Month: October 2014

Book Review | “The Ripper’s Wife” by Brandy Purdy

Posted Friday, 31 October, 2014 by jorielov , , 0 Comments

Parajunkee DesignsThe Ripper’s Wife by Brandy Purdy

Published By:Kensington Publishing Corp. ()
Official Author Websites:  Blog | *previously this author had a website and Facebook
Available Formats: Trade Paperback, E-book

Converse on Twitter via: #TheRippersWife, #BrandyPurdy & #EmilyPurdy

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Acquired Book By: Whilst the blog tour for “The Boleyn Bride” was underway with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, I was making my rounds to the different blogs who were hosting either an Author Interview or a Book Review, or a combination thereof. Although I was not personally connected to the blog tour myself, I oft-times find that the books which tour with HFVBT are ones that I am interested in and thereby my visits on their tour are a pure delight for me! As I am as bubbly on my visits as I am on my own blog as well as Twitter, I left some happy-hearted comments on behalf of this book & author. As she was a new-to-me author as at that point in time I had not heard of her works or known of her works as well as I do now. Shortly after my visits, I received a note from Ms. Purdy asking me if I would be interested in reading her novels. I previously received “The Boleyn Bride” and “The Queen’s Rivals”. Whilst I was working on my reviews for these novels, and putting together my interview with Ms. Purdy, she offered me to read her next release which was “The Ripper’s Wife”.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of “The Ripper’s Wife” direct from the author’s publicist at Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

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On how I know Ms. Purdy: As I was contacted originally to read both “The Boleyn Bride” and “The Queen’s Rivals”, we came to find ourselves enjoying the conversation which flowed together rather organically out of that correspondence. I have appreciated getting to know a fellow writer, especially one who writes historical fiction as that is one branch of literature although I deeply appreciate to read, was always a bit trepiderious to pen! I give such a strong nod to the writers who write such delicious historicals, because they give us a way to drink in history in an agreeable manner! I am honoured to have been given the chance to get to know her better in the process of scheduling the reviews on my blog. She even kindly enclosed bookmarks which feature her novels, and I’ve been enjoying them as I read! Bookmarks have become one of my favourite surprises to find enclosed within a book I receive for review!

I am disclosing this, to assure you that I can formulate an honest opinion, even though I have interacted with her through the past few months by email. I treat each book as a ‘new experience’, whether I personally know the author OR whether I am reading a book by them for the first time.

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A note about why I was interested in reading “The Ripper’s Wife”:

I think most readers of historical fiction have come across the story of Jack the Ripper at one point or another, as the legend and lore behind the criminal mind who was Jack the Ripper has long since been re-imagined, re-told, and attempted to be brought to life on the printed page. My interest was sparked after having a conversation on The Word Wenches blog in 2013 about whether or not the real identity of the person behind the crimes was actually known; as the debate on the identity was still thick with various reports of the evidential truth. The topic has continued to become a lively debate, with new evidence emerging out of a shawl (I believe it was a shawl) yet I am not sure if the whole story will ever truly be put to bed so to speak. Between the numerous tests and the variables of time dissolving away testimonials evidence of who was alive at the time everything happened; it sparks a wonder inside the mind of a writer who wants to take on the lore and dig deeper into the story behind the horror of what happened.

When Ms. Purdy offered me a chance to read her next release in time for Halloween, part of me was curious on the level that so much is known yet incredibly so much is unknown at the same time. For me, I approached this novel from the stand-point of it being a historical fiction true crime novel with the realisation that parts of the story would be a bit more disturbing than my regular faire of choices, but with a unique point-of-view to drive the narrative forward. On that note, I was curious to see where Purdy would take the story from ‘the wife of Jack the Ripper’ in this variation of the story. Read More

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Posted Friday, 31 October, 2014 by jorielov in #HorrorOctober, 19th Century, Based on an Actual Event &/or Court Case, Biographical Fiction & Non-Fiction, Blog Tour Host, Book Review (non-blog tour), Bookish Discussions, Bookmark slipped inside a Review Book, Britian, Clever Turns of Phrase, Content Note, Crime Fiction, Excessive Violence in Literature, Geographically Specific, Good vs. Evil, Gothic Literature, Historical Fiction, Horror, Indie Author, Jack the Ripper, Mental Health, Sociological Behavior, Sociology, the Victorian era, True Crime, Wordsmiths & Palettes of Sage, Writing Style & Voice

Book Blitz | 4 for Friday ! A special Book Spotlight of {four!} Young Adult novels from Month9Books!

Posted Friday, 31 October, 2014 by jorielov , , , , , , , , 0 Comments

4 For Friday Blitz via Chapter by Chapter for Month9Books

I was wicked happy when I found out about this special Book Spotlight arriving inside the book blogosphere for *Halloween Friday!*, as I quite literally have become quite fond of the publisher Month9Books through meeting Samantha Vérant on her Seven Letters from Paris blog tour! Lo and behold, when I found out she was publishing a Middle Grade novel entitled King of the Mutants, I was beyond impressed that she was launching her memoir & a fantasy novel at the same time! I did a bit of research on behalf of the publisher as a whole, and came to learn that they are an incredible publishing company staying on the cutting edge for Speculative Fiction releases whilst creating captivating cover art and offering such a wide variety of selections for the literary connoisseur!

I knew this would become quite a lovely surprise for those who have been following my blog for my Horror October posts this past fortnight, and wondering if I had disappeared completely! This is one special surprise I wanted to keep a secret, as I wanted to present four uniquely different suspense filled stories that I believe fit within the framework of the focus for Horror October. I love keeping my mind open to new possibilities in the different genres I dance through, yet as you will find on this post, these four novels offer something beyond unique inside their pages of wonderment!

This is the first time I am hosting on behalf of Month9Books via Chapter by Chapter, a blog tour hosting company who focuses on Young Adult, Middle Grade, & New Adult novels. And, if your curious about who Month9Books is and what their all about you might enjoy this short video:

Meet Month9Books via Month9Books

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Posted Friday, 31 October, 2014 by jorielov in After the Canon, Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blog Tour Host, Book Blitz, Book Cover | Notation on Design, Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours, Compassion & Acceptance of Differences, Detective Fiction, Equality In Literature, Fantasy Fiction, Folklore and Mythology, Good vs. Evil, High Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Indie Author, Indie Book Trade, Inspired by Stories, Month9Books, Science Fantasy, Supernatural Fiction, Werewolves, YA Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction

Book Review | “The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton” an anthology collection of ghost stories writ with a Victorian era curiosity on specters and parapsychological stories #OTBHorrorOctober

Posted Tuesday, 28 October, 2014 by jorielov , , 2 Comments

Horror October 2014

Parajunkee Designs

The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton

Borrowed Book By: 

After I compiled my reading list for Horror October (of which I blogged about on my post about being a Cosy Horror Girl), I knew that I wanted to borrow this particular collection from my local library. The best resource I have always enjoyed in my life are local libraries, as they have a beautiful outreach for materials outside their collection through the ILL services they provide with other libraries. (I shorten “inter-library loan” to ILL) In my particular case, my local library is part of a consortium of libraries from a portion of the libraries within my state. This means that I can draw books out of collections from larger cities as well as from University libraries. I borrowed “The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton” and elected to blog my ruminations without any obligation to do so. The hardback edition arrived to me via a Community College library within the consortium via ILL.

Encouraged to Read By:

This was one of the novels that was compiled on the List I asked (Mr.) Gregory Fisher @ Riffle Horror to curate for me as a way for me to seek out the cosier side of the Horror genre. I have always had a pure fascination for ghost stories, as there is always such a curious route the individual writer can take as they yield to the supernatural and the presence of each ghost they bring to life on the written page. I personally have a preference for spunky & cheeky ghosts as much as spirits of the recently deceased who are in seek of help from living persons who can either aide them towards finding peace, redemption, and/or justice as a way to transition forward in peace. (I spoke more about this on my review of Lost in Thought)

I have been wanting to read more Classics since 2014 began, as I had all these wicked happy ideas of where I could soak inside the works of the writers’ who not only championed the cause for well-written fiction but who were dedicated to the craft of writing in such a way as to illicit immediate respect and admiration. When I was finally able to join tCC (the Classics Club : my List), I thought for sure each month I’d be reading at least two classic novels! Clearly my year did not pan out as I had forethought it would but that doesn’t discount the fact I knew during Horror October I could finally introduce myself to the writing style of Edith Wharton! As Wharton is already listed on my Classics TBR List due to my interactions with an after canon author during a 2013 blog tour!

The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton
by Edith Wharton
Illustrator/Cover Designer: Laszlo Kubinyi
Source: Borrowed from local library

The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton are a collection of Gothic Literature Shorts set around the parapsychological phenomenon of hauntings by way of ghosts & spirits who are attached to either physical properties, (i.e. houses) or living persons of whom the ghostly spirit has found an attachment. Each of the short stories transcends what is popularly disbelieved and unwilling to become accepted as bonefide fact that there are experiences past our vision of acceptance where the supernatural lies just outside the stretch of the living soul's observational mirror.

The setting of choice for Wharton to place these stories was inside three distinctly different locales: England, Normandy, & America. Her preference was for the inclusion of a family estate to be the central focus of where her characters not only interacted with the ghosts but where the action of the story itself takes place.

Illustrative plates are included per short story to help the reader fuse directly into the heart of where Wharton hoped to take her readers with the vision of the supernatural she wished to convey.

The following short stories are included in this collection:

  • The Lady's Maid Bell
  • The Eyes
  • Afterward
  • Kerfol
  • The Triumph of the Night
  • Miss Mary Pash
  • Bewitched
  • Mr. Jones
  • Pomegrante Seed
  • The Looking Glass
  • All Souls'

Other Works by Wharton listed inside the collection are:

  • The Moose Marathon
  • The Mudslipper (Children's Lit)
  • Mistress & Other Creative Takeoffs (Short Stories)
    with Desmond Sim & Kwan Loh

This summary of a synopsis was written & composed by Jorie @ Jorie Loves A Story.

Genres: Anthology Collection of Short Stories and/or Essays, Ghost Story, Gothic Literature, Historical Fiction, Suspense



Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

Published by Charles Scribner's Sons

on 1973

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 276

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

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Posted Tuesday, 28 October, 2014 by jorielov in #HorrorOctober, 19th Century, Anthology Collection of Stories, Blogosphere Events & Happenings, Bookish Discussions, British Literature, Classic Mystery, Classical Literature, Clever Turns of Phrase, Cliffhanger Ending, Death, Sorrow, and Loss, England, Ghost Story, Ghosts & the Supernatural, Gothic Literature, Gothic Mystery, Haunting & Ethereal, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Library Find, Literary Fiction, Local Libraries | Research Libraries, Mental Health, Motion Picture Adaptation, Parapsychological Suspense, Philosophical Intuitiveness, Reading Challenges, Short Stories or Essays, Speculative Fiction, Supernatural Fiction, Suspense, tCC The Classics Club, the Victorian era, Writing Style & Voice

Blog Book Tour | “Because of Love” by Shauna V. Brown an inspiring short story to encourage your heart & spirit into the joyfulness of the season!

Posted Sunday, 26 October, 2014 by jorielov , , , 2 Comments

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Because of Love by Shauna V. Brown

Published By: Sweetwater Books (@SweetwaterBooks),
an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc (@CedarFortBooks)

Available Formats: Paperback, Ebook

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Acquired Book By: 

I am a regular tour hostess for blog tours via Cedar Fort whereupon I am thankful to have such a diverse amount of novels and non-fiction titles to choose amongst to host. I received a complimentary copy of “Because of Love” direct from the publisher Sweetwater Books (imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc) in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Interest in Reading:

One of my favourite sub-genres within literature are holiday stories, specifically those stories which take place around Thanksgiving to Christmas! I love being caught up in the happy joy of mirth the holiday season can bring, as much as it lends itself to an inspiring time in the year, where stories can help brighten up your day, as much as invigorate your soul! I love curling into the holiday films on Hallmark Channel throughout the season (although this year I think they are starting a wee bit early on Halloween!), because I know I’m going to be in for a season of surprises, goodwill, good hearted celebrations, inspiring stories of triumph over adversity, and a heap of joy! I love the simplicity of seeing how traditions and cultural differences intermix during holiday celebrations as much as I appreciate seeing historical and contemporary based stories as well.

I have always read quite a heap of holiday stories, focusing primarily on Christmas ever since I was a young girl – in fact, it was the Christmas novella collections put out by some of today’s beloved Romance writers that captured my heart the most as they were set during the Victorian age, where families still gathered together in such a joyfully big way that the traditions and rituals that went along with their family’s celebratory cheer felt comfortable and welcoming! A dash of romance never hurt, either! Short stories interested me back then, but it took fantasy to bring me back to the short story as a length of story I would enjoy reading more regularly!

When I first saw Because of Love go on tour, I thought to myself this would be the perfect keepsake short story to read, cherish, and start to get into the holiday spirit! I had no idea of course, my fortnight leading up to my tour stop would be full of technical woes and the day of my stop would be consumed by a migraine! Let me simply say, that as I read this short story ahead of posting this review, aside from the cinnamon toast and the peppermint tea to forestall my migraine from thundering back to me, this short not only uplifted me on a day I felt a bit consumed, but it re-affirmed the happiness the season we’re all about to walk into brings to each of us.

Blog Book Tour | “Because of Love” by Shauna V. Brown an inspiring short story to encourage your heart & spirit into the joyfulness of the season!Because of Love
by Shauna V. Brown

All Phoebe Brown wants for Christmas is three pairs of beautiful, high-button brown shoes - one pair for each of her daughters. But her husband Byron is sure their basic heavy boots are fine. With a little money to spare, Phoebe launches a secret plan to earn the shoes herself. What follows is a season of surprises for the whole family!

Inspired by real pioneer events, this heartwarming holiday tale is the perfect stocking stuffer to share with your family and friends. Touching and tender, it will remind you that the best gifts come wrapped in ribbons of forgiveness, understanding, and a true change of heart.

Genres: Christmas Story &/or Christmas Romance, Inspirational Fiction & Non-Fiction, Short Story or Novella



Places to find the book:

Published by Sweetwater Books

on 14th October, 2014

Format: Paperback

Pages: 96

About Shauna V. Brown

Shauna V. Brown

Graduating from Brigham Young University with a degree in speech and drama, communication, has provided Shauna V. Brown with many opportunities to use her talents. She has written and directed original plays and presentations for church and community. She has shared her musical talents, numerous scripts and presentations with pioneer trek groups for the past eighteen years. Shauna has equally enjoyed being a guest speaker and presenter at BYU Education Week, women’s conferences, firesides and community presentations.

Shauna and her husband, Rick, are blessed with six children and fourteen grandchildren. For the past twenty-two years, Shauna has written an original Christmas story as a gift to neighbors and friends.

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My Review of Because of Love:

The story opens on the cusp of a mother finding out one of her young daughters is being bullied and harassed by school children, who for whichever reason felt it necessary to devise a song to sing about her physical appearance and condition of her boots. The vexation of her mother brought me back to my own childhood, where I too, was regularly bullied and went in search of my Mum to not only temper the emotions that would swirl inside me but to sort out why children have to behave so unjustly to others they barely know but choose to attack. Josephine is a young girl of seven years, when her classmates start to torment her about the how her legs are off-set against the heaviest of her boots. A simple observation and yet a devastating one if turnt ugly out of spite.

Her mother, and sisters (Sadie and Ida) sat with her in the field grass as they listened to the story their Mum shared from her own past, where forgiveness wasn’t as easily given but truly the only way to set one’s heart and mind free. Misunderstandings are just as easily hurtful as outward spite and the cruelty of childhood bullies who never realise the irksome turmoil they inflict because they are too consumed by focusing on what they feel is right in the moment. Their mother was trying to point out a lesson from the experience but not to distract her daughters from the difficulty of finding bravery in the face of meanness.

I started to reflect on watching Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons as I loved both programmes equally for how they shined a positive light on community and family values. They also dealt with bullying behaviour and the aftereffects it can have on children of different ages. I think it is always a lesson that needs to be presented in different ways through different stories, because in today’s world being bullied has taken on new definition and has caused more than spilt tears.

The parents of the children have two distinctive points of view on the topic of which type of boot or shoe their three daughters should wear to school. For the father, Bryon he’s most concerned about superficiality on appearance being attractive to his daughters where pride could take their central focus over being humble. Whereas their Mum Phoebe simply wants to find a balance between what is practical (the clunky heavy boots) and what is considered a feminine option for women. They are approaching the topic from two separate schools of thought, and what had me winking out a knowing grin, is that both of them were right but for different reasons!

I was caught up in the blissitude of watching Phoebe earn her keep towards surprising her girls and Bryon at the same time for Christmas; whilst the family started to settle into the joy of having family coming round with the tree! Tree trimming was always one of my favourite times during December, as it always brought back a swirl of memories; most of which were happy but on the years of loss being sustained a bit bittersweet as well. Needless, a tree needs to be trimmed before Christmas is welcomed in and the act of unwrapping the ornaments both store bought and handmade was always a conversation waiting to expand into a recollective memory we could all share together! I loved reading the simple joys of homemade crafting and homemade cooking, warming not only the spirits of her loved ones as Phoebe created her gifts out of love but instilling her passion into her joys and keeping a firm warmth around her loved ones. It is love that stitched itself throughout this short story, of a two parents who would move the earth itself if it meant giving a small seed of faith and hope to their daughters. I hope that everyone who picks up this story this holiday season will be renewed in spirit and have a happy flutter of a dance of light in their eyes as they read one family’s story of fortitude and blessed thanksgiving of family.

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This Blog Tour Stop is courtesy of Cedar Fort, Inc:

Cedar Fort Publishing & Media

Virtual Road Map of “Because of Love” Blog Tour can be found here:

Because of Love Blog Tour via Cedar Fort Publishing & Media

Be sure to check out my schedule for Bookish Events!

I positively *love!* comments in the threads below each of my posts, kindly know that I appreciate each thought you want to share with me and all the posts on my blog are open to new comments & commentary! Short or long, I appreciate the time you spent to leave behind a note of your visit! Return again soon!

{SOURCES: Author photograph, Book Cover of “Because of Love”, the Cedar Fort badge, the Book Synopsis, and the Author Biography were provided by Cedar Fort, Inc. and used by permission. Blog Tour badge provided by Parajunkee to give book bloggers definition on their blogs. Post dividers badge by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination.}

Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2014.

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Posted Sunday, 26 October, 2014 by jorielov in 19th Century, American Old West, Balance of Faith whilst Living, Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blog Tour Host, Cedar Fort Publishing & Media, Family Drama, Family Life, Father-Daughter Relationships, Historical Fiction, Homestead Life, Indie Author, Inspirational Fiction & Non-Fiction, Lessons from Scripture, Old West Americana, Short Fiction, Short Stories or Essays, Siblings, Sisters & the Bond Between Them, Story knitted out of Ancestral Data, Western Fiction