June 2020 Book of the Month Giveaway
July 15, 2020 07:30 PM Posted by juliannadouglas
With regards to quantity, I didn’t read many books during the month of June, mainly because I was reading an epic novel that took this slow reader most of the month to complete. However, it was an excellent book that ended up being my favorite five-star read of the month. Although now six years old, it’s the most recent book in this equally epic series that follows star-crossed lovers Jamie and Claire. I know now that I’ve mentioned their names, it will obvious to most exactly what series I’m talking about, and it’s been a favorite of mine for over twenty-five years. Much like Jamie and Claire’s love for each other, my love for them and this series is just as strong now as it was when I first picked up the inaugural volume of the series all those years ago, and I don’t anticipate that I’ll ever get tired of it. I’m always eager to see what happens next, which is why I simply couldn’t put this or any other book of the series down.
Even though there are lots of other character POVs now, Jamie and Claire are still the heart and soul of this series and their love weathers through every challenge they face. There are several new complications for them in this book, including Jamie being conscripted into the Continental Army by George Washington, a life-threatening injury, and the “little matter” of a reunion after Jamie was presumed lost at sea and Claire married Lord John for own safety. For his part, John finds himself a prisoner of war after a fight with Jamie leads to Jamie leaving John to his own devices when they’re accosted by Continental soldiers. William deals with the emotional fallout of discovering his true parentage that leaves him feeling adrift and uncertain of who he really is, but along the way, he befriends a young prostitute and her sister and becomes their protector. Ian and Rachel and Denny and Dottie must overcome the obstacles keeping them from marrying to find their own HEAs. Together, all of these characters must get through another major Revolutionary War battle. Meanwhile, in their own timelines, Roger has gone through the stones to the past in search of a kidnapped Jem, not knowing that the boy isn’t there and never left 1980. This unfortunately leaves Brianna to her own devices as she must fend off the ne’er-do-wells, rescue Jem, and seek a way to keep her kids safe, while trying to figure out a way to get word to Roger in the past, knowing that he’ll never leave if there’s a possibility of Jem being there.
There is so much that happens in this book that it never felt like an 800+ page tome. The plot moves along at a steady pace, with all the characters involved at various points. No matter who’s “telling the story,” I love all of these characters so much and can’t get enough of them. It’s what makes these books so darn enjoyable for me. There are a couple of very sad deaths of characters I’d come to love that brought tears to my eyes, because they all seem so real to me. As usual, the history is deftly woven into the narrative with many real historical figures as characters as well. I always feel like I’m getting an entertaining history lesson whenever I pick up one of these books. Then of course, there’s the heart-stopping romance, and we get a number of romantic pairings in this volume that made my hopeless romantic’s heart soar. Overall, this was another awesome read that was incredibly difficult to put down. That’s why I’m naming Diana Gabaldon’s Written in My Own Heart’s Blood as my June Book of the Month. If you enjoy historical fiction with relatable characters you’ll fall in love with, emotional and passionate interactions, and plenty of action, adventure, suspense, and a dash of time travel, then you should definitely give this book a try. Keep reading to learn how you can win a copy for your own library.
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Cover Blurb- In her now classic novel Outlander, Diana Gabaldon told the story of Claire Randall, an English ex-combat nurse who walks through a stone circle in the Scottish Highlands in 1946, and disappears . . . into 1743. The story unfolded from there in seven bestselling novels, and CNN has called it a grand adventure written on a canvas that probes the heart, weighs the soul and measures the human spirit across [centuries]. Now the story continues in Written in My Own Heart s Blood. 1778: France declares war on Great Britain, the British army leaves Philadelphia, and George Washington s troops leave Valley Forge in pursuit. At this moment, Jamie Fraser returns from a presumed watery grave to discover that his best friend has married his wife, his illegitimate son has discovered (to his horror) who his father really is, and his beloved nephew, Ian, wants to marry a Quaker. Meanwhile, Jamie's wife, Claire, and his sister, Jenny, are busy picking up the pieces. |
The Frasers can only be thankful that their daughter Brianna and her family are safe in twentieth-century Scotland. Or not. In fact, Brianna is searching for her own son, who was kidnapped by a man determined to learn her family s secrets. Her husband, Roger, has ventured into the past in search of the missing boy . . . never suspecting that the object of his quest has not left the present. Now, with Roger out of the way, the kidnapper can focus on his true target: Brianna herself.
Written in My Own Heart s Blood is the brilliant next chapter in a masterpiece of the imagination unlike any other.
Read my complete review of Written in My Own Heart’s Blood.
Giveaway
If you would like to win a copy of Written in My Own Heart’s Blood to see how wonderful it is for yourself, just enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below. One lucky winner will receive their choice of an eBook or print copy of the book. If the winner chooses an eBook, I will gift it to them via the eBook retailer of their choice (Amazon or B & N). If the winner chooses a print copy, I will have it mailed directly to them via Amazon. Good luck!
International Entrants: You are welcome to enter my contest, but please note that not all eBooks are available in all countries due to copyright restrictions. If this is the case, Amazon does offer an option to trade for a gift card (I'm not sure about B & N). If you choose print, I can mail it to you via the Amazon website that services your country, pending availability and cost. Otherwise I will mail it to you via U. S. Amazon's standard international shipping, but it may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive, and I may not have the capability of tracking the package.
Categories: Book of the Month, Giveaways
Tags: Diana Gabaldon
