Wednesday, January 27, 2010

What's New Wednesday: A Look at Next Week's New Releases

Pub. Date: February 1, 2010
Format: Paperback, 581pp

Synopsis: (From the Publisher)
If you like romance based on historical fact, you'll love Island of the Swans, which is the ficitonalized story of Jane Maxwell, a woman of influence during the mid-17th century. Set in Scotland, it follows Jane through the tragedy of losing her life-long love Thomas Fraser, through her marriage to the Duke of Gordon and Thomas' eventual return. A very satisfying read for lovers of history, which isn't surprising since Ciji is a Harvard-educated historian.





Pub. Date: February 1, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 292pp








Synopsis: (From the Publisher)
In Greek mythology, Alcestis is known as the good wife; she loved her husband so much that she died to save his life and was sent to the underworld in his place. In this poetic and vividly imagined debut, Katharine Beutner gives voice to the woman behind the ideal, bringing to life the world of Mycenaean Greece, a world peopled by capricious gods, where royal women are confined to the palace grounds and passed as possessions from father to husband.
Alcestis tells of a childhood spent with her sisters in the bedchamber where her mother died giving birth to her and of her marriage at the age of fifteen to Admetus, the young king of Pherae, a man she barely knows, who is kind but whose heart belongs to a god. She also tells the part of the story that’s never been told: What happened to Alcestis in the three days she spent in the underworld before being rescued by Heracles? In the realm of the dead, Alcestis falls in love with the goddess Persephone and discovers the true horror and beauty of death.

 



Pub. Date: February 2, 2010
Format: Paperback, 352pp








Synopsis:(From the Publisher)
Before Juliet Capelletti lie two futures: a traditionally loveless marriage to her father's business partner, or the fulfillment of her poetic dreams, inspired by the great Dante. Unlike her beloved friend Lucrezia, who looks forward to her arranged marriage, Juliet has a wild, romantic imagination that knows not the bounds of her great family's stalwart keep.

The latter path is hers for the taking when Juliet meets Romeo Monticecco, a soulful young man seeking peace between their warring families. A dreamer himself, Romeo is unstoppable, once he determines to capture the heart of the remarkable woman foretold in his stars. The breathless intrigue that ensues is the stuff of beloved legend. But those familiar with Shakespeare's muse know only half the story...

Pub. Date: February 2, 2010
Format: Paperback, 416pp
Synopsis: (From the Publisher)
A #1 bestseller in the UK comes to America—a sweeping historical novel about adventurous Rosa Barr, who travels to the Crimean battlefield in 1854 with Florence Nightingale's nursing corps.



13 comments:

Lynn Irwin Stewart said...

"Island of the Swans" sounds very interesting!

brokenteepee said...

*SIGH* I wish I was rich...

Carrie Callaghan said...

Thanks for highlighting those! Alcestis in particular sounds fascinating, but I think they'd all be fun to read.

Bibi @ Bibi's Culinary Journey said...

The Island of the Swans sounds like something I can get lost in...if I ever have more then 10 minutes of free time

BurtonReview said...

I am please to say I've read two of these (Swams & Juliet) and both were AWESOME!!
Must reads for sure!

Anonymous said...

Those all look wonderful-thanks for posting them!

Anonymous said...

O, Juliet interests me very much. I'll read it as long as they don't die in the end :)

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

Some of the covers are just gorgeous on these. Thanks for posting the cover art!

Passages to the Past said...

What a groovy week for releases!!! I LOVED O, Juliet and recommend it to all!

I am reading Island of the Swans and the Rose of Sebastopol books soon - never read anything by those authors, so I'm pretty excited!

Cat said...

Gorgeous covers to tempt us all. I love the sound of Island of the Swans and will look forward to that one.
Rose of Sebastopol is in our library but I haven't read it yet.

Dana said...

Oooh, Alcestis looks like it could be really good. Definitely going to keep my eye out for that one ;)

Sarah Coulsey said...

I am a Friday Follow!!!!



sarahsblogoffun.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

found you on Friday Follow. what a unique blog, Love it! Looking forward to reading many of your recommendations. I love historical fiction. keep up the great work!

My blogs:
http://welcometomyhappyplace.blogspot.com/
http://hairofthedogdetroit.blogspot.com/
not a lot in common with what your blog is about, but ya' know...we have the reading stuff in common! Lol