The Secret Keeper by Sandra Byrd - BLOG TOUR AND GIVEAWAY (giveaway open to US through 6/25/2012)

Title:  The Secret Keeper
Author:  Sandra Byrd
Publisher:   Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster
Release Date:  June 5, 2012
Paperback, 352 pages
ISBN 10:    1439183147
ISBN 13:   9781439183144
The Book Depository / Amazon

Goodreads description:

The author of To Die For returns to the court of Henry VIII, as a young woman is caught between love and honor.

Juliana St. John is the daughter of a prosperous knight in Marlborough. Though her family wants her to marry the son of her father’s business partner, circumstances set her on a course toward the court of Henry VIII and his last wife, Kateryn Parr.

Sir Thomas Seymour, uncle of the current heir, Prince Edward, returns to Wiltshire to tie up his business with Juliana’s father’s estate and sees instantly that she would fit into the household of the woman he loves, Kateryn Parr. Her mother agrees to have her placed in the Parr household for “finishing” and Juliana goes, though perhaps reluctantly. For she knows a secret. She has been given the gift of prophecy, and in one of her visions she has seen Sir Thomas shredding the dress of the king’s daughter, the lady Elizabeth, to perilous consequence.

As Juliana learns the secrets of King Henry VIII’s court, she faces threats and opposition, learning truths about her own life that will upset everything she thought she once held dear.

I am a big fan of the Tudor period in historical fiction. I love seeing the different viewpoints offered up by authors on Catherine (Kateryn) Parr and the people and events she is surrounded by.

I did not get my review copy in time for the tour, but rest assured that when it arrives, I will dive into it with a passion!


UPDATE:  I probably shouldn't have struck through the above part, because I didn't receive the title in time for the tour, but I DID receive it on Friday and read it over the weekend!  Take a look at the review, and I think you'll want to win it even more!

Here are some snippets from other reviews:

"If you’re looking for a bit of royal intrigue, spiritual wonderment, romance and adventure, The Secret Keeper would be a fine way to start off some quality summer reading." - The Calico Critic

"I loved all the descriptions of the clothing and the parties - I almost felt as if I was there myself! We also get a glimpse into Juliana's personal life - a life that is thrown upside down once a  major secret is revealed" - Always with a Book

 See the full tour schedule, including other giveaways and reviews, at Historical Fiction Book Tours.

BLOGGERS:  Have you reviewed this book? If so, please feel free to leave a link to your review in the comments section; I will also add your link to the body of my review.

Browse inside the book

BUY IT:  At Amazon, The Book Depository, through the publisher's website,  and through other on-and-off-line booksellers.

WIN IT:  ONE of you will win your very own copy!

Wanna win?  Here's how:
 

HOW TO ENTER (PLEASE READ - commenting alone will NOT enter you):

MANDATORY ENTRY:

1. Leave a comment letting me know what period do you most love to read about in historical fiction.  Please include your email address like this or similar to prevents spambots:  knittingandsundries(at)gmail(dot)com

2.  Then scroll up to the Rafflecopter form (you MUST have Javascript enabled to see the form):  under "How to Enter" where it says "Leave a Blog Post Comment", click "I did this!" and fill out the little form that pops up there - make sure you use the email address you put in your comment. (Please email me directly at knittingandsundries(at)gmail(dot)com if you have problems with the form).

YOU ONLY HAVE TO COMMENT AND ENTER YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS INTO THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM FOR YOUR INITIAL/MANDATORY ENTRY; you can use the form for all of your additional entries (extra entry options listed on the form)!  :) 

Eligibility:  US residents only through June 25, 2012

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  A giveaway copy of this title is being provided by the author/publisher through Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours.  No other compensation was received.