I am beyond thrilled to be back on the #HFVBT blog tours! Not only that, but the first book back to share with you has become a favorite of mine: The Secret Life of Mrs. London by Rebecca Rosenberg.
San Francisco, 1915. As America teeters on the brink of world war, Charmian and her husband, famed novelist Jack London, wrestle with genius and desire, politics and marital competitiveness. Charmian longs to be viewed as an equal partner who put her own career on hold to support her husband, but Jack doesn’t see it that way…until Charmian is pulled from the audience during a magic show by escape artist Harry Houdini, a man enmeshed in his own complicated marriage. Suddenly, charmed by the attention Houdini pays her and entranced by his sexual magnetism, Charmian’s eyes open to a world of possibilities that could be her escape.
It’s no secret that this era, prior to the explosion of the world wars, is one of my favorite eras in history. I also love Jack London and his classic novels. Admittedly, however, it was Houdini who drew me to this book. One of the most mesmerizing characters in history, his secret liaison with “a married woman” has long been rumored. Rebecca Rosenberg has brought that story to life in The Secret Life of Mrs. London. Here we find London at a time in his life when he is unwell and totally dependent on his wife. She, of course, is dependent on him for her daily survival as well as her desire to be a writer in her own right, yet neither of them are invested in their relationship any longer. She desires to be more, to break free from the social chains in her life and Houdini provides her exactly that. Through Rosenberg’s writing we are able to see behind the curtain into the lives of these three incredibly fascinating people. The imagery is so pronounced that the reader feels as though they are there with the characters. The writing is brilliant, in first person, and with the opening scene – a boxing match between Mr. and Mrs. London – one is drawn into the story utterly and entirely.
The Secret Life of Mrs. London is Rosenberg’s debut novel and one can only hope that there will be many more to come. Whether you enjoy general fiction or historical, this is a book you will not want to miss!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A California native, Rebecca Rosenberg lives on a lavender farm with her family in Sonoma, the Valley of the Moon, where Jack London wrote from his Beauty Ranch. Rebecca is a long-time student of Jack London’s works and an avid fan of his daring wife, Charmian London. The Secret Life of Mrs. London is her debut novel.
Rebecca and her husband, Gary, own the largest lavender product company in America, selling to 4000 resorts, spas and gift stores. The Rosenbergs believe in giving back to the Sonoma Community, supporting many causes through financial donations and board positions, including Worth Our Weight, an educational culinary program for at-risk
children, YWCA shelter for abused women, Luther Burbank Performing Arts Center to provide performances for children, Sonoma Food Bank, Sonoma Boys and Girls Club, and the Valley of the Moon Children’s Home.
For more information, please visit Rebecca’s website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook and Goodreads. Visit the Facebook page for The Secret Life of Mrs. London.
Praise for The Secret Life of Mrs. London
“An impressively original and exceptionally well-crafted novel by an author who is a master of character- and narrative-driven storytelling, Rebecca Rosenberg’s The Secret Life of Mrs. London is an inherently riveting and thoroughly reader-engaging story from beginning to end and feature[es] many an unexpected plot twist and turn.” —Midwest Book Review
Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, September 2
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books
Tuesday, September 3
Review at Melissa Reads
Wednesday, September 4
Excerpt at The Book Junkie Reads
Thursday, September 5
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Sunday, September 8
Review at My Reading Chronicles
Review at Oh the Books She Will Read
Tuesday, September 10
Review at Diana_bibliophile
Thursday, September 12
Excerpt at I’m All About Books
Friday, September 13
Excerpt at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots
Tuesday, September 17
Review at Hooked on Books
Wednesday, September 18
Review at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals
Friday, September 20
Review at Orange County Readers
Monday, September 23
Review at Jathan & Heather
Wednesday, September 25
Review at Red Headed Book Lady
Thursday, September 26
Review, Q&A, & Excerpt at Nursebookie
Friday, September 27
Review at Macsbooks
Monday, September 30
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Wednesday, October 2
Review at gatticus_finch
Friday, October 4
Review at Coffee and Ink
Interview at Jathan & Heather
Saturday, October 5
Review at Reading is My Remedy
Monday, October 7
Review at rebecca.is.reading
Wednesday, October 9
Review at This Biblio Life
Thursday, October 10
Review at Peaceful Pastime
Friday, October 11
Review at Hopewell’s Public Library of Life
Saturday, October 12
Review at WTF Are You Reading?
Monday, October 14
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away 3 signed paperbacks + swag and 7 eBooks! To enter, please use the Gleam form here – Mrs. London
Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on October 14th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.
Thank you to #HFVBT and the author, Rebecca Rosenberg, for my copy of The Secret Life of Mrs. London.