Tanzanite's Castle Full of Books

Livia:  Empress of Rome by Matthew Dennison.  Non-fiction.  US  and UK release January 4, 2011.  Livia, Empress of Rome tells the story of one of the most fascinating, perplexing, and powerful figures of the ancient world: the empress Livia. Second wife of the emperor Augustus and the mother of his successor Tiberius, Livia has been vilified by posterity (most notably by Tacitus and Robert Graves) as the quintessence of the scheming Roman matriarch, poisoning her relatives one by one to smooth her son’s path to the imperial throne. In this elegant and rigorously researched biography, Matthew Dennison rescues the historical Livia from this crudely drawn caricature of the popular imagination. He depicts a complex, courageous and richly gifted woman whose true crime was not murder but the exercise of power, and who, in a male-dominated society, had the energy to create for herself both a prominent public profile and a significant sphere of political influence.

The Tudor Secret by CW Gortner.  US and UK release February 1, 2011 (previously released as The Secret Lion).  The era of the Tudors was one of spies, intrigue, conspiracy and, above all, danger. Summer 1553: A time of danger and deceit. Brendan Prescott, an orphan, is reared in the household of the powerful Dudley family. Brought to court, Brendan finds himself sent on an illicit mission to the King’s brilliant, but enigmatic sister, Princess Elizabeth. But Brendan is soon compelled to work as a double agent by Elizabeth’s protector, William Cecil—who promises in exchange to help him unravel the secret of his own mysterious past. A dark plot swirls around Elizabeth’s quest to unravel the truth about the ominous disappearance of her seriously ill brother, King Edward VI. With only a bold stable boy and audacious lady-in-waiting at his side, Brendan plunges into a ruthless gambit of half-truths, lies, and murder.

From Splendour to Revolution:  The Romanov Women 1847-1928 by Julia Gelardi.  Non-fiction.  US and UK release February 15, 2011.  This sweeping saga recreates the extraordinary opulence and violence of Tsarist Russia as the shadow of revolution fell over the land, and destroyed a way of life for these Imperial women The early 1850s until the late 1920s marked a turbulent and significant era for Russia. During that time the country underwent a massive transformation, taking it from days of grandeur under the tsars to the chaos of revolution and the beginnings of the Soviet Union. At the center of all this tumult were four women of the Romanov dynasty. Marie Alexandrovna and Olga Constantinovna were born into the family, Russian Grand Duchesses at birth. Marie Feodorovna and Marie Pavlovna married into the dynasty, the former born a Princess of Denmark, the latter a Duchess of the German duchy of Mecklendburg-Schwerin. In From Splendor to Revolution, we watch these pampered aristocratic women fight for their lives as the cataclysm of war engulfs them. In a matter of a few short years, they fell from the pinnacle of wealth and power to the depths of danger, poverty, and exile. It is an unforgettable epic story.

The Divine Sacrfice by Tony Hays. US and UK paperback release March 1, 2011.   The Divine Sacrifice continues the story of King Arthur's conselor, Malgwyn ap Cuneglas, a solider who lost his arm in battle but was saved by his king. Malgwyn hated Arthur for this gift, but he has come to grudgingly acknowledge that he yet may have some purpose in life.   Arthur and Malgwyn are called to the abbey of Glastonbury to settle a matter of great political importance—tin is being mined for export to the Empire. While there, Malgwyn and Arthur meet St. Patrick, a legend in the Church who is there on a mission of his own, to root out the heresy of Pelagius.  When an aged monk is found cruelly murdered in his cell, Malgwyn is set with a problem that will test his skills as an investigator. His search for the truth may uncover a conspiracy that could endanger the kingdom.  Gritty and powerful with a true ring of historical perspective, and a character who sees more than those around him, The Divine Sacrifice is a historical mystery that will hook mystery readers and historical fans alike.

With Fire and Sword:  The Battle of Bunker Hill by James Nelson.  US and UK release March 1, 2011.    A masterful new history of the first real battle of the Revolutionary War. If Lexington and Concord was the shot heard around the world, then Bunker Hill was the volley that rocked Parliament and the ministry of George III. The Battle of Bunker Hill was the first time that a genuine American army had ever taken the field. Just as David McCullough’s 1776 did for the fighting in New York and David Hackett Fischer’s Washington’s Crossing did for the Battles of Trenton and Princeton, With Fire and Sword reveals the dramatic story of the fight that changed the face of the Revolution.

The Beloved Dead by Tony Hays.  US and UK release March 29, 2011.  Malgwyn ap Cuneglas was one of King Arthur’s earliest

Nightshade by P.C. Doherty.  US and UK release April 12, 2011.  The next in the series of medieval mysteries featuring sleuth Hugh Corbett. An unscrupulous manor lord has reneged on his promise to hand over a priceless ornate cross stolen from the Templars during the Crusades. Furthermore, he has massacred as heretics fourteen members of a religious order. The King sends Hugh Corbett, devoted emissary of King Edward I to Mistleham in his stead...

Outlaw by Angus Donald.  US release April 12, 2011; previously released in the UK.  In the tradition of Bernard Cornwell—a rousing historical novel that mixes legend with fact to bring Robin Hood to vivid life against the politics, lives and the struggles of medieval England. In the bloody underworld of 12th century England, one man reigns supreme. Robin Hood steals from the Church and gives protection to the poor—but at a price. And the price is silence. Informers are mutilated, traitors are murdered, and all must submit to Robin’s justice. As Alan Dale, a young thief running from the law, is thrown into this violent world, he finds that to survive he must exploit his quick reflexes, light fingers and unique musical talent. Robin, a mentor and father-figure to Alan, teaches him how to fight and more importantly, how to win. But in the England of Henry II, dangerous forces are allied against Robin and his men and it will take more than luck, more than skill, if they are to survive the savage assaults by the Norman rulers and the treachery and betrayal from some of their own. An action-packed debut by a major new talent, Outlaw, a substantial bestseller in the UK, sold to numerous publishers around the world, and will thrill and delight readers of all ages.