FAITH AND FEARLESSNESS, A NEW SEQUEL TO GASKELL'S NORTH AND SOUTH - AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Faith and Fearlessness is a new, stand-alone sequel to Elizabeth Gaskell’s masterpiece, North and South, one of my best favourite novels ever. I’ve read a few sequels and rewrites before, but when a review copy of Faith and Fearlessness was offered to me, I was immediately triggered by its premise, which made it different from the ones I had read which took the narration over where Mrs Gaskell interrupted it or proposed a variation to the original plot. Actually, at first, that same premise had me both puzzled and curious to discover more. Why puzzled? The book blurb immediately revealed that John Thornton, the Victorian mill owner protagonist of Gaskell’s novel, is left a broken man after the death of his wife Margaret and a new love interest is on his horizon. Now, that took me a while to digest, but when I started reading the book and I found myself back to Manchester (Milton in North and South), years  had  passed from Mrs Gaskell’s lovely ending and everything sounded and looked plausible thanks to M.G. Thomas‘s writing style, which was captivating and fast-paced.

 

Ready to discover more about Faith and Fearlessness? Here are my questions to the author and her answers. If you have more questions for her, please leave them in the comment section.

BOOK UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT: DIANE SCOTT-LEWIS, HOSTAGE TO THE REVOLUTION

Diane Scott Lewis's new book,  Hostage to the Revolution, is the perfect reading for historical fiction lovers fond of the Poldark saga, of tales set in the English Georgian Era or the French Revolution,  or for those already appreciating  her writing. 
The story of young Frenchwoman, Bettina Jonquiere, came to  Diane,  while travelling through Cornwall a few years back. Once back in the States, she thoroughly researched the eighteenth century and gave life to Escape the Revolution, set mostly in Cornwall, which was her first novel, and  now to a  sequel, Hostage to the Revolution, set in New Orleans and France.  

Hostage to the Revolution: book blurb

Sequel to Escape the Revolution. In 1796, ruined countess Bettina Jonquiere leaves England after the reported drowning of her lover, Everett.  In New Orleans she struggles to establish a new life for her children. Soon a ruthless Frenchman demands the money stolen by her father at the start of the French Revolution. Bettina is forced on a dangerous mission to France to recover the funds. She unravels dark family secrets, but will she find the man she lost as well? 

Read an excerpt

The woman lowered her Carnival mask to reveal the perfect, glacial features of Lucrece Bardou, Geralde’s former fiancée.

Lucrece raised her elegant brows. “Very well, we’ll talk here. Are you seeing my Geralde? You have been noticed with him these past months.” She swatted her fan. “And you were dancing with him out front, like two peasants.”

TRUDY BRASURE: JOHN THORNTON, A PASSIONATE HERO - GUEST POST AND GIVEAWAY

John Thornton: “One word more. You look as if you thought it tainted you to be loved by me. You cannot avoid it. Nay, I, if I would, cannot cleanse you from it. But I would not, if I could. I have never loved any woman before: my life has been too busy, my thoughts too much absorbed with other things. Now I love, and will love.But do not be afraid of too much expression on my part.” ― Elizabeth Gaskell, North and South

Maybe not the most romantic words you'd expect from a gentleman, but so passionate! Don't you agree?
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Both to those of you who still believe this is a very special day to live with very special ones and to those who sneer and smirk at the thought of chocolates and flowers, candles and flirting or alike. 

Leave it or take it, this is our Valentine's post and for us today it is an occasion more to celebrate romance and passion. Why should we skip the chance? 

Author Trudy Brasure is my very special guest with a blog post dedicated to our (mine and hers) favourite love story, North and South,  and its hero, our dream Valentine, Mr John Thornton. Read her piece and take your chances to win a paperback  or ebook copy of  her latest retelling, In Consequence. 

SEPTEMBER IS FOR THE SEQUEL HOP - WIN THE SEQUEL OF YOUR FAVOURITE SAGA!

Have you started reading a saga and you love it? Which one is it? Why do you like it? I'd like to discover new ones thanks to your suggestions. Come on, share with us in the comments section!  

Here's another stunning giveaway for fan readers of sagas today: September is for the Sequel Hop - coosting blogs Lisa Loves Literature and I Am A Reader Not a Writer.
Because this is a sequels hop, you cannot pick the first book in a series, but any one from the 2nd on to whatever number that series is on now. You can win the e-book version of the book you choose (kindle edition) and it is open internationally. Only request, it does need to stay below $20.

There are over 100 blogs participating, so once you've entered my Rafflecopter form below, be sure to hop on along to the other blogs to see what other awesome prizes are available.