Wednesday, March 26, 2014

BLOG TOUR: A King Ensnared by J.R. Tomlin

Publication Date: November 22, 2013
CreateSpace
Paperback; 244p
ISBN-10: 1493786598



Blurb:

On the dangerous stage of medieval Scotland, one man–in an English dungeon–stands between the Scots and anarchy.
Robert III, King of the Scots, is dead, and Scotland in 1406 is balanced on a knife’s edge. As he eyes the throne, King Robert’s ruthless half-brother, the Duke of Albany, has already murdered one prince and readies to kill young James Stewart, prince and heir to the crown.
James flees Scotland and his murderous uncle. Captured and imprisoned by the English, he grows to be a man of contradictions, a poet yet a knight, a dreamer yet fiercely driven. Hardened by his years in the Tower of London and haunted by his brother’s brutal murder, James is determined to find some way to recover his crown and end his uncle’s misrule. But the only way may be to betray Scotland and everything he believes in.

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About the Author

J. R. Tomlin is the author of five historical novels: A King Ensnared, Freedom’s Sword, A Kingdom’s Cost, Countenance of War, and Not for Glory. She has also co-authored several fantasies with C. R. Daems: Blood Duty, Talon of the Unnamed Goddess, The Shadow Ryana, The Shadow Gypsy, and Women of Power.

She has close ties with Scotland since her father was a native Scot, and she spent substantial time in Edinburgh whilst growing up. Her historical novels are set in Scotland. You can trace her love of that nation to the stories of the Bruce and the Good Sir James her grandmother read her when she was small and to her hillwalking through the Cairngorms where the granite hills have a gorgeous red glow under the setting sun. Later, her writing was influenced by the work of authors such as Alexander Dumas, Victor Hugo and of G.R.R. Tolkien.

For more information visit J.R. Tomlin’s website. You can also connect with her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.


My Review:

"A King Ensnared: Book I of the Stewart Chronicles-An Historical Novel of Scotland" by J.R. Tomlin was an absolutely fantastic work of historical fiction! I was hooked three pages in, and couldn't tear myself away from reading it. The author definitely brings James I life and the history of that time to life with this novel.  The physical descriptions and the personalities of the character’s involved during this time in history are so clear that you can picture them as if they were walking around today. I felt like I really 'knew' these historical figures after reading this novel. It's obviously a well-researched novel, and the author stayed as close to what had actually happened as possible. However, the author makes sure that the reader does not get bogged down with boring details, and keeps the novel interesting. The battle descriptions are also detailed, and the imagery used to describe the battles put the reader right there in the midst of the battle.

I learned so much while reading "A King Ensnared". I had never read a book strictly about James I, so it was great to learn more about this king, while enjoying myself the entire time. I really liked how the author depicted James I relationship with England's king at the time, Henry V. It was interesting to read about how these two had a complicated love/hate relationship during James I captivity in England.

This book is a great read for any lover of historical fiction. It brought to mind N. Gemini Sasson's novels about Robert the Bruce, and was definitely just as well written. This novel is the first in a series of three, and it left off leaving me hungry to read the next one! I can't imagine that any historical fiction fan could possibly be disappointed in this novel. It is the perfect historical fiction novel.

I definitely give "A King Ensnared" a FIVE out of FIVE stars! 

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, March 24
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Spotlight & Giveaway at HF Book Muse-News

Tuesday, March 25
Interview at Flashlight Commentary

Wednesday, March 26
Review at Historical Tapestry
Review at Historical Fiction Obsession
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Thursday, March 27
Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Guest Post & Giveaway at Historical Tapestry
Guest Post & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books


Friday, March 28
Interview at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Guest Post & Giveaway at Historical Fiction Connection



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