Only Gossip Prospers by Loraine Tosiello

Hello, my lovely followers and fellow readers! So today, December 14th is my day on this tour for Only Gossip Prospers by Loraine Tosiello and I just want to say it was a wonderful read! So first I would love to start off and say this book was given to me for an honest review on this tour and an honest review I will give. I don't just read every book that is thrown at me, as I would have too many books to read. So I only accept offers from authors who have books that genuinely interest me. I love anything Louisa May Alcott, so I knew I had to get my hands on this book as soon I was reached out too. 

The author did a wonderful job pulling from the life of the famous author and melding it together with fiction to create a cohesive story that makes you feel all range of emotion. I found myself laughing and crying. The characters are lovable and you grow a strong fondness for the author herself and she goes through her adventures in New York City at the peak of her fame after the publishing of Little Women. You discover some well-needed information on who was inspirations for characters in the classic children's book and people who came to be in her life later, that reminded her of characters in her stories. You read of hardships and joys. There were points in this book that brought me the same joy as when I read little women for the first time and some moments where I was completely heartbroken as well. Tosiello does an amazing job of capturing the style of spoken word for the time that makes this book feel like it could be a biography for Alcott. She captures the moments in such a way that I wasn't sure it was a piece of fiction at all. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It gave me the joy to read! It was a slower read for me as historical fiction takes me some time, but it not because I didn't enjoy the book as a whole. I enjoyed this book and will be suggesting it to others! I wish i could share all the little sticky notes I left throughout the book, but that's a lot of notes to document. Thank you to Pink Umbrella and Tosiello for the opportunity to read and enjoy this book. I will be leaving a synopsis and ways to purchase the book below!

ISBN: 9781949598087- Paperback

Synopsis: In late 1875 Louisa May Alcott spent a winter in New York City.  Her journals give a rough sketch of the people she met, the salons she attended and a few outings that she enjoyed. She intended to stay “until I am tired of it,” but left abruptly in mid-January.

Filled with biographical references to Louisa’s family, New Yorkers of the time and Alcott’s literary works, Only Gossip Prospers intertwines the real people Louisa met, the actual events of New York City and a host of fictional characters who inhabit a world that Louisa herself would recognize.  Written in a style reminiscent of Alcott’s juvenile fiction and short adventure stories, the book is part historical fiction, part love letter to the charm of 1870s New York and part biography of Louisa and her contemporaries.  Only Gossip Prospers enters the debate that still hovers over Little Women as to what was “real” and what was “made up.” There are some twists and surprises, including one that will satisfy the greatest question left unanswered for fans of Little Women: what really happened between Jo and Laurie?

Only Gossip Prospers mashes together fact and fiction to draw a realistic portrait of Louisa May Alcott at the height of her fame.

Watch the Book Trailer Here

Pink Umbrella Books

Where to Purchase:
Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Loraine Tosiello

Instagram: @ltosiello_author

Of Rioters and Royals by M. L. Greye

So, I just want to start off with I’m not one to just read a book because someone asked me to leave an honest review. Unless it’s something I feel I might like. After reading the synopsis first I felt like this would be a good book and decided to read and see what adventure this book would take me on. After all I love myself a good fantasy and the name Declan. 

The book is as definitely filled with twists and turns and had me on my toes as well as good characters who carried the story along. Kept it moving with motives that drove to the ending. The unique fantasy aspect of eyes showing what power someone has was absolutely brilliant! I’ve never seen someone even think of something like that before and it really intrigued me. 

There were points in the book where I was like: “wait!!! Hold on! No! That can’t happen!!” And others where I was “um yes! I dig this!” Definitely for those fans who want a good solid read that is easy to read. Easy in the sense that it’s easy to follow and know what’s going on without conflicting issues clouding the main plot. 

I really can’t wait to read the next book and see what happens to our pair. I don’t want to give away the story. So as a fan of many of the best sellers out there, I strongly advise you to pick up this book! Give it a shot. I really enjoyed this read!

The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty

Hello, my lovelies! I just had the amazing opportunity to wrap up the second to last book the Daevabad Trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty. Let me just say this was an emotional roller coaster I was not ready for, but I loved every moment of it! It has made its way to the top of my favorite reads of 2019, and I can not wait for the last installment to be released in February of 2020.

If you have yet to read the trilogy the story follows the lives of Ali, Nahri, and Dara. This is a POV switch story. So if that is not something you enjoy, I'm sorry because the characters are amazing. haha. To sum of the first book, City of Brass,  follows the story of a young,  medically skilled woman from, named Nahri, who discovers what her true heritage is. Being orphaned she has no idea who she is or where she truly is called to be. Living in 18th century Cairo she works along aside a doctor and as a con woman to get by. Until she is attacked by a magical being and is found by Dara (a powerful Djinn warrior she accidentally summons) who takes her to Daevabad, where her life will change forever. Ali, is later met by Nahri and is the second in line for the throne in Daevabad and quickly becomes one of Nahri's only friends in the city of guilded brass, but this takes a turn and everything changes.

The Kingdom of Copper follows the same characters as they deal with the consequences of their actions from book one and they realize they are dealing with far more than the tyrant king that rules over Daevabad. Riots break out in the streets as Nahri and Ali do their best to unite a broken city of people and this leads to the darkest event the great city, made from the sea, has ever seen.

This story is filled with controversy among a prejudiced group of people toward those who are unlike them, battles for a throne, the horrors of war and magic. But you must not forget the stories of love and friendship that fill the pages to make this a completely and well-rounded story that is easy to enjoy.  The darkness of the story sets the vibe for what is to come while keeping the theme of fire as the hope of these people. The end of the book takes a turn you'll never expect and you will be waiting for more!

The Confectioner Chronicles by Claire Luana

The Confectioner Chronicles
by Claire Luana

So I really wanted to write a review for each book as I read them, but time got away from me and that just didn't happen as I wished it to. Time slips away from us and we wish we were one of the gifted to help us out with that. Definitely, wish I had some time magic on my side when it comes to reading and some luck magic in the dating world. I could use my self a Lucas Imbris. Anyways, I am going to do my best to give a review without spoilers. But I am not making any promises as these books stole my heart and I am so sad the series is over. 

 

First, I just want to address how beautiful the cover art is. Each book has a similar cover that brings them all together as a series. Guild, Coup, and Truth as all consecutive with Exile being a prequel novella covering the story of Hale, a member of the Confectioner's Guild. I did read the books in the order they are pictured here in my blog. I am not sure of the correct order, but it didn't ruin anything for me in this order. In fact, it gave me much insight into Hale in the last two books of the series.

Let me begin this review with: Someone summarized this book as a magical, killer cupcake. Once I heard that I had to read it. I had no doubt it had to happen and then I was able to get the first book free from Amazon and that began my slow decline into this world. Which I am now completely in love with. So I got my hands on the EBook and read and then I bought the last three. Can't be upset about it now, my heart is sold.

Now let us really jump into this review, I have ranted enough. So since I read all four before I am doing this review, I will try to keep it brief and not just summarize the entire plot of the entire series.

The series follows Wren an orphan taken in by a confectionary maker and is taught his art. While learning this art she is summoned to the Confectioner's Guild, one of many guilds in the city, for her abilities. A Guild master dies and it is pinned on her (he ate a cupcake made by her) and it is part of her responsibility to prove her innocence and find the real killer. This story is Wren's search to find out who killed the guild master and to save herself and one other, who has put their life on the line for her and believed she is truly innocent when no one else did. As the series continues it becomes more than just standing up for herself, but standing up for what is right and save her home from those who have taken it. She must defend those she loves and take life-threatening risks to save everyone and the place she lives as she knows it. With the help of her friends and allies, she learns to overcome hurt and realize what her heart truly wants amidst all the chaos.

This story has everything you could ever want in a book: mystery, crime, action, romance, magic, adventure and so much more. There is even an LGBTQ romance within its pages. There are characters you will go on a roller coaster ride with and characters you will love and characters you will love to hate. There is no lack of page-turning wonder as you wonder how on earth Wren will deal with each new thing that is happening. You may even cry. I know I did. On an airplane. Thank you, Claire, for those tears. I would cry reading them again and again. The beginning of each one is a little slow at first, but I find that with most books that have a "solve the mystery, crime" feel because you have to build up the search for evidence before you can reach the climax of the story to find out who did it. The fun part is trying to put the pieces together and figure it out before the characters of the story do.

I'll be honest I wasn't able to figure it out in Guild. Then the stories took a turn. The second was more adventure and sadness and the third was the page-turning action to save the world. Gosh, the climb to the climax I never wanted to put the books down. For each one, I was drawn in.

Now if you want to purchase these books there are a few options that I know of and I will link them:

The Confectioner's Guild Ebook and Physical - Amazon
The Confectioner's Guild - Barnes and Noble