'Tuscan Rose' by Belinda Alexandra

Release date:  July 2012

Published by: Simon & Schuster UK

ISBN No: 978 0857208781

A mysterious stranger known as 'The Wolf' leaves an infant with the sisters of Santo Spirito. A tiny silver key hidden in her wrappings is the one clue to the child's identity.

When Rosa turns fifteen, she must leave the nuns who have raised her and become governess to the daughter of an aristocrat and his strange, frightening wife. Their house is elegant but cursed, and Rosa - blessed with gifts beyond her considerable musical talents -- is torn between her desire to know the truth and her fear of its repercussions.

Meanwhile, the hand of Fascism curls around beautiful Italy, threatening her citizens. In the face of unimaginable hardship, will Rosa's intelligence, intuition and her extraordinary capacity for love be enough to ensure her survival?

A compelling and beautiful tale about sacrifice and reward, of beauty and horror, and of redemption.

 

 

Copyright: Simon & Schuster Synopsis



New Book Launch: 'When Dreams Come True' by Rebecca Emin

Release date: 26th May 2012

Published by: Lulu.com

ISBN No: 978 1471092046

Rebecca Emin's second novel for 10-14 year olds has been launched today!

Charlie is happiest when biking with Max and Toby, or watching films with Allie. But when Charlie reaches year nine (age 13), everything begins to change.

As her friends develop new interests, Charlie's dreams become more frequent and vivid, and a family crisis tears her away from her friends.

How will Charlie react when old family secrets are revealed? Will her life change completely when some of her dreams start to come true?

Where to Buy
When Dreams Come True is now available to order via any bookshop or online in various places including:
The Book Depository
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
Smashwords
Barnes and Noble
Diesel
Lulu
Kobo & via Apple iBooks



Join Rebecca for her launch party at her Facebook Author page where giveaways have already started running. Click on the following link to join in the fun:  the Facebook Event

You can also visit Rebecca's website by clicking on the following link:  http://ramblingsofarustywriter.blogspot.co.uk/

'The Wild Princess: A Novel of Queen Victoria's Daughters' by Mary Hart Perry

Release date:  31st July 2012

Published by:  William Morrow & Company

ISBN No: 978 0062123466

The astronomical success of the historical novels of Phillipa Gregory and Christine Trent prove that readers simply can't get enough of the British royals--and now Mary Hart Perry enters the fray with an exciting, deliciously sensual novel of Queen Victoria's "wild child" daughter, the Princess Louise. The Wild Princess transports us back to Victorian England and plunges us into the intrigues of the royal court, where the impetuous Louise brazenly followed no one's rules but her own--even marrying a commoner, which no one of royal blood had done in the previous three centuries. Filled with rich period deal, The Wild Princess is an exciting, enthralling read. The Tudors have gotten the lion's share of attention in historical fiction; it's high time Queen Victoria and her family got their due!

Copyright: The Book Depository Synopsis

'Snow White and the Huntsman' by Lily Blake et al

Release date:  1st June 2012

Published by: Atom

ISBN No: 978 1907411700

A breathtaking new vision of a legendary tale. Snow White is the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen who is out to destroy her. But in a twist to the fairytale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed becomes her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen.

Includes fold-out film poster!

Copyright: Amazon Synopsis



'What Matters in Jane Austin?' by John Mullan

Release date: 7th June 2012

Published by: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

ISBN No:  978 1408820117

What do the characters call each other, and why? What are the right and wrong ways to propose marriage? And which important Austen characters never speak? In What Matters in Austen, John Mullan shows that you can best appreciate Jane Austen's brilliance by looking at the intriguing quirks and intricacies of her fiction - by asking and answering some very specific questions about what goes on in her novels, he reveals their devilish cleverness. In twenty-one short chapters, each of which answers a question prompted by Jane Austen's novels, Mullan illuminates the themes that matter most to the workings of the fiction. So the reader will discover when people had their meals and what shops they went to, how they addressed each other, who was allowed to write letters to whom, who owned coaches or pianos, how vicars got good livings and how wealth was inherited. What Matters in Austen explores the rituals and conventions of her fictional world in order to reveal her technical virtuosity and sheer daring as a novelist. Though not a book about Jane Austen's life, it uses biographical detail and telling passages from her letters to explain episodes in her novels; readers will find out, for example, what novels she read or how much money she had to live on or what she saw at the theatre. Inspired by an enthusiastic reader's curiosity, written with flair and based on a lifetime's study, What Matters in Austen will appeal to all those who love and enjoy Jane Austen's work.

Copyright: Amazon Synopsis

'Before I Wake' by Rachel Vincent

Release date: 6th July 2012

Published by: Mira Ink

ISBN No: 978 1848451193

Now Kaylee's dead, she's finally started living. After being murdered as a sacrifice, ex-teen banshee Kaylee now works for the afterlife's Reclamation Department, repossessing souls. She's also quickly falling in love with her new boyfriend Tod, a reaper who's been dead for two years, and her ex-boyfriend's brother. But Kaylee's afterlife is far from easy as she struggles to move between the world of the living and the world of the dead, all while maintaining her grades! Now she's dead Kaylee's whole world has changed...but could it actually be for the better? SOUL SCREAMERS The last thing you hear before you die

Copyright: Amazon Synopsis



'An Absolute Deception' by Lesley Lokko

Release date: 7th June 2012

Published by: Orion

ISBN No: 978 1409101758

Known as 'The Ice Queen', Anneliese Zander de St Phalle is one of the world's most celebrated fashion designers. With an empire that stretches across continents, she's a truly global brand, in every sense. Yet despite her success, she's a mystery; a reclusive disciplined perfectionist who rarely grants interviews. She's successful and she's talented, and that's all anyone needs to know.

Anneliese never talks about her past - not even to her only daughter, Callan. She's worked hard to leave it all behind her and it's a time and place to which Anneliese will never return. Or so she thinks. Until, at an exclusive New Year's Eve party at her glamorous island hideaway, a woman appears whom Anneliese has done her best to forget. On the cusp of her retirement, at the height of Anneliese's fame, the stranger brings a story that demands to be told. To Anneliese's horror, the past cannot be left behind; it is here, part and parcel of the present, despite everything she's done to forget it.


Copyright: Amazon Synopsis





'The Call of Sedona' by Ilchi Lee

Release date: July 2012

Published by: Simon and Schuster

ISBN No:  1451695888

e-book

The Call of Sedona speaks to anyone seeking greater fulfillment and deeper meaning in their lives. With practical advice on meditation and profound insights on the healing power of the earth, this book gives you the guidance you need to embark on your own journey of the heart.

If you haven’t been to Sedona, this book will urge you to travel to this blessed place. If you have been to Sedona—or even if you live there now— this book will deepen the love you hold for the wonders of the land. Wherever you are, let this book show you how to experience the spirit of Sedona and make a true connection with your heart.

Copyright: Simon and Schuster Synopsis



'The Secret Keeper' by Sandra Byrd

Release date: June 2012

Published by: Simon and Schuster

ISBN No: 143918315
e-book

What she sees in secret, she may not tell.

Mistress Juliana St. John is the lovely, forthright daughter of a prosperous knight’s family. Though all expect her to marry the son of her late father’s business partner, time and chance interrupt, sending her to the sumptuous but deceptive court of Henry VIII.

Sir Thomas Seymour, brother of the late Queen Jane, returns to Wiltshire to conclude his affairs with Juliana’s father’s estate and chances upon her reading as lector in the local church. He sees instantly that she would fit into the household of the woman he loves and wants most to please, Kateryn Parr. Juliana’s mother agrees to have her placed with Parr for a season and Juliana goes, though reluctantly.

For she keeps a secret.

Juliana has been given the gift of prophecy, and in one vibrant vision she has seen Sir Thomas shredding the dress of a highly born young woman, while it was still on her body, to perilous consequence.

As Juliana accompanies Kateryn Parr to court, Henry’s devout sixth queen raises the stakes for all reformers. Support of firebrand Anne Askew puts the queen and her ladies in life-threatening jeopardy, as does the queen’s desire to influence her husband’s—and the realm’s—direction and beliefs. Later, without Henry’s strong arm, the court devolves to competition, duplicity, and betrayal. The risks could not be higher as Juliana must choose between love and honor, personal fulfillment and sacrifice. Ultimately, her course is driven by a final kept secret, one that undoes everything she thought she knew.

Copyright: Simon and Schuster Synopsis

'Tell the Wolves I'm Home' by Carol Rifka Brunt

Release date: 7th June 2012

Published by:  Macmillan

ISBN No: 978 1447218531

There's only one person who has ever truly understood fourteen-year-old June Elbus, and that's her uncle, the renowned painter, Finn Weiss. Shy at school and distant from her once inseparable older sister, June can only be herself in Finn's company; he is her godfather, confidant, and best friend. So when he dies far too young of a mysterious illness that June’s mother can barely bring herself to discuss, June's world is turned upside down. At the funeral, she notices a strange man lingering just beyond the crowd, and a few days later, June receives a package in the mail. Inside is a beautiful teapot she recognizes from Finn's apartment, and a note from Toby, the stranger, asking for an opportunity to meet. As the two begin to spend time together, June realises she's not the only one who misses Finn, and if she can bring herself to trust this unexpected friend, he might just be the one she needs the most. Tell the Wolves I'm Home is a tender story of love lost and found, an unforgettable portrait of the way compassion can make us whole again.

Copyright: Amazon Synopsis