Beauty in the Beast by Emily-Jane Hills Orford - Book Tour - Book Review - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hey, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Emily-Jane Hills Orford and her new book, “Beauty in the Beast,” here on FAB!!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Emily-Jane and to increase your chances of winning!!

Thanks for stopping by!!  Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!

Beauty in the Beast

by Emily-Jane Hills Orford

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Fantasy / Science Fiction

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Priya, a name that suggests beautiful. Amell, a name that suggests all powerful. One is a beautiful young lady; the other a beast. Their paths have crossed before, only Priya doesn’t remember Amell from her past. Or does she? And what does it all mean? The Amell she meets is part beast. So are the others at Castle Mutasim. Is she one of them, too? How can this be? What manner of creature would experiment on other living creatures, to mutate them into something bizarre and, sometimes, downright dangerous? Priya has to know. She wants to know. And she wants to make things right.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT THREE:

“Priya. Enter.” The voice was increasingly emphatic.

She stood. The doors groaned to a stop, inches behind her back. Roars from her brother and his mate soared through the space. She lifted her head to join in the chorus and emitted an ear-piercing shriek which summoned more birds of prey until she was clothed in an aura of hovering black masses of feathered friends.

“Priya. Enter.” The voice roared, louder than the combined noise of the advancing army of mutants. “You are safe, here, Priya. You were created here. This is where you belong. With us!” As more mutants invaded the inner space, the missiles projected inward at an alarming pace. The ground before Priya was quickly covered with a carpet of multicolored victims.

This was a suicide mission. Horror shivered throughout her body. What had she gotten herself into? Total annihilation of the mutant species? Of life as she was coming to know it? She couldn’t back out now. All these creatures who had sacrificed their lives would have died in vain if she backed out.

With renewed vigor, she straightened her spine, pushing back her shoulders, glaring ahead with determination. “No!” her shriek morphed into a singular word, which was drawn out in a lengthy shrill of a high-pitched extension of the vowel. “No!” she re-iterated the consonant, allowing the vowel to transcend again into a lengthy trajectory. She paused. Breathed deeply. Reached down into the side pocket for the only weapon she had: the syringe. She clutched it in one hand, thumb poised, ready to add the pressure which would release its contents. And took one step forward, followed by another. “I enter on my own terms. And I will leave of my own accord.” She was snarling, now. “Come out and show yourself. Whoever you are.”

She made her way to the center of the entry space. The doors behind her clanged to a close once she had released her position barricading the process. “Come out!” she yelled, allowing her head to search up and down and all around, seeking someone, something to indicate what or who was in control.

Another set of doors opened at the far end of the room. Priya remained rooted where she stood. “Enter, Priya. And you shall have your answers.”

Mesmerized, she took another step forward.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MY BOOK REVIEW:

This book is an enchanting and wonderfully magical read full of clever, intriguing, deceptive, and dreamlike fantasy!!

This book took me on an exciting, magical and mystifying adventure!!

This book starts out with the main character, Priya, saying her goodbyes to her best friend, Sammy, over one last tea date.  Priya has accepted her dream job of cataloguing and preserving books and artifacts at Castle Mutasim, located high up in the Boundary Range Mountains.  She is excited, but nervous to go, as she packs up all her belongings, leaving all her friends and her familiar surroundings behind.  Not exactly alone, with her travel buddy in stow, Bear, her rescue dog that she saved from the trash dumpster, they hit the road on their way to their new lives.  While they eventually do reach the castle in a curious and perplexing manner, things quickly go from strange to stranger.  Unexpectedly, upon Priya’s arrival to the castle she is reunited with Amell, her long lost brother that she hadn’t seen or thought of in many years.  Amell owns the castle and admits to creating a job ruse to lure her up there to reconnect in hopes of working together on his mission of creating a safe haven for the different ones.  Amell’s life’s work has been devoted to protecting those labeled different and providing them with shelter and safety while also dismantling lab facilities that hunt down the different, abduct them, and experiment on them.

 This book follows the story of Priya as she comes to terms with finding out that she is different and learns to embrace her different while also discovering her true calling of working with Amell to protect and care for the different at Castle Mutasim, a place where everyone is always accepted.

I love the strong, powerful, positive, accepting messages that the author has weaved into the story!  They are truly inspiring and encouraging!  Different is beautiful and should be celebrated not shamed or feared!  I appreciate the author for conveying this narrative of a safe environment where all people are truly welcomed, valued and respected and for shining awareness on the importance of inclusivity and diversity!

I love the author’s writing style as she was superior on detail and the way she immerses you into her storytelling.  Her writing draws you in and keeps you fully engaged as the imagination buildings up and the story unfolds.

This book is on the quick read side at only 207 eBook text pages and comprises of thirty-four short chapters plus an epilogue.  In fact, some of the chapters are a mere one to three pages, which has you flying right through the story.

At this time, this book is not considered to be part of a book series, and therefore can easily be read as a standalone.

While I may have a few snags over some of the complex worldbuilding fantasy elements that seemed confusing at times, and some of the scenes that felt slow paced and dragged out, I still enjoyed reading this book.  I love the inspiring and encouraging themes with deep-rooted messages in acceptance and diversity, the uniquely clever story line and plot points, the profoundly kindhearted characters, and the overall enchantingly, magical, fantasy realm.

All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it!  I think all fantasy readers will like this book too!  So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading - you won't be disappointed!

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations**

Did you find this review helpful???

If so, please, please, please mark it as helpful on Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R3BJIGKIPA1UR3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR BIO:

Emily-Jane Hills Orford is a country writer, living just outside the tiny community of North Gower, Ontario, near the nation’s capital. With degrees in art history, music and Canadian studies, the retired music teacher enjoys the quiet nature of her country home and the inspiration of working at her antique Jane Austen-style spinet desk, feeling quite complete as she writes and stares out the large picture window at the birds and the forest. She writes in several genres, including creative nonfiction, memoir, fantasy, and historical fiction.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONNECT WITH EMILY-JANE:

Website:

http://emilyjanebooks.ca

Email:

http://emilyjanebooks.ca/contact.php

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/realpeoplestories

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/ejhomusic

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/emily-jane-hills-orford

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1732544.Emily_Jane_Hills_Orford

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60537696-beauty-in-the-beast

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/33gwU44

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/36GSWVB

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3J5A1Ru

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Beauty-Beast-Emily-Jane-Hills-Orford-ebook/dp/B09TH1T6J6

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Beauty-Beast-Emily-Jane-Hills-Orford/dp/1952020204

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beauty-in-the-beast-emily-jane-hills-orford/1141065152?ean=2940161030417

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beauty-in-the-beast-emily-jane-hills-orford/1141065152?ean=9781952020209

Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Beauty-Beast-Emily-Jane-Hills-Orford/9781952020209

Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Beauty-Beast/Emily-Jane-Hills-Orford/9781952020209

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFO:

Emily-Jane will be awarding a $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

Beauty in the Beast by Emily-Jane Hills Orford - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hello, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Emily-Jane Hills Orford and her new book, “Beauty in the Beast,” here on FAB!!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Emily-Jane and to increase your chances of winning!!

Thanks for stopping by!!  Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!

Beauty in the Beast

by Emily-Jane Hills Orford

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Fantasy / Science Fiction

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Priya, a name that suggests beautiful. Amell, a name that suggests all powerful. One is a beautiful young lady; the other a beast. Their paths have crossed before, only Priya doesn’t remember Amell from her past. Or does she? And what does it all mean? The Amell she meets is part beast. So are the others at Castle Mutasim. Is she one of them, too? How can this be? What manner of creature would experiment on other living creatures, to mutate them into something bizarre and, sometimes, downright dangerous? Priya has to know. She wants to know. And she wants to make things right.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT ONE:

“Amell,” she screamed. “Amell. Help me.”

She was pinned in a hunk of metal, the world around her growing darker by the minute. And it was cold. Bitter. Bone-chilling. A soft tongue licked her cheek. Whines and a warm breath slipped into her ear. Bear. Her three-year-old mutt, a Border Collie-Black Lab mix. Black and white. Full of love and mischief. Her strength in a time of need. Like right now.

She had rescued Bear. A puppy tossed in a dumpster. Left to die. The two were inseparable. Now, she was failing Bear. And they would die.

One final scream, “Amell.”

“I’m so sorry, Bear,” she whispered.

As she slipped into oblivion, she felt a fog of confusion slither through her brain. Who is Amell?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GUEST POST:

Writing This Book Has Taught Me…

I have always loved fairy tales. What’s there not to like? It’s not the happily-ever-after, living your life with your loved one for eternity that attracts me. Rather, it’s the power of good overcoming evil and that, even inside a beast, a monster, there has to be something beautiful. I believe we all have a bit of the beast in us, but we also have the potential to reveal our inner beauty. As I wrote this story, I learned to accept my own inner beauty and that of those around me, even those I didn’t really like.

Of all the fairy tales, I think “Beauty and the Beast” is my favorite. The beast in the original story is a recluse who tries valiantly to live up to his beastly outer appearance, until Bel finds something beautiful deeper within is visual persona. Bel, of course, is the beauty, both visually and within, and only she has the power to bring out the true beauty in those around her. How? By being kind, thoughtful and caring. Perhaps I always knew the importance of these traits, but it never hurts to learn them again. I’d like to think that writing my version, writing “Beauty in the Beast,” helped me learn once again how to be kind, thoughtful and caring.

Beasts exist – they must. Why else would they appear in folktales, literature, and artwork around the world, in all cultures. I focused my attention on two ‘beasts’ whose stories and legends, and random sightings, have fascinated humans for centuries. The First Nations (aboriginals of Canada) have many ‘beastly’ stories. Along the west coast of British Columbia, many totem pole villages, past and present, feature totems of the mystical creature they call D’Sonoqua, or wild woman of the forest. D’Sonoqua’s story is not so different from the evil witch in Hansel and Greta; she’s also not so different from the random sightings of a beast-like creature that haunts the west coast forests, the Sasquatch.

Are these creatures real? I think they are. They’ve been sighted, but never captured on film nor ensnared in traps. These creatures are shy, recluse, just like the beast in the original “Beauty and the Beast” story. Were these creatures created in a lab? By some alien super-intelligent being? An experiment on mutating humans with other living creatures? And, for what purpose? I learned a lot in my research on these creatures and the myths that surround them.

The what if’s always drive me forward. It’s these same type of what if’s that my young writing students always expounded on. If the young can write with abandoned creative energy, why can’t I? This is something else I learn with every new work of fiction I write. Fantasy and Science Fiction are new genres in my writing sphere, but there’s so much fun to write when I abandoned all reserves I might have previously incorporated into my plots.

What has writing this book really taught me? Lots. Every writing project is a learning curve. This book has clearly taught me that I can write about just about anything, in just about any genre. All I have to do is let my imagination take flight, like Priya, the main character in my story.

“Priya stepped back, blending into the blackness of night. Spreading her arms, she felt the feathers surge forth giving her wings. Taking off, she soared mere feet above where she had left Roderick. He only glanced once, waved, then he, too, faded into the night. She soared higher, in broader circles, then took off into the night sky over the forest, seeking her feathered friends and a night of reckless abandon. Seeking the beauty embedded deep within every living creature. The beauty within the beast.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR BIO:

Emily-Jane Hills Orford is a country writer, living just outside the tiny community of North Gower, Ontario, near the nation’s capital. With degrees in art history, music and Canadian studies, the retired music teacher enjoys the quiet nature of her country home and the inspiration of working at her antique Jane Austen-style spinet desk, feeling quite complete as she writes and stares out the large picture window at the birds and the forest. She writes in several genres, including creative nonfiction, memoir, fantasy, and historical fiction.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONNECT WITH EMILY-JANE:

Website:

http://emilyjanebooks.ca

Email:

http://emilyjanebooks.ca/contact.php

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/realpeoplestories

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/ejhomusic

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/emily-jane-hills-orford

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1732544.Emily_Jane_Hills_Orford

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60537696-beauty-in-the-beast

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/33gwU44

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/36GSWVB

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3J5A1Ru

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Beauty-Beast-Emily-Jane-Hills-Orford-ebook/dp/B09TH1T6J6

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Beauty-Beast-Emily-Jane-Hills-Orford/dp/1952020204

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beauty-in-the-beast-emily-jane-hills-orford/1141065152?ean=2940161030417

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beauty-in-the-beast-emily-jane-hills-orford/1141065152?ean=9781952020209

Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Beauty-Beast-Emily-Jane-Hills-Orford/9781952020209

Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Beauty-Beast/Emily-Jane-Hills-Orford/9781952020209

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFO:

Emily-Jane will be awarding a $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

Mrs. Murray's Home by Emily-Jane Hills Orford - Book Tour - Book Review - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hey, lovelies!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Emily-Jane Hills Orford and her new book, “Mrs. Murray's Home”!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Emily-Jane and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!

Mrs. Murray's Home

by Emily-Jane Hills Orford

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Historical Fantasy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Home is where the heart is, or so they say. It’s also been said that a home is a person’s castle. But home is also with family and friends. Mrs. Murray longs for home, the family home, a castle an ocean away. The Brownies also crave for home, the same castle Mrs. Murray considers home. And Granny? Mary’s Granny hasn’t been home since she was Mary’s age. It’s time to visit the homeland, Scotland. Mary’s excited to tag along with Granny, Mrs. Murray and the Brownies. And then there’s the witch. The one they thought they’d killed. And the treasure. The one they had found. And it all ties together, for better or for worse. Join the adventure in book 3 of the popular “Piccadilly Street Series”.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT THREE:

The Brownies were coming out of their daze. They glanced around, startled, taking in the situation. They noticed their queen, young and beautiful, the curse broken. A cheer erupted. “The witch is dead,” was the chant that rippled through the throngs of what once was Penelope’s Brownie army.

A chanting began from the rear of the troop and quickly picked up in volume. “Hail Hail, the witch is dead. Cause for celebration. In the Brownie nation. Hail Hail, we’re free at last. Time to celebrate freedom.”

“Sounds very much like, ‘Hail, hail, the gang’s all here. What the heck do we care? What the heck to we care?’” Granny laughed heartily, tapping her foot to the rhythmic chanting. The words were made up to suit the occasion, but everyone was catching on and soon there was dancing in the halls as the celebration escalated.

“I think we’re having a party.” Cousin George clapped his hands and joined in the fun.

Master Harry picked up the frozen remains of the witch and tucked it in his pocket. It was safer than leaving it untended on the floor where it could be trampled or, worse, stolen and restored to its original witchy form. He patted the pocket to assure himself that it was safe and then made his way over to where Mary and Granny still stood beside the staircase. “You’ll have to keep working on your spellcasting,” he spoke in a guarded voice. “I can only keep her like this for so long. Once you’re strong enough, once your power is fully controlled, we, you and I, can take care of Penelope for good.”

“What will you do with her? With it?” she nodded toward his pocket where she watched him place the frozen witch-iness.

“I’ll keep her safe and frozen until you’re ready. Nara will assist.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MY BOOK REVIEW:

Who says you can’t go home?! 

That is exactly what Mary, Granny, Mrs. Murray, and the Brownies plan to do!  Oh, what crazy, fun ventures await them!  This will be one trip no one will forget!  With ghosts, witches, little people, magic powers, spells, enchantment, folklore, and a shocking surprise villain – this book has so much to offer the reader!!

This book took me on a roaring magical and mystifying adventure!!

This book is exciting, thrilling, entertaining, interesting, and intriguing!!

An enjoyable read for all ages!!

This book was a super quick, easy, fun read at only 163 eBook pages!  I was able to finish this book in just two sittings!

I really enjoyed the main and supporting characters – Mary, Granny, Mrs. Murray, Liam, and the Brownies – Brunny and Briddie, Pelly and Mattie, Stocky and Elizabeth, and of course Ossie!!  They all were important to the story and played their roles well, especially while engaging with the main characters.

I loved the adorable shortened nicknames Mary gave the Brownies and really enjoyed their silly humor and shenanigans!!

There were many LOL moments in this book that I truly enjoyed!!

I also loved the author’s writing style as she was superior on detail and the way she immerses you into her storytelling.  Her writing draws you in and keeps you fully engaged as the imagination buildings up and the story unfolds!!

The writing style is fluid, well developed, and at a steady pace.

I’ve noticed a pattern of the author’s books revolving around the beautiful Scotland setting.  She seems very knowledgeable and familiar with all things Scottish.  I love that she finds a way to add interesting and intriguing historical facts that really brings the Scotland setting to life.  Whereas the setting itself almost seems like a character as the author clearly put a great deal of thought into shaping and constructing the setting!

There are some predictable scenes.  However, there are still a few unexpected twists and turns that you won’t see coming!

This book is Book Three in The Piccadilly Street Book Series.  It can be read as a standalone.  However, it seems there are many character, plot twists, and story line overlaps.  I had not previously read the first two books before reading this book and did not find myself lost or confused during the story.  Since this is an entertaining book series and there are strong ties and references to the previous books, I personally would think it would make more sense and have a stronger impact on the understanding of this book series, if you started with book one first.

All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it!  I think all historical fantasy readers will like this book too!  So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading - you won't be disappointed!

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.**

Did you find this review helpful?

If so, please, please, please mark it as helpful on Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/RXI6CEKTCYV7E

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR BIO:

An avid gardener, artist, musician and writer, Emily-Jane Hills Orford has fond memories and lots of stories that evolved from a childhood growing up in a haunted Victorian mansion. Told she had a ‘vivid imagination’, the author used this talent to create stories in her head, allowing her imagination to lead her into a different world, one of her own making. As the author grew up, these stories, imaginings and fantasies took to the written form and, over the years, she developed a reputation for telling a good story. Emily-Jane can now boast that she is an award-winning author of several books, including Mrs. Murray’s Ghost: The Piccadilly Street Series Book 1 (Telltale Publishing 2018) which was named finalist in the 2019 N.N. Light Book Awards, Mrs. Murray’s Hidden Treasure: The Piccadilly Street Series Book 2 (Telltale Publishing 2019), Mrs. Murray’s Home: The Piccadilly Street Series Book 3 (Telltale Publishing 2020), Queen Mary’s Daughter (Clean Reads 2018) which won the 2019 N.N. Light Book Awards, King Henry’s Choice (Clean Reads 2019), and several other books. A retired teacher of music and creative writing, she writes about the extra-ordinary in life and the fantasies of dreams combined with memories. For more information on the author, check out her website at: http://emilyjanebooks.ca.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONNECT WITH EMILY-JANE:

Website:

http://emilyjanebooks.ca

Email:

http://emilyjanebooks.ca/contact.php

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/realpeoplestories

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/ejhomusic

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/emily-jane-hills-orford

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1732544.Emily_Jane_Hills_Orford

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51797146-mrs-murray-s-home

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/33gwU44

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/35xna8d

Amazon Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3c4uNFT

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mrs-murrays-home-emily-jane-hills-orford/1136534107?ean=2940162685289

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mrs-murrays-home-emily-jane-hills-orford/1136534107?ean=9781952020032

The Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Mrs-Murrays-Home-Emily-Jane-Hills-Orford/9781952020032

BAM! Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Mrs-Murrays-Home/Emily-Jane-Hills-Orford/9781952020032

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFO:

Emily-Jane will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here.**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

King Henry’s Choice by Emily-Jane Hills Orford - Book Tour - Book Review - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hello, lovelies!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Emily-Jane Hills Orford and her new book, “King Henry’s Choice”!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Emily-Jane and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!

King Henry’s Choice

by Emily-Jane Hills Orford

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Historical Fantasy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

There are powers at play that continue to seek amalgamating Scotland to England – powers from the past and powers from the future. It’s the late 1800s and Queen Victoria wants more than mere access to the Scottish retreat at Balmoral Castle. But King Henry I of Scotland, direct descendent of Queen Mary Elizabeth I, the time traveling royal daughter of Mary Queen of Scots, is determined to keep Scotland free and independent and a powerful, progressive nation in its own right. The struggle to protect what is his by birthright becomes a battle that must be fought in the past, the present and the future and in other parts of the world. And, in the midst of each battle, there are choices to be made. Very difficult choices.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT TWO:

He took time to study it closely, holding it reverently in his hands. Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, was a famous warrior in Scottish history, one of the first to successfully rout the English from their land and maintain his realm. His sword, the one Henry now held, was a symbol of his success as well as a symbol of the power of Scotland as an independent realm. Some even suggested it had such magnificent powers and the person who wielded the sword would be unstoppable, a force to be reckoned with no matter what weapons were used against him, past, present or future. It was an heroic sword. Forged of the strongest metals available in the fourteenth century, the sword was a marvel of both craftsmanship and artistry. The pommel was beautiful with the Cross of St. Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, emblazoned for all to see and for the bearer to feel the ethereal power of the saint, as he wrapped his hand firmly around the soft, black leather-bound grip held in place by a corded silver chain. The Lion of Scotland, plated in silver, marked the throat of the black leather scabbard with a rounded silver shoe at the scabbard’s tip. A wide belt, the leather hardened with age and sorely in need of some oil to soften it, remained attached ready and waiting for a warrior to lay claim to its powers. Was Henry the warrior of whom legend spoke?

Henry wrapped the belt around his waist, feeling a surge of energy and power as he did so. He slowly unsheathed the sword and held it high for the others to see. He ran a finger gingerly along its length, marveling the blade, unused for centuries, still sharp enough to do considerable damage. It even glistened in the flickering light from the fire in the hearth. The sword glistened with an electrical surge rippling from the tip to the pommel and sizzling along the king’s arm.

His eyes lit up. “I am ready. For Scotland. To defend my realm.”

Mary Elizabeth added the rallying battle cry of Scotland, the one she had initiated during her reign. “For now and forever.”

Henry, Edward and Cecil echoed her sentiments. “For now and forever.”

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MY BOOK REVIEW:

This book is an interesting, intriguing, and thought-provoking read!

The author offers an exciting and refreshing take on the Scottish Highlands with just the right blend of time-traveling, fantasy, and historical content.

This book as the title implies is really about the choices we make and the ripple effects they have on ourselves, our loved ones, and those around us.  One path along this plot line is Henry reexamining his choice in his marriage partner, Isabel.  He proceeds to say that shortly after their nuptials he discovered that he made a regrettable decision in choosing her as his partner and that he had wished he could go back and have chosen someone else, his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth MacGregor, a Scottish lass.  Henry quickly realized Isabel was only interested in the glitz and glamour of the kingdom and its title – not the man Henry truly was.  And furthermore, discovered Isabel had nefarious and ulterior motivates for marrying him which leads to multiple plot points over the course of the book.

Henry states that he hopes when the day comes that he does not dictate whom his son should marry when his son becomes of age.  He hopes to not apply any pressures or manipulate him like his mother did with his own wedding.  He wants his son to be able to choose his own marriage partner – well, within reason that is.  However, Henry does state that he does intend to introduce his son to his selected possible choices and allow his son to then make the final selection from that group.  So, Henry’s still planning of somewhat controlling the situation.  However, I liked that Henry is finally opening up and learning from past experiences.  He knows how much he hated having to marry Isabel and not his true love, Elizabeth, because he followed his family’s advice, and now seeing the outcome down the road, he wants more for his son.  Again, more about choices and their ripple effect that they have.

Loyalty is also a very strong theme in this book.  Particularly, Henry’s loyalty to his Royal family and to his country, Scotland.  He is very adamant about Scottish rights, it’s people, and its freedoms.  He is very passionate about everything his great ancestor, Queen Mary Elizabeth did for Scotland and it clear he is not only trying to continue on with those traditions, but also make Scotland an even stronger and more independent country!

There is also a very creative fantasy/sci-fi theme about implanted tracking microchip devices that are used in the twenty-fifth century.  It’s an interesting concept and a surprising one to find in a historical Scottish book lol – but the author seemed to make it all work and have the story come together full circle.

There are some excellent plot points and themes throughout this book that are quite compelling and thought-provoking!

I honestly could not connect or relate to any of these characters.  I had no relationship or warm feelings for any of them.  Of course, I found Isabel to be rude, selfish, cold, greedy, narcissistic, seductive, and dangerous.  But I didn’t really care for Henry either.  I found him to be demanding, demeaning, stubborn, persistent, control-freak, anxious, loud, impatient, egotistical, arrogant, and at times he seemed well, crazy.  And I did not care for what happened to George.  It seemed not very well detailed.  One minute it’s all good, next minute he supposedly tried to help Isabel escape and didn’t know it, and the next minute Henry has his best friend/cousin locked up in prison and the key thrown away.  If George was like not aware of what Isabel was having him do, I don’t know why he was locked up?  So much for friendship being worth something?!

Unfortunately, I also found the time traveling to be a bit bouncy and confusing at times.  There was so much back and forth between different periods of time.  Many of these chapters were only a few pages and it would be “sometime in the future,” and then next chapter would be in 1875 and then 2016 and then 1875 and then 1587 and then 1875 and then “sometime in the future,” and so on.  There were several passages I had to re-read to figure what was going on in the story.  Also, the “sometime in the future,” dates were somewhat puzzling as when it when back and forth I wasn’t sure if it picked back up in the same part of “sometime in the future,” or if every “sometime in the future,” was further out than the last or just further out than the current date.  I wish it had been more specific.

Also, in the book when Henry goes back in time, he is present as is his younger and older selves (depending on the time period) and goes by “Uncle Harry,” and at first, I thought Uncle Harry was a totally different character.  So, yeah, that as well was a bit disorienting.

I really liked that this book also explored the second chances theme.  I love second chance books.  The opportunity to have a do-over is like a dream.  Having the knowledge of what has gone right and what has gone wrong and then getting like a clean slate and being able to have the chance to make all the right choices and actually pursue the “what ifs” and the “if only I had” lines – it is very exciting and when Henry goes all around in his time traveling adventures and beyond he grasps so much knowledge and information that helps him reach the last plot point and a very satisfying ending.

I also would like to point out that I think the author did a fantastic job with the historical content and authenticity of the Scottish Highlands.  It was very clear she was well-versed on the culture, customs, and traditions of Scotland.

This book is book two in the Queen Mary’s Daughter Book Series.  It can be read as a standalone.  However, it seems there are many character and story line overlaps.

All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it!  I think all historical fantasy and time-travel readers will like this book too!  So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading - you won't be disappointed!

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.**

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AUTHOR BIO:

An avid gardener, artist, musician and writer, Emily-Jane Hills Orford has fond memories and lots of stories that evolved from a childhood growing up in a haunted Victorian mansion. Told she had a ‘vivid imagination’, the author used this talent to create stories in her head to pass tedious hours while sick, waiting in a doctor’s office, listening to a teacher drone on about something she already knew, or enduring the long, stuffy family car rides. The author lived her stories in her head, allowing her imagination to lead her into a different world, one of her own making. As the author grew up, these stories, imaginings and fantasies took to the written form and, over the years, she developed a reputation for telling a good story. Emily-Jane can now boast that she is an award-winning author of several books, including King Henry’s Choice (Clean Reads 2019), Mrs. Murray’s Ghost (Telltale Publishing 2018), Mrs. Murray’s Hidden Treasure (Telltale Publishing 2019), Queen Mary’s Daughter (Clean Reads 2018), Gerlinda (CFA 2016) which received an Honorable Mention in the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, To Be a Duke (CFA 2014) which was named Finalist and Silver Medalist in the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and received an Honorable Mention in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards and several other books. A retired teacher of music and creative writing, she writes about the extra-ordinary in life and the fantasies of dreams combined with memories. For more information on the author, check out her website at: http://emilyjanebooks.ca.

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CONNECT WITH EMILY-JANE:

Website:

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

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The Book Depository Paperback:

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

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