Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Book Review: Medici's Daughter by Sophie Perinot

Happy Tuesday! I have to tell you, I’m so excited about this week’s posts. This week, I’ll be reviewing Medici’s Daughter, Sophie Perinot’s novel about Marguerite de Valois. But wait, there’s more. We’re not just reviewing the book, we’re also doing an Author Q&A with Sophie Perinot (that will be posted tomorrow) and then on Thursday, there will be a special post, but I’m keeping that a surprise. So, why am I so excited about this week? Well, aside from the fact that this book is awesome and the Author Q&A was a lot of fun to do (and, I think, will be fun for y’all to read), this is all part of a special Facebook event. Tomorrow, June 1, Sophie Perinot is hosting a special event: an online party to celebratethe 6 month anniversary of the release of Medici’sDaughter. There will be prizes/giveaways and party favors, and there will be special guest hosts, other historical fiction authors introducing us to other women in history about whom they have written. Names like Kate Quinn, Stephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie, and more. It’s going to be EPIC! Anyways, since I was already working on the review and the Author Q&A, I figured why not make it all a part of the festivities. So, head on over to the Facebook event and mark your attendance down so you get all the updates, and join us in the party.

On to the review of the book. Like I mentioned last week in my review of Perinot’s debut novel TheSister Queens, I first discovered Sophie Perinot when Michelle Moran (another favorite historical fiction author) posted on Facebook about the release of Medici’s Daughter. Last year, I stumbled upon the tv show Reign on Netflix, and so when I saw the title and cover of Medici’s Daughter, I immediately thought “Hmm, I wonder if this is connected to Catherine de Medici, Queen of France through her marriage to King Henry II of France and mother of King Francis II.” Well… I might have thought it more like “Huh. Related to Catherine de Medici of Reign notoriety?”, but I think the other way sounds better and introduces her a little more. Went looking and yup, she figures prominently into the book. And an awesome book it is.

Monday, May 23, 2016

Book Review: The Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot

Cover from sophieperinot.com
“’Tis sisters who shape the world plain and simple.” –Sophie Perinot, The Sister Queens

Hello, and happy Monday! Today, I’m reviewing The Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot. I first discovered Sophie Perinot when Michelle Moran (another favorite historical fiction author, and the gateway to many of my new discoveries for HF authors) posted in December 2015 about Sophie Perinot’s new book Medici’s Daughter. I went and read Medici’s Daughter… and was so happy with it that when Amazon helpfully suggested The Sister Queens as being by the same author, I bought it. It took me a little while to get around to reading it because that was about the same time as life picked up with moving us into our new house, but I have finally read it and am ready to review. Woot!

Thursday, May 12, 2016

The Other Daughter Author Q&A with Lauren Willig

Photo (c) Sigrid Estrada

Hello and welcome back to Drink Read Love. Today, I'm absolutely delighted to bring you an Author Q&A with award winning and prior New York Times Bestselling Author Lauren Willig. Yesterday, I posted my review of  her book The Other Daughter and I'm happy to be able to follow it up with this Q&A. I'll be honest, when she agreed to do the Q&A, I kind of had a Fangirl Geeking Out Moment (or three) but I'm totally over that and am definitely not giddy with excitement while I'm posting this. Nope. Not a bit. Ahem.

Anyways, if you haven't already, go read the review from yesterday and then grab yourself a drink, get cozy, and join me for a chat with Lauren Willig.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Book Review: The Other Daughter by Lauren Willig

Hello, readers. Welcome back to Drink Read Love, and Happy Hump Day! I know it’s been a while. Things got a bit hectic in real life, but I’m getting back in the saddle. And what better way to get back in the swing of things than with a great historical fiction novel by one of my favorite authors?

Today we’re going to talk about none other than The Other Daughter by Lauren Willig. I first discovered Willig’s books late last year, when I was doing a lot of reading when my family moved and we were living in a hotel. I had a lot of down time, especially when doing laundry at night. I can’t remember exactly how I stumbled upon Willig but I am *so* glad I did. I read one of her books (I also can’t remember which one I read first, it’s a very hazy time in my life, lol) and proceeded to read a lot more, and she moved right on up the ladder to be up at the top of my list of faves. One of my favorite books she’s written, if not my very favorite, is The Other Daughter.