HFVBT Presents: Music For My Soul

Please join Lauren Linwood on her Blog Tour with HF Virtual Book Tours for Music for My Soul, from October 6-24.
02_Music For My Soul
Publication Date: May 15, 2013
Soul Mate Publishing
Formats: eBook, Paperback
# of Pages: 282
Genre: Historical Romance
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As the third wife of an abusive French vineyard owner, Madeleine Bouchard hasn’t produced the expected heir after three years of marriage. Fearing he plans to kill her, she flees during a trip to England. Unable to make her way home, she joins a troupe of traveling mummers and reinvents herself as the only woman troubadour in the land, captivating audiences with both song and story.
Nobleman Garrett Montayne’s fascination with Madeleine causes him to pay the troupe to bypass their next stop in order to journey to his estate. Though he suspects Madeleine of being a thief with dark secrets, love blossoms between them under the magical moon of summer solstice.
But Madeleine’s past is about to catch up with her, as her husband is set to arrive to conduct business with Garrett. Madeleine determines to free herself from her loveless marriage and make a new life with Garrett, no matter what the cost.
 
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Praise for Music For My Soul

“Told with humor, heartache, loveable characters and plenty of adventure, this is a story that grabs your attention from the first page and holds you captive until the very end. Much like real life, MUSIC FOR MY SOUL is a mixture of ups and downs along with a few surprises thrown in just to keep you on your toes.” -Romance Junkies, Reviewer Chrissy Dionne

“This story takes a wonderful turn into the seldom explored topic of the life of traveling mummers and musicians. Placing the heroine between the line of aristocracy and commonality is also a stroke of creative genius that makes for a delightful breath of fresh reading air! The characters are created and developed with a fine touch, making the story both believable and enjoyable.” -InD’tale Magazine, Reviewer Ruth Lynn Ritter

“This is a marvelous and intricate story of desperation, escape, finding love…also of forgiveness,mystery, danger, and righting old wrongs! The tale is incredibly well told with some humor as well as a building romance. The characters are loveable, some you can hate, and some are comic…a little bit of everything! Lauren Linwood is a wonderful writer with a fantastic imagination. I hope this is only the beginning of many wonderful tales. Believe me, it’s hard to put this one down. I found myself awake until the wee hours of the morning because I just had to know what was going to happen!” -The Reading CafĂ©, Reviewer Georgianna S.

My Thoughts
Music For My Soul is one of those rare surprises of a tale that serves to remind readers why they are 'lovers of the story'.  
This is after all, a book that tells a story.  A story full of detail, life, nuance, character, color, fire, and a visceral quality which allows the reader to immerse his or herself fully in its experience.

While it is true that Madeleine Bouchard has been handed a rough hand by life, she shows herself early on to be crafted of the stuff of true heroines.
Bound and determined to live her life free and unfettered by abuse, convention, mores, or even the self imposed limitations of her own fear.

Even when young Madeleine's escape from her sadistically abusive husband puts her into the path of the rakishly handsome Lord Montayne, a fate that would have had lesser damsels swooning and picking nursery colors; our girl runs for the hills, determined to live her life...her way...for better or worse.
Madeleine breaks the mold yet again by not falling back on the 'tried and true' method of relying on her looks to get by.
She is a woman of great talent, a composer, an artist, and of all things...a female troubadour!

Of course the blend of intelligence, loyalty, caring, tenacity, and a general love for life is a balm to the lonely soul and desolate heart of Lord Montayne.  She also plays a pivotal  role in the lives of Garrett's young daughter, and the son of her best friend.

The pacing of this book is fast enough to be a one sitting read, but detailed enough to read like a much longer novel.  There is a great cheekiness to the banter and cat and mouse that goes on between Madeleine and her leading man.
The moments of lightheartedness are a wonderful counter balance to the reads more dramatic fare.

If you are looking for more than just a story.  If you are looking to be transported out of the here and now, and into a past that you will take with you into forever...heed the romantic melody of Music For My Soul.

Reviewer's Note:
It is not often that I find myself compelled to offer a personal recommendation of a title.  In fact, I try my best to remain objective in my reviews.  Music For My Soul is a title for which I must make an exception.  This is a novel that I found impossible to put down.  I can say with confidence, that this book would be a much welcomed addition to any reader's book pile. 

 

About the Author

03_Lauren LinwoodLauren Linwood became a teacher who wrote on the side to maintain her sanity in a sea of teenage hormones. Her romances use history as a backdrop to place her characters in extraordinary circumstances, where their intense desire and yearning for one another grow into the deep, tender, treasured gift of love.
Lauren, a native Texan, lives in a Dallas suburb with her family. An avid reader, moviegoer, and sports fan, she manages stress by alternating yoga with five mile walks. She is thinking about starting a support group for Pinterest and House Hunters addicts.
For more information please visit Lauren’s website. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

 

Music for My Soul Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, October 6
Interview at Mythical Books
Tuesday, October 7
Guest Post & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books
Wednesday, October 8
Review at Book Nerd
Spotlight & Giveaway at Susan Heim on Writing
Thursday, October 9
Spotlight at Griperang’s Bookmarks
Friday, October 10
Review at Tea and Inspiration
Tuesday, October 14
Spotlight & Giveaway at Historical Fiction Connection
Thursday, October 16
Spotlight at CelticLady’s Reviews
Friday, October 17
Review at WTF Are You Reading?
Spotlight at What Is That Book About
Saturday, October 18
Review at A Cup of Tea & A Big Book
Thursday, October 23
Review at The Lit Bitch
Spotlight at Just One More Chapter
Friday, October 24
Review at Devilishly Delicious Book Blog
Guest Post at Historical Romantic Lovers
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1 comment:

  1. Thanks so much for letting me stop by and share some of Garrett & Madeleine's story with your readers, Frishawn! I'm happy that you were swept away by their tale. That's part of the magic of books--and why I'll always be a reader AND a writer.

    ReplyDelete

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