Giveaway: “Empire” by Steven Saylor

June is giveaway month. I’m clearing my shelves of ARC’s and review copies. Last week I gave away the first book in a series. This week we have the sequel, Empire: The Novel of Imperial Rome by Steven Saylor. From my review:

Empire continues the story of the Pinarius family chronicled in Steven Saylor’s earlier novel Roma: The Novel of Ancient Rome. In the earlier book, we followed the aristocratic family from the founding of Rome through the Republican years. Empire picks up at the end of Augustus’ reign and concludes at the end of Hadrian’s, covering about 130 years and four generations of Pinarii.  Saylor sets himself a Herculean task to cover the major events and people of the times in an entertaining and accessible way using a formula perfected by James A. Michner in his historical epics. He mostly succeeds. (Read the entire review here.)

The details:

• Title: Empire: The Novel of Imperial Rome
• Author: Steven Saylor
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, 2010
• Format: Hardback with dust jacket, 587 pages
• Price: $25.99

The giveaway (sorry, US only, due to shipping costs):

This is a once-read, like-new copy, which I received from the Library Thing Early Reader Program.  Entry is easy: leave a comment on this post (make sure to give your email when asked, but not necessary in the post). If you want a second entry, sign up to follow the blog or indicate you’re already a follower. For a third chance, repost this giveaway on your Facebook, blog, Twitter, website, etc. and post the link in your comment. Don’t worry if your comment doesn’t appear immediately, because I moderate comments and don’t spend my life at my computer. I’ll randomly select a winner and announce it on Thursday, June 3o. At the end of the month I’ll enter everyone who didn’t win in all my June giveaways into a bonus drawing for a mystery book. Good luck!

And the Raffle King declared the winner…

Cindi!

Congratulations and I’ll be in touch by email.

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Giveaway: “Roma” by Steven Saylor

June has turned into a hectic month for me with writing deadlines, a trip to the Historical Novel Society Conference in San Diego to pitch my newest novel and family obligations. But I hate leaving my blog blank, so I’m clearing my shelves of ARC’s and review copies and giving them away. The first up is Roma: The Novel of Ancient Rome by Steven Saylor. From my review:

I truly enjoyed this reading experience. Roma introduces the reader to events that receive short shrift in most history books. Although it covered a vast sweep of time, I felt the story telling was consistent and the characters varied and interesting. This is a wonderful achievement in both effort and results. Among the “extras”–including an interview with the author, a historical essay and reading group questions–I particularly liked the maps of Rome at the beginning of each chapter, showing the walls, major landmarks, public buildings, temples, and altars. It’s a great way of showing Rome’s expansion and evolution. “Thanks” to Saylor for a great read. (Read the entire review here.)

The details:

• Title: Roma: The Novel of Ancient Rome
• Author: Steven Saylor
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2007
• Format: Trade paperback, 555 pages
• Price: $15.95

The giveaway (sorry, US only, due to shipping costs):

This is a once-read copy, which I purchased from the bargain bin (has a black magic marker dot on the bottom.)  Entry is easy: leave a comment on this post (make sure to give your email when asked, but not necessary in the post). If you want a second entry, sign up to follow the blog or indicate you’re already a follower. For a third chance, repost this giveaway on your Facebook, blog, Twitter, website, etc. and post the link in your comment. Don’t worry if your comment doesn’t appear immediately, because I moderate comments and don’t spend my life at my computer. I’ll randomly select a winner and announce it on Wednesday, June 22. At the end of the month I’ll enter everyone who didn’t win in all my June giveaways into a bonus drawing for a mystery book. Good luck!

 

And the winner is:

Judith!

Congratulations! I’ll be in touch by email.

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Book Review and Giveaway: “Alexandria” by Lindsey Davis

Giveaway information at the bottom.

As anyone knows, who’s stopped by this blog, I’m a sucker for anything set in Alexandria, especially during the Roman period. I’ve studied the city for many years and it’s the setting for my first novel. So I’m continuing my Alexandria series with this book review and giveaway. I’ll post some more history later in the month.

Lindsey Davis is well known for her Marcus Didius Falco historical mysteries and this one is number nineteen in the series. From the back cover:

In A. D. 77 Marcus Didius Falco, private “informer” and stalwart Roman citizen, undertakes one of the most fearsome tasks known to man—he goes on vacation with his somewhat pregnant wife, Helena Justina, and their family. They travel to Alexandria, Egypt, and they aren’t there long before the Librarian of the great library is found dead under suspicious circumstances, in his office with the door locked from the inside.

Falco quickly finds himself on the trail of dodgy doings, malfeasance, deadly professional rivalry, more bodies, and the lowest of the low—book thieves! As the bodies pile up, it’s up to Falco to untangle this horrible mess before the killer begins to strike closer to home.

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