Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Win a book!

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We are very pleased to be hosting a giveaway of Signora da Vinci by Robin Maxwell. Over the next few weeks we are hoping to have a guest post from Robin, and also an interview with her!

Here's the blurb:

Following the "absolutely superb"(Diane Haeger, author of The Secret Bride) Mademoiselle Boleyn, novelist Robin Maxwell delves into the life of Caterina-the adventurer, alchemist, and mother of Leonardo da Vinci.

Caterina was fifteen years old in 1452 when she bore an illegitimate child in the tiny village of Vinci. His name was Leonardo, and he was destined to change the world forever.

Caterina suffered much cruelty as an unmarried mother and had no recourse when her boy was taken away from her. But no one knew the secrets of her own childhood, nor could ever have imagined the dangerous and heretical scheme she would devise to protect and watch over her remarkable son. This is her story.


We have heard really good things about this book and we are looking forward to reading it soon. In order to enter the contest, we would like you to leave a comment about the best historical fiction you have read recently, in other words, the historical fiction book that we here at Historical Tapestry should have heard of.

Leave a comment, along with an email address if there is not one in your profile, before 27 January, and we will randomly select a winner. If we have not heard back from the winners within 5 days we will redraw another name to send the prize to.

Please note that this contest is open to all, regardless of where you live!

51 comments:

  1. Please, please, please, sign me up! ;-)

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  2. Ooohhh, this seems really interesting! I would love to enter the giveaway. Thanks!:)

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  3. Count me in too!

    carla _ enke (at) hotmail dot com

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  4. I would like to have a chance.

    makukaemojo(at)gmail com

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  5. Well, I would try ;)

    patrodrigues100(at)hotmail dot com

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  6. I would love to have a chance to win this book! Thanks a lot for the giveaway :)

    canochinha(at)estantedelivros(dot)com

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  7. For some reason I missed your request so I'm back to amend my comment. ;-)
    I haven't been reading much historical fiction lately, so my choice would have to fall on The Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin, a book I finished recently and completely fell in love with.

    So now, please sign me up! ;-)

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  8. Opsss... Just like Ana, I forgot to mention the book.
    The best historical fiction I've read lately was "The Cathedral of the Sea", by Ildefonso Falcones. It's a very good romance, with amazing characters and where we can learn a lot about medieval Barcelona. A must read!

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  9. Best recent historical? THE BLACK TOWER by Louis Bayard. Loved and adored it.

    And this book sounds fascinating - please, sign me up for the draw!

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  10. I forgot to mention the book, as you wanted. I think the best historical fiction book I've read lately was "The Other Boleyn Girl" by Philippa Gregory. It's a new version of Anne Boleyn's influence in the history of England.

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  11. Ups, I also forgot to mention the book. I have loved the books by Diana Gabaldon, who has a new book coming out this fall. I also loved The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant.

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  12. Ops... Just like the others participants, I forgot to mention the book.
    The best historical fiction that I have read recently was “The Constant Princess” by Philippa Gregory, and it’s about the first wife of Henrique VIII, Catarina. It was a good book, such as the other that I have read from this author: “The Other Boleyn Girl” and “The Virgin's Lover”.
    If you like historical fiction and the Tudor’s you must read the books from Philippa Gregory ;)

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  13. My recent favorite read was THE KING'S DAUGHTER by Sandra Worth.

    Please enter me into the drawing -- my e-mail addy is in my profile.

    Thanks!

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  14. I missed the question too... It must be the excitement!LOL
    I would say Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin but it was already suggested. The next name that comes to my mind is Elizabeth Chadwick. I read her Shields of Pride and Daughters of the Grail recently and I'm always amazed by her stories. But I know Marg and Ana are big fans of this author, so I'll go for Murder in Nob Hill by Shirley Tallman. I really enjoyed Sarah Woolson, the young lawyer from San Francisco who knows what she wants and is never afraid to speak her mind. Those who enjoyed Tasha Alexander or Deanna Raybourn books might like this one as well.:)

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  15. Best HF I've read recently is an older book I should have read years ago -- Tai-Pan by James Clavell. It was a great novel and I plan to read others by this author. I'd love to win this book about da Vinci's mother.

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  16. Hi, the best historical fiction I read recently is actually nothing new to most people and certainly not the ones that love historical fiction ! It's Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman.

    Oh, and please enter me for the giveaway, I would love to read this book ! Thanks !!

    Carine
    carine[underscore]devos[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  17. My favorite historical fiction was "The Kitchen Boy". I forgot who wrote it, but it was about the Romanov's of Russia.

    I couldn't put it down.

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  18. I think I'd have to say Hawaii by James Michener. I had to restart it because the forward bored me to tears, but once I got into the story I LOVED it. Since visiting Hawaii, I'd like to reread it, knowing some of the places mentioned in the book.

    I'd love to win Signora de Vinci. Sounds good!

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  19. That's a tough question! I think I'll give a mention to Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series. I really enjoyed her latest. They're lighter than your normal historical fiction, but I love them and all my other recent favorites were mentioned!

    I'd love to enter, I haven't read any historical fiction about da Vinci's mother.

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  20. Ooooh, I want to enter! Let's see here....best historical fiction recently....that would have to be Sharon Kay Penman's Devil's Brood. The woman is just brilliant!

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  21. I would like to enter the draw, please. A historical fiction book which I've read recently and thoroughly enjoyed is Niccolo Rising by Dorothy Dunnett. Needs some perservering but it's well worth it.

    vanessawild1@btinternet.com

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  22. Well, I love historical fiction novels! Sign me up too! ;)
    (e-mail: pedro_p.c_@hotmail.com)

    "The Pillars of the Earth" was one of the best historical fiction books that I have ever read! Delirious, fascinating, intense. I really loved it.

    (can I also say that Walter Scott is one of the best historical fiction writers of all time? =D)

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  23. Please count me in - I'd love to read this book! ~ :) My favorite historical fiction I've read lately is "Mistress of the Revolution" by Delors. Thanks!

    acmilan68 [at] aol.com

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  24. I just finished reading The King's Rose by Alisa M. Libby. It doesn't release for a month or two yet, but it was just wonderful.

    Becky

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  25. My latest favorite historical fiction has been a book called The King's Rose by Alisa M. Libby. It's YA but perfectly suitable for adult reading. It's a story narrated by Catherine Howard when she was married to Henry VIII. It was really a good read.

    I'd love to be entered for this giveaway. Thanks.

    bj19662001 (at) yahoo (dot) ca

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  26. I'd like to enter in this contest, please!
    The best historical novel that I have read recently was The Red Scarf by Kate Furnivall.

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  27. I'd love to read this book. Thanks for the opportunity!

    lifessweetpassions {at} gmail {dot} com

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  28. The best historical fiction I've read recently would have to be Ariana Franklin's second novel, The Serpent's Tale. However, a very close second is Sharon K Penman's historical mystery, Dragon's Lair. I really wanted to say The Josephine B Trilogy but not all three books were great....

    Lee
    leannea3@yahoo.com

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  29. The best historical fiction I've just read is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Loved this story and read it two times within two months.

    I'd love to read this one, sign me up, please!

    Annell
    schmerfette@cox.net

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  30. I would love to be entered for this giveaway... thank you!

    The best historical fiction that I have read lately is The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran; I absolutely loved that book. I should be posting a review early next week, too!
    book.addict29@gmail.com

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  31. Hi, please count me in. I love historical fiction!

    josettebooks[at]yahoo[dot]com

    Thank you!

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  32. I'm very excited about this book! Robin Maxwell is among my favorite historical fiction authors!

    The best book I have read lately is The Serpent Garden by Judith Merkle Riley. If you read my blog then you most likely already read my positive review. I usually like novels that are close to historical fact, but a bit entertaining as well. This book has very detailed descriptions of the character's 16th century surroundings, though the characters do sometimes word their sentences in a more modern fashion. Each, however, has a voice of his or her own and certain charm. I really enjoyed it!

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  33. I would love to be entered into your contest!

    The most recent historical fiction I have read was The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran. And I am currently reading The King's Daughter by Sandra Worth.

    jghenrikson(at)gmail(dot)com

    Judy

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  34. The best Historical Fiction I have read is "In the Shadow of Lions" by Ginger Garrett. I state this is the best I read because this is the book that introduced me to my love of historical fiction. Of course I have read many great H.F. since then and continue to just devour them!!!
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    Darby
    darbyscloset at yahoo dot com

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  35. I'm very interested! Thanks for the giveaway!

    smilkovits AT gmail DOT com

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  36. Of course I also missed the question...and I just finished reading the Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. I wanted to read it before watching the movie. Man was a disappointed when the movie came out. What a great book!

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  37. Ooh this sounds very good! Please throw my name in the hat. Thanks!

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  38. This sounds like a great book! I cannot wait!

    Thanks,
    Laura

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  39. Please enter me as well.....and as for my favourite historical fiction recently, it's without question "Devil's Brood" by the magnificent Sharon Kay Penman!!
    Thank you,
    Michelle

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  40. Oops! forgot to leave my email
    it's dmsires@activ8.net.au
    Thanks again,
    Michelle

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  41. Please enter me in the drawing. Would really like to read this book. The best historical fiction I have read lately has been Shadows and Strongholds by Elizabeth Chadwick.

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  42. I would like to be entered in the drawing for Robin Maxwell's book please, san_peppy@hotmail.com Thank you
    Nona

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  43. A few years ago, I read a young-adult novel called "The Book of the Lion" by Michael Cadnum and have been recommending it to HF lovers ever since. It seems not many people know about it. It's a gut-wrenching, vivid account of a young squire's experiences in the Crusades.

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  44. Sorry ... forgot my e-mail, also!

    bookworm@warpdriveonline.com

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  45. Best historical...hm, hard one, but it must be Geraldines Brooks People of the Book. Not completely historic, but the historical parts were those I loved te most

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  46. I'd love to win. Please enter me. Thanks.

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  47. This sounds wonderful. Please enter me too. Thanks for the nice offer.
    ost.uni@hotmail.com

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  48. Oh please enter me! This sounds like a great book. I can't say that I have read any newer historical fiction lately--but my last favorite would have to be Memoirs of a Geisha.
    joannelong74@gmail.com

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  49. Would love to read this. Please enter me.

    lannoe@yahoo.com
    Lori

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  50. I shall enter as well, before it is too late.

    Since others included their emails, I shall follow that precedent.

    pallas.athena3 at gmail.com

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  51. :D at least i tried ;)

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