "Just go for a few hours, check in with some reporters and the mayor, take a few pictures, and leave. You never know-you could meet a nice young woman there. When I was your age, I always made time for the ladies."



Ramón exhaled. Papá's wild youth was no secret. As a little boy, Ramón loved listening to Papá's stories about hitchhiking through Mexico and surfing along the Baja coast. But Ramón's favorite story was about the spring break love affair his father had had with a señorita in San Felipe. It was there that Papá had first tried fish tacos.



Ramón had no trouble meeting women, usually through dating apps, if he ever managed to take a day off work, which was rare. He had no time to even think about starting a serious relationship with someone. And after his parents' nasty divorce, marriage no longer held any appeal for him.



Even so, sometimes, after he closed a big deal, he wished he could celebrate his success with someone. Toast champagne on his ocean-view rooftop deck or spend a romantic weekend in Paris. It would be nice to meet someone who was actually interested in him and not his money. But he doubted he could find such a woman, and he didn't even want to try. Women were a distraction-a fun one, but nothing more.



"Seriously, Apá. Can't Jaime do it? He will be posting his every waking minute anyway. And they look great in their outfits-they'll get so much press. He and Enrique just left."



"No. You know them. They will both be drunk and spend the night hitting on women. Definitely in no state to schmooze. There is nothing left to do on the Barrio deal. Take the night off. Please, do it for me."



Ramón had no choice but to agree. "Okay, I'll go. But only for a few hours."



"That's my boy. Do you have something to wear?"



Ramón exhaled. He did, but nothing like his brothers' new threads. "Yeah. I think my old charro suit still fits."



"Wonderful. Have fun. I love you. I'll see you in Barrio, mañana."



"See you tomorrow. Love you, too, Apá."



Ramón hung up, saved all his work, and shut off his computer. Papá was right; the best thing he could do for the Barrio deal was to go schmooze.



Ramón walked out of his office, through the long hallway covered with family photos and framed magazine articles, and strode over to his fully stocked rustic bar in the game room, where he took a shot of his stash of Clase Azul Reposado Tequila. Hits the spot. It was smooth, and it took the edge off the day perfectly. He filled a flask with some more and placed it by his keys and wallet.



Then he went to his bedroom closet. He searched in the back and found his charro suit from when he'd played guitarrón with the Mariachi Cardenal de Stanford. The ingrained scents of dried tequila and stale smoke from the fabric brought back memories of his college years performing, which were the happiest times of his life.



The suit fit, surprisingly, even though Ramón had bulked up. His daily workouts running on the beach and flipping tires in his custom gym were his one outlet for stress.



Ramón went to Jaime's bathroom in their beachfront bachelor pad, which, sure enough, had face paint strewn all over the white marble countertop. Their maid, Lupe, would not be pleased. She worked hard and fast, with a smile on her face, and Ramón always made sure to clean up after any parties he and his brothers threw so she wouldn't have to do any extra work.



Ramón had played at plenty Day of the Dead parties in college, so he knew how to do the face paint. He shaved his face with a fresh razor blade, used a white eye pencil to outline his eyes and nose, and then spread white paint over his face. Black eye makeup and a spiderweb on his forehead came next. The perfect combination of beauty and macabre-life and death. To complete the look, he drew black stitches over his lips to indicate that he was dead.


Papá was right—appearing at the event would be good for business. Ramón might even have a good time.

He quickly put the makeup away and wiped down the countertop.

Ramón secured his sombrero on his head. A final glance in themirror, and he was satisfied with what he saw—a man who would doanything to close the deal.

He removed his guitarrón from the stand on the wall. One strumof the brittle strings and the music beat through his heart and awakened his soul. When the notes sprung back to Ramón’s head, he was relieved that he hadn’t forgotten how to play. He’d sung to crowds of women when he performed. Ramón loved being onstage, playingmusic, and singing love songs. He’d been a hopeless romantic, just like Papá.

But there was no time for women or music now.

He had a company to run.