Mailbox Mondays and Thank You Kristin From Always With a Book

From Paperbackswap:

To The Tower Born by Robin Maxwell

"In 1483, Edward and Richard of York—Edward, by law, already King of England—were placed, for their protection before Edward's coronation, in the Tower of London by their uncle Richard. Within months the boys disappeared without a trace, and for the next five hundred years the despised Richard III was suspected of their heartless murders.

In To the Tower Born, Robin Maxwell ingeniously imagines what might have happened to the missing princes. The great and terrible events that shaped a kingdom are viewed through the eyes of quick-witted Nell Caxton, only daughter of the first English printer, and her dearest friend, "Bessie," sister to the lost boys and ultimate founder of the Tudor dynasty. It is a thrilling story brimming with mystery, color, and historical lore. With great bravery and heart, two friends navigate a dark and treacherous medieval landscape rendered more perilous by the era's scheming, ambitious, even murderous men and women who will stop at nothing to possess the throne".

This by far the best take of The Lost Princes I have read to date. It is the last one I needed to complete my Robin Maxwell collection. Now it is on to hardback copies, I have one hardback (To The Tower Born)  and the rest in paperback. I hope to have both styles in my collection someday. 

Cotillion by Georgette Heyer

A sham betrothal isn’t the only thing that gets Kitty and Freddy into trouble, but it’s definitely the beginning ..

A most unusual hero, Freddy is immensely rich, of course, and not bad-looking, but he’s mild-mannered, a bit hapless—not anything like his virile, handsome, rakish cousin Jack ...

A heroine in a difficult situation, Young Kitty Charing stands to inherit a vast fortune from her irascible and eccentric guardian—provided she marries one of his great-nephews ...

A sham betrothal, No sooner does Kitty arrive in London then the race for her hand begins, but between confirmed rakes and bumbling affections, Kitty needs a daring scheme ...
 

Thus begins Cotillion, arguably the funniest, most charming of Georgette Heyer’s many delightful Regency romances".
Amazon.co.uk

I also happened to get this lovely The Beautiful Blogger award. It was passed on to me by Kristin from Always with a Book

Thank you Kristin it is very pretty!

I am supposed to tell you 7 things about me. Here goes:

1. I love my family and they always come first

2. I love starwars

3. I have a 55 gallon saltwater reef fish tank with 2 clown fish and an anemone

4. I grew up ridding horses

5. I love my Mac G4 

6. I am a book "Sniffer"

7. I have a part time job where I work Saturdays 

Amazon 
To the Tower Born
Cotillion 

Blog Award, Thank you RobinBird

Thank you RobinBird for bestowing me this wonderful award!



I really apprecite it and thank you for the kind consideration.

Blog Award, Thank You True Book Addict

Michelle over at the true book addict bestowed this beauty on me. You know I love pink!

This is super cute and thank you Michelle

Blog Award, Thank You Muse in the Fog

Thank you Confessions and Ramblings of a Muse in The Fog I love it. I think everyone has kind of picked up that I like anything Frenchy and this award is so fitting. Too cute for words. Thank You! Be sure and check it out it is a relatively new blog that has a really cool first giveaway going for Liszt's Kiss by Susanne Dunlap which ends January 25Th.

Now, as part of my obligations in receiving this award, I need to answer a few questions:

Where is your favorite place to read a book?
At my desk, but I do have a NASTY habit I smoke. Every time I go and smoke I take it with me too. Sometimes I tell my husband I am going to smoke when really I want a minute of peace and quite to read hiding in the garage.
What is the best book you've read recently?
Ah man just one that is too hard to pick just one. Best recent would have to be O, Juliet by Robin Maxwell. LOVED IT! But second would have to be The Queens Dollmaker by Christine Trent.
Do you snack while reading?
Yep I am one of those people. I tend to have something crunchy, like saltines if I eat anything else it might get on my book which is a big NO NO in my world. So I tend to stick with non messy foods.
Are you a book borrower or book collector?
I do not borrow because I do not know anyone who reads HF but if I did I am sure I would borrow some. I do get books from the library all the time though which is the same difference as borrowing. I do collect though. Since I just started read HF in 2008 I do not have that many HF books but I am working on it. I can only imagine what my collection would look like if I had been at it for longer. So far I have been lucky that I have really good friends that are blogger BFF's and I have gotten a leg up on some of the authors I really like. With out them my collection would be long time in the making.

Blog Award, Thank you Christy

Christy's Book Blog gave me a Superior Scribbler Award! Thank you Christy it is an honor you would think of me.

In keeping with the rules of the award, which are:

Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.

Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.

Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.

Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!

Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

Here are my five Superior Scribbler Awards:
Robinbird @ The Lady Gwyn's Kingdom
Rosemary @ Booking it Bus Style
Marg @ Book Buddies
Virginiebarbeau @ Virginie Says
Nikola @ Nikola's Book Blog

Blog Award, Thank You Nikola

Nikola's Book Blog was kind enough to bestow me this really cool award. I love that he thinks my blog is the coolest! Thank you Nikola.

I would like to pass this onto some very special Bloggers:
Leslie Carroll, The Lady Novelist
Michelle Moran, History Buff
Susan Higginbotham, Medieval Woman

Be sure to check these blogs out they by far are the coolest blogs I know.

HF Gentlemen Award, Men only this Time

I felt it only fitting that since I did a H.F. Lovely Ladies award that I did something for the gentlemen and of course anyone may pass this award onto any deserving gentleman.

This award for the gentlemen is for all the men out there that love historical fiction. Be it novels, historical events, fine art, or historical locations. They play a active role in their community hosting events and letting us all know events that they are not hosting. Being super blogger's who constantly are viewing and commenting on other sites with positive feedback. Their blogs or websites also have unique qualities like being savvy and having excellent content. The "super men" blogger's of historical fiction. The list is as follows and not in any particular order:

• Nikola from Nikola's Book Blog: Since I lured him in with the white queen contest Nikola has been a constant positive here. Always commenting on everything with wonderful insight.
  
• Dave Hambidge from Hambo Central: Dave gave me my first review on blog catalog, then he later added me to a directory he made "Tips for Blogger's". I also admire him for putting a e book together of the story of his father in law called Len's War.
  
• Forrest from Actual Education: Where to start, his site is amazing to the point I am jealous of where he gets to stand. Not to mention he made Mary Queen of Scot talk, I literally screamed in my chair when he sent it to me. I love it.
  

Blog Award, Thank you Nikola

Nikola, I can not say thank you enough! I love my new awards. You are to good too me. Adorable bears.

The cute Panda is the Super Comments Award for those who you can always count on for a comment.

The sweet bear with the flower is The Me to You Award, a thank you award.

Awards, Thank You Marie!

I got a really cool new award from Marie at The Burton Review it is "The I Keep Coming Back for More! Award is for a blog you just can't stay away from. If you've been busy and your Google reader is over 1,000 unread posts, these are the blogs that you single out to read. These are the ones that are never victims to the dreaded Mark All As Read. There may be many different reasons why you can't stay away: a taste in books that mirrors your own, the same sense of humor, always knowing the latest in the book world... for whatever the reason, these blogs are flat out addictive and you have no wish to be cured!" Thank You Marie, you are always so thoughtful!

HF Lovely Ladies Award, Only for the Ladies

I decided that in my blogger world there are some very special ladies that I have become close with and I would love to give them an award that I created just for them. If you would like to award this to another deserving lady your more than welcomed to as long as you feel she has met the criteria.

What is the criteria to be a H.F. Lovely Ladies Award you ask? You obviously have to be a woman to get this one. Specializing in Historical Fiction, be it novels, historical events, or fine art. These special ladies are the type who go above and beyond the call of duty daily and enjoy it! Since like me they are obsessed with HF theses ladies are a constant support with a flowing wealth of knowledge in the blogging community. They also play a active role in the blogger community hosting events and letting us all know events that they are not hosting. Being super blogger's who constantly are viewing and commenting on other sites with positive feedback. Their blogs have unique qualities like being beautiful and having excellent content. What is amazing is they do all this on the daily and still manage to run a household in their own physical domain. The "super women" blogger's of historical fiction. The list is as follows and not in any particular order:

• Jo-Jo at Jo-Jo Loves to Read: Jo-Jo gave me my first comment and I could not write her back because of my settings but she stuck with me and for that I am greatly warmed.
• Marie at The Burton Review: For her amazing wealth of knowledge and understanding. She knows EVERYTHING and if she does not she will find out just try to challenge her! I also love her fill in Fridays and she has a beautiful shamrock theme.
• Lucy from Enchanted by Josephine: As Amy put it she will "charm the pants off you" and also she is a firm supporter of my site and art work. She always finds the time to read and post on interesting topic's and come up with her own really good ones too.
• Arleigh from Plaidy's Royal Intrigue: For being so informative on HF novels and running the coolest book club ever, Jean Plaidy's Reading Group
• Allie from Hist-Fic Chick: She is literally like a long lost sister, we share the same taste in books, art, and history. She her style is original and so are her posts. Her blog is brand new and has already gotten a lot of attention.
• DolleyGurl from The Maidens Court: Her thoroughness she always brings to light the details hidden in the dark. I also love her writing style it is refreshing.
• Amy from Passages to the Past: Her lovely obsession of HF novels. If anything happens with a novel or upcoming novel, Amy knew the day it happened, which she kindly shares with us all.
• Jasmine from Literary Dragon: I love talking to her about books. She is very smart about her readings and just started her own new blog.
• Alaine Queen of Happy Endings: A fun blog that is interesting and she defiantly is a super blogger. Who always has something to add to the pot.
• Alabama book Worm For her witty humor, every time I see a her WTF post I bust out laughing before I can even view the full post. Thank you for a good laugh!
  

Congratulations HF Lovely Ladies you deserve some recognition for all your hard work and I am happy to give it to you. I also recently received two awards: Share the lemonade from Trin at Bloody Bad book blog and Allie at Hist-Fic Chick gave me Zombie Chickens! Thank you so much you guys I love that you love me!

Awards! Thank You Nikola and Alaine

Thank you so much for the wonderful awards. I love them!

The Zombie Chicken Award is from Nikola's Book Blog
"The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by coosing unwisely or not choosing at all."

This bingo beauty is from Alaine, Queen of Happy Endings
I have listed the five blogs I would love to pass this one onto."B-I-N-G-O" BEAUTIFUL BLOG AWARD means that this blog is...
B: Beautiful, Peeking Between The Pages
I: Informative, Passages to the Past
N: Neighborly, Nikola's Book Blog
G: Gorgeous, The Maidens Court
O: Outstanding, The Burton Review
Please look carefully at as many blogs as you can to find the top FIVE blogs that YOU think also exemplify these standards and pass it along to them. Please don't break this chain of FIVE!

New Blog Award, Queen of Alll Things, Awe-Summm!

Thank you Jo-Jo from Jo-Jo loves to read for bestowing me this wonderful award! Girl you Rock! In the spirit of awards I would love to pass this one onto my two favorite blogs:

Enchanted Josephine

Keep up the good work!

New Blog Award, Kreative Blogger from Alabama Book Worm

This award was bestowed upon me by sweet Alabama Book Worm, you rock Girl! She enacted some guidelines for the award which has made it very interesting. Here are the award guidelines: Post 7 things you love & Give the award to 7 other blogger's who are creative.

My seven, I love are very much the same: My family, animals, gardening, my obsession for all kinds of history, books, art of any form, and my never ending thirst for knowledge.

I know there is a possibility that some of these blogs have already received this award. I still think they deserve it. My Seven blogs I am bestowing the award on to are:

• The Maiden's Court
• Enchanted by Josephine
• All Things Royal
• Passages to the Past
• Historical Tapestry
• Marie Antoinette's Gossip Guide to the 18th Century
• Queen Victoria Revealed

New Blog Award, Sharing the Lemonade

Dolleygurl over at The Maiden's Court was so sweet to give me this refreshing award! I would love to post a comment on her page but I still have not been able to figure out the glitch on blogspot of why I can not post a comment in any blog that has an embedded comment box. It makes me so angry! It will not recognize my Id. Thank you Dolley, I love it! Thank you for thinking of me. I am so excited that other people out there really love history as much as me! I would also like to pass this award onto:
Dave Hambo at Hambo Central
Susan Higginbotham at Medieval Woman

Thank You Alabama! Blog Award, Enchanting

Ahhh! Thanks So much I love it! My now second award, which I absolutely love From Alabama Book Worm! I could not be more proud!

I would also like to pass this one onto Royal Intrigue for having the best Plaidy info ever and I love the Pic's of Her, she is Beautiful! But I still can not figure out why I can not post a comment on her site, I know it is my fault, it has to be some dumb reason but I did figure it out yesterday and now can not manage to do it again

Thanks all for hanging in there with me my computer fan is still broken but a new one on the way. I also wanted everyone who has posted comments to know, I haven't forgotten about you but I just was not able to figure out how to be able to post comments, until yesterday I had not been able to because of my pop up blocked and malware setting but I think I got it all fixed finally and can now post comments! Or maybe not, I will have to tinker around.

One lovley blog award from Ms. Lucy at Royal Intrigue

I am so excited! I got my First award today from Ms. Lucy over at Royal Intrigue, Reliving the past through the writings of Jean Plaidy. If you love Plaidy you will love this blog! Check it out Royal Intrigue. Thank You again Lucy I could not be more grateful! I would like also to pass this award onto: Jo-Jo loves to read & Alabama Book Worm
Keep up the good blogging!