Book Details:

Book Title:  Eternally Artemisia – Some loves, like some women, are timeless
by Melissa Muldoon
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  312 pages
Genre: Fiction General, Fiction Women
Publisher:  Matta Press
Release date:  March 2019
Format available for review:  print, ebook (mobi, ePub)
Will send books to:  USA & Canada
Tour dates: June 3 to 28, 2019
Content Rating: PG-13 + M (The book focuses on the life of Artemisia Gentileschi who was raped by her painting instructor, Agostino Tassi. The themes of the book deal with rape and overcoming sexual abuse. It is a book about female empowerment and how with the right tools, and support women may rise above past tragedies to build a better future for themselves.)

Book Description:
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They say some loves travel through time and are fated to meet over and over again. For Maddie, an art therapist, who wrestles with the “peculiar feeling” she has lived previous lives and is being called to Italy by voices that have left imprints on her soul, this idea is intriguing. Despite her best efforts, however, proof of this has always eluded her. That is, until one illuminating summer in Italy when Maddie’s previous existences start to bleed through into her current reality. When she is introduced to the Crociani family—a noble clan with ties to the seventeenth-century Medici court that boasts of ancestors with colorful pasts—she finally meets the loves of her life. One is a romantic love, and another is a special kind of passion that only women share, strong amongst those who have suffered greatly yet have triumphed despite it.

As Maddie's relationship develops with Artemisia Gentileschi—an artist who in a time when it was unheard of to denounce a man for the crime of rape, did just that—Maddie discovers a kindred spirit and a role model, and just what women are capable of when united together.

In a journey that arcs back to biblical days and moves forward in time, Maddie encounters artists, dukes, designers, and movie stars as well as baser and ignoble men. With Artemisia never far from her side, she proves that when we dare to take control of our lives and find the “thing” we are most passionate about, we are limitless and can touch the stars.

Praise for Eternally Artemisia:

“A true Renaissance woman, Melissa Muldoon weaves her passions for art and Italy into a stirring saga that sweeps across centuries. As her time-traveling heroine Maddie reconnects with kindred souls, we meet Artemisia Gentileschi, the 17th-century artist who overcame rape and ignominy to gain respect and acclaim. Historic figures such as Galileo and Mussolini also come to life in this intricately plotted novel, but the women who defy all constraints to take control of their destinies are the ones who prove to be eternally fascinating.” -- Dianne Hales
 
What a lovely story! Melissa weaves the lives of 4 women across time, all with some connection to Artemisia Gentileschi, a 16th century Italy painter. They represent the feminine strength that arises from life challenges, each with their unique intelligence. Underlying their stories is the idea that love transcends all, even time, love is timeless. As with her other books, Melissa fills the story out with interesting facts and references to the Italian life, culture and it's history, her attention to detail is immaculate . I loved all of the many connections in this story that tied it all together, very cleverly done. Wonderful read, I would highly recommend it. – Lize, Amazon Reviewer
 
Melissa Muldoon does a phenomenal job blending fiction, romance, art history, and the Italian language into this gem. For fans of historical fiction, romance, and time travel, I strongly recommend this novel. –Exemplary Editing, Amazon Review

​Meet the Author:  

Melissa Muldoon is the author of three novels set in Italy: “Dreaming Sophia,” “Waking Isabella,” and “Eternally Artemisia.” All three books tell the stories of American women and their journeys of self-discovery to find love, uncover hidden truths, and follow their destinies to shape a better future in Italy.

Melissa is also the author of the Studentessa Matta website, where she promotes the study of Italian language and culture through her dual-language blog written in Italian and English (studentessamatta.com). Studentessa Matta means the “crazy linguist” and has grown to include a podcast, Tutti Matti per l'Italiano and the Studentessa Matta YouTube channel, Facebook page and Instagram feed. Melissa also created Matta Italian Language Immersion Programs, which she co-leads with Italian schools in Italy to learn Italian in Italy. Through her website, she also offers the opportunities to live and study in Italy through Homestay programs. Melissa has a B.A. in fine arts, art history and European history from Knox College, a liberal arts college in Galesburg, Illinois, as well as a master's degree in art history from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.

She has also studied painting and art history in Florence. She is an artist, designer, and illustrated the cover art for all three of her books. Melissa is also the managing director of Matta Press. As a student, Melissa lived in Florence with an Italian family. She studied art history and painting and took beginner Italian classes. When she returned home, she threw away her Italian dictionary, assuming she’d never need it again, but after launching a successful design career and starting a family, she realized something was missing in her life. That “thing” was the connection she had made with Italy and the friends who live there. Living in Florence was indeed a life-changing event. Wanting to reconnect with Italy, she decided to start learning the language again from scratch. As if indeed possessed by an Italian muse, she bought a new Italian dictionary and began her journey to fluency—a path that has led her back to Italy many times and enriched her life in countless ways. Now, many dictionaries and grammar books later, she dedicates her time to promoting Italian language studies, further travels in Italy, and sharing her stories and insights about Italy with others. Melissa designed and illustrated the cover art for Eternally Artemisia, Waking Isabella, and Dreaming Sophia.

She also curates the Dreaming Sophia Art History blog site and Pinterest site: The Art of Loving Italy, where you will find companion pictures for all three books. Visit MelissaMuldoon.com for more information about immersion trips to learn the language with Melissa in Italy, as well as the Studentessa Matta blog for practice and tips to learn the Italian language.

​Connect with the author:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~  Pinterest  ~ Instagram

BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE:

June 3 -   Working Mommy Journal - review
June 3 -   Viviana MacKade - book spotlight / guest post
June 4 -   Found In Words - review / author interview
June 5 -   Rockin' Book Reviews - review / guest post / giveaway
June 6 -   Library of Clean Reads - review / giveaway
June 7 -   Literary Flits - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 10 - Locks, Hooks and Books - review / giveaway
June 11 - #redhead.with.book - review / giveaway
June 12 - A Madison Mom - review / giveaway
June 13 - A Fountain of Books - review / guest post / giveaway
June 14 - History From a Woman's Perspective - review
June 17 - Essentially Italian - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
June 18 - A Mama's Corner of the World - review / giveaway
June 19 - Jayne’s Books - review
June 20 - Celticlady's Reviews - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 24 - StoreyBook Reviews - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
June 25 - Svetlana's Reads and Views - review / giveaway
June 26 - Readers Muse - review / guest post
June 27 - Bookworm for Kids - review
June 28 - @wewhotellstories - review (with playlist)
June 28 - Just Reviews - review

Join us for this tour from April 15 to 26, 2019!

Book Details:

Book Title:  Drone Strike: An Anthony Provati Thriller by Joe Giordano
Category:  Adult Fiction,  290 pages
Genre: Thriller
Publisher:  Rogue Phoenix Press
Release date:  April 15, 2019
Format available for review:  ebook (mobi, ePub, PDF)
Tour dates: April 15 to 26, 2019
Content Rating: PG + M (for some violent scenes, no sex, no f-words.)

Book Description:

Karim’s family is killed by a U.S. drone strike in Iraq, collateral damage. The Islamic State in the Levant exploits his rage, recruiting him for a terrorist attack on the U.S., and only Anthony Provati can stop him. Drone Strike takes you on a fast-paced adventure across the Mediterranean, into Mexico, finally arriving in the States. Drone Strike explores the psychological realities that seduce Karim to commit an act of terror, includes a love story between Moslem Karim and Miriam, a Christian woman he defends in Turkey, and highlights the plight of Middle Eastern and Central American refugees.

​

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo
Add to Goodreads
​

Meet the Author:

As a former International Executive Vice President of 3M, Joe Giordano’s experience included running a business in the Middle East out of Athens, Greece. Born in New York, he’s had first-hand experience with the cultures and most of the locations in Drone Strike.

Joe's stories have appeared in more than one hundred magazines including The Saturday Evening Post and Shenandoah. His novels, Birds of Passage: An Italian Immigrant Coming of Age Story (2015) and Appointment with ISIL: An Anthony Provati Thriller (2017) were published by Harvard Square Editions. Read the first chapters and sign up for his blog at http://joe-giordano.com/
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Joe was among one hundred Italian-American authors honored by Barnes & Noble Chairman Len Riggio to march in the 2017 Manhattan, Columbus Day Parade. 

​Connect with the author:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~  Pinterest

BOOK REVIEW SCHEDULE:

April 15 - Working Mommy Journal - review / giveaway
April 16 - Essentially Italian - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
April 17 - Locks, Hooks and Books - review / author interview / giveaway
April 18 - My Devotional Thoughts - review / author interview / giveaway
April 18 - A Mama's Corner of the World - review / giveaway
April 19 - #redhead.with.book - review / giveaway
April 22 - Bound 4 Escape - review / giveaway
April 23 - Cheryl's Book Nook - review / giveaway
April 24 - Life as Leels - review / giveaway
April 25 - Library of Clean Reads - review / giveaway
April 25 - JBronder Book Reviews - review / guest post / giveaway
April 26 - Readers Muse - review / guest post

Enter the Giveaway!
Ends May 3, 2019

​MADE IN ITALY takes you on a complete tour of the dazzling artisanal legacy of Italy, uncovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and one-of-a-kind, hidden workshops where everything from leather bags to gilded frames are turned out completely by hand,
piece by piece.

Join us for this tour from Feb 11 to March 8, 2019!

Book Details:

Book Title:  Made in Italy by Laura Morelli
Category: Adult Non-fiction, 161 pages
Genre:  Travel, History, Art
Publisher:  Authentic Arts Publishing
Release date: Jan, 2019
Tour dates: Feb 11 to March 8, 2019
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

​Richly painted maiolica ceramics from Tuscany. Supple Florentine leather. The cameos of Naples and the Amalfi Coast. Parmigiano-Reggiano, the king of cheeses. Jaw-dropping glass from the island of Murano.

MADE IN ITALY takes you on a complete tour of the dazzling artisanal legacy of Italy, uncovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and one-of-a-kind, hidden workshops where everything from leather bags to gilded frames are turned out completely by hand, piece by piece.

This book includes instructions for getting a free copy of the companion guide, ARTISANS OF ITALY, with complete, continually updated listings of Laura's personally recommended shops and artisans across Italy.

Laura Morelli, art historian and trusted guide in the world of cultural travel and authentic shopping, leads you behind the tourist traps to discover some of Italy's most traditional arts.

Laura holds a Ph.D. in art history from Yale University and shares how, what, and where to buy; hints on recognizing quality and authenticity; and tips for bringing home the artisanal treasures of Italy in your suitcase.
​

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
Author's Website
Add to Goodreads
​

Meet the Author:

LAURA MORELLI holds a Ph.D. in art history from Yale University, has taught college students in the U.S. and in Italy, and currently produces art history lessons for TED-Ed. She authored a column for National Geographic Traveler called “The Genuine Article” and has contributed pieces about art and authentic travel to CNN Radio, The Frommers Travel Show, and in USA TODAY, Departures, and other media.

Laura is the author of the Authentic Arts guidebook series that includes the popular book Made in Italy. Her fiction brings the stories of art history to life. Her debut novel, The Gondola Maker, won an IPPY for Best Historical Fiction and a Benjamin Franklin Award.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

BOOK SPOTLIGHT TOUR SCHEDULE:

Feb 11   - Library of Clean Reads - tour kick-off / giveaway
Feb 12   - Working Mommy Journal - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 13   - eBook Addicts - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 14   - Rockin' Book Reviews - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 15   - 30-something Travel - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 15   - Teresa Edmond-Sargeant - ​book spotlight
Feb 18   - Laura's Interests - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 19   - A Mama's Corner of the World - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 20   - Fantastic Feathers - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 22   - Essentially Italian - review / giveaway
Feb 22   - Amy's Booket List - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 25   - Splashes Into Books - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 26   - #redhead.with.book - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 27   - Seaside Book Nook - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 28   - Locks, Hooks and Books - book spotlight / giveaway
March 4 - Celticlady's Reviews -  book spotlight / giveaway
March 5 - Monica Cesarato - book spotlight / giveaway
March 5 - From the TBR Pile - book spotlight / giveaway
March 6 - Sefina Hawke's Books - book spotlight
March 7 - Paulette's Papers - book spotlight / giveaway
March 8 - Books for Books - book spotlight

Enter the Giveaway!
​Ends March 15, 2019

​A captivating novel of Renaissance Italy detailing the mysterious life of Bartolomeo Scappi, the legendary chef to several popes and author of one of the bestselling cookbooks of all time

Join us for this tour from Feb 11 to 28, 2019!

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Chef's Secret by Crystal King
Category: Adult fiction,  352 pages
Genre:  Historical Fiction
Publisher:  Atria/Simon & Schuster
Release date: Feb 12, 2019
Tour dates: Feb 11 to 28, 2019
Content Rating: R (for a couple of explicit, but loving, sex scenes (no abuse or rape) and minor curse words)

Book Description:

​A captivating novel of Renaissance Italy detailing the mysterious life of Bartolomeo Scappi, the legendary chef to several popes and author of one of the bestselling cookbooks of all time, and the nephew who sets out to discover his late uncle’s secrets—including the identity of the noblewoman Bartolomeo loved until he died.

When Bartolomeo Scappi dies in 1577, he leaves his vast estate—properties, money, and his position—to his nephew and apprentice Giovanni. He also gives Giovanni the keys to two strongboxes and strict instructions to burn their contents. Despite Scappi’s dire warning that the information concealed in those boxes could put Giovanni’s life and others at risk, Giovanni is compelled to learn his uncle’s secrets. He undertakes the arduous task of decoding Scappi’s journals and uncovers a history of deception, betrayal, and murder—all to protect an illicit love affair.

As Giovanni pieces together the details of Scappi’s past, he must contend with two rivals who have joined forces—his brother Cesare and Scappi’s former protégé, Domenico Romoli, who will do anything to get his hands on the late chef’s recipes.

With luscious prose that captures the full scale of the sumptuous feasts for which Scappi was known, The Chef’s Secret serves up power, intrigue, and passion, bringing Renaissance Italy to life in a delectable fashion.

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Indiebound
Books-a-Million ~ Kobo ~ iTunes
Google Play ~ Book Depository
​
Add to Goodreads
​

Meet the Author:

​Crystal King is an author, culinary enthusiast, and marketing expert. Her writing is fueled by a love of history and a passion for the food, language, and culture of Italy. She has taught classes in writing, creativity, and social media at several universities including Harvard Extension School and Boston University, as well as at GrubStreet, one of the leading creative writing centers in the US.

A Pushcart Prize–nominated poet and former co-editor of the online literary arts journal Plum Ruby Review, Crystal received her MA in critical and creative thinking from UMass Boston, where she developed a series of exercises and writing prompts to help fiction writers in medias res. She resides in Boston but considers Italy her next great love after her husband, Joe, and their two cats, Nero and Merlin. She is the author of Feast of Sorrow. 

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram

BOOK SPOTLIGHT TOUR SCHEDULE:

Feb 11 - Working Mommy Journal - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 11 - Essentially Italian - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 12 - Viviana MacKade - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Feb 12 - A Fountain of Books - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Feb 12 - FUONLYKNEW - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Feb 13 - Elizabeth McKenna Romance Author - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 13 - A Mama's Corner of the World - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 13 - 100 Pages A Day - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 14 - Lukten av trykksverte - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 15 - Paulette's Papers - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 15 - It’s All About the Book - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Feb 15 - Cat's Corner - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 15 - Amy’s Booket List - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 18 - Library of Clean Reads - review / giveaway
Feb 18 - Just One More Chapter - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 19 - Icefairy's Treasure Chest - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 19 - A Madison Mom - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 20 - A Holland Reads - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 20 - Svetlana's Reads and Views - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 20 - eBook Addicts - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 21 - Celticlady's Reviews - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 21 - Rainy Day Reviews - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 22 - JB's Bookworms with Brandy Mulder - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 22 - Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 25 - Literary Flits - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 25 - Lisa-Queen of Random - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 25 - Corinne Rodrigues - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 26 - Laura Reading - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 26 - Within The Pages Of A Book - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Feb 27 - Locks, Hooks and Books - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Feb 27 - My Devotional Thoughts - book spotlight / author interview 
Feb 28 - Books for Books - book spotlight
Feb 28 - Dab of Darkness Book Reviews - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway


Enter the Giveaway!
Ends March 7, 2019

Join us for this tour from Sept 24 to Oct 12, 2018!

Book Details:

Book Title:  A Life By Design (The Italian Family Series) by Lucy Appadoo
Category:  Adult Fiction,  211 pages
Genre: 20th Century Historical Romance, coming of age story set in Milan, Italy
Publisher:  Self-published
Release date:  Aug 24, 2018
Format available for review: ebook (mobi, PDF, ePub)
Tour dates: Sept 24 to Oct 12, 2018
Content Rating: PG-13 + M

Book Description:

When 20-year-old Elena Allegro leaves the Italian village of Laurino to study Fashion Design in Milan, she’s certain her dreams are about to come true. Despite her father’s warnings that risk comes with her newfound freedom, she loves her studies and develops a love interest with Francesco, the handsome young entrepreneur who offers her a part-time job in a Milan clothing store.

It seems like an idyllic situation—until a stalker targets Elena, tormenting her with mind games and threatening her safety. In the face of escalating danger to herself and to Francesco, Elena must fight for her freedom, her love, and her survival.
​

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble 
iTunes ~ Kobo ~ Google Play
Other retailers ~ Odilo for Libraries
Add to Goodreads
​

Meet the Author:

Lucy is an author of romantic suspense, historical fiction/coming of age, short story thrillers, and non-fiction books. She is also a Registered Counsellor/Wellness Coach, and works as a Rehabilitation Counsellor for the Australian Government.

Lucy enjoys reading romantic suspense, romance, thrillers, crime novels, family/historical drama, and sagas. She has enjoyed travelling to exotic places such as Madrid, Mauritius, and Italy, and draws on these experiences in her creative writing.

Lucy’s favourite authors include Kendra Elliot, Christiane Heggan, Theresa Ragan, Tara Moss, Nicholas Sparks, Adriana Trigiani, Erica Spindler, and James Patterson (to name a few).

Lucy’s interests include meditation, exercising, journal writing, reading fiction and nonfiction texts about writing, coaching, and counselling, ongoing professional development, spending time with her husband and two daughters, and socialising with friends and family.

Connect with the Author:  Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE:

Sept 24 - A Mama's Corner of the World - book spotlight / giveaway
​Sept 24 - Adventurous Jessy - book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 25 - Elizabeth McKenna Romance Author - book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 25 - Working Mommy Journal - review / giveaway
Sept 26 - FLY HIGH! - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Sept 26 - Bound 2 Escape - book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 27 - Viviana MacKade - book spotlight / guest post
Sept 27 - 100 Pages A Day - book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 28 - Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews -  book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Sept 28 - Writer’s Authority - book spotlight / author interview
Oct 1     - Cheryl's Book Nook - review / giveaway
Oct 2     - Literary Flits - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Oct 2     - #redhead.with.book - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 3     - Celticlady's Reviews - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 4     - Locks, Hooks and Books - review / giveaway
Oct 6     - Amy’s Booket List - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Oct 8     - Olio by Marilyn - review / author interview / giveaway
Oct 9     - Read and Review - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Oct 9     - My Reading Journeys - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 11   - Library of Clean Reads - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 12   - Essentially Italian - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Oct 12   - books are love - review / giveaway
TBD       - Haddie's Haven - review / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway!
​Ends Oct 19, 2018
​