YvonneThis week I received two books by the same author, recommended and sent to me by the lovely Samantha Lien, over at ‘Roger Charlie‘ publicity and management, although right now there is no planned official blog tour promotion for the series.
‘Sami’ assures me that whilst one book is the sequel to the other, they do both read independently as stand alone stories. “It really just depends on which story line grabs you most…”
Despite the author of the series, Sheldon Friedman, wanting at this time to remain free from social media engagement, I am hoping that he will be visiting with a guest post on July 19th 2017, so be sure to stop by and check that out!
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‘THE VELVET PRISON‘
Against the pulsating back drop of a New York City in social and economic change, young Travis Kane struggles with his passion to be an artist painter, and the conservative demands of his strict grandfather, Barclay Kane.
His mother, unable to come to terms with tragedy, has taken Travis’s infant sister and abandons him, leaving their house in Gramercy Park, and Travis to be raised by the grandfather he adores.
Travis enters a New York speakeasy, with a unique idea, that will change his life, leading him on an exciting journey, meeting Manhattan’s privileged, studying in art in Paris and, finding his way to Broadway.
Meanwhile, Lindsay Wayne’s mother, seamstress, has a secret, and a passion. Her daughter will become a famous stage actress, and this is her focus.
Lindsay and Travis’s worlds collide.
Their lives will never be the same again.
Clicking on the book’s cover image will link you directly with it’s Amazon listing.
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‘THE SATIN SASH‘
After the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor in 1941, American lives change dramatically. The Satin Sash continues the breathtaking lives of Travis Kane, Lindsay Wayne and Jean-Paul Renault with all the inherent dangers of the French Resistance, President Roosevelt’s live or die missions, and death defying action when German spies secretly enter the US through it’s ports.
A wedding reception and the lives of Travis Kane and his family are thrown into chaos as America enters World War II.
The Satin Sash is set against the explosive backgrounds of New York, France, London and Ireland. Travis Kane becomes President Roosevelt’s tool in bringing one of the world’s most famous paintings to New York.
Racial tensions surface. A famous black activist enters politics and an actress makes choices in the face of heartbreaking tragedy. A public enemy serves his country in wartime and a black artist becomes famous. When a baby is born the future shows promise.
With tension, suspense and surprising plot twists, we continue to follow the lives of the people we loved in The Velvet Prison.
Clicking on the book’s cover image will link you directly with it’s Amazon listing.
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SHELDON FRIEDMAN
A former college lecturer on legal topics, Sheldon Friedman recently retired as a practicing lawyer.
He has been writing short stories, plays and novels since the age of ten.
Sheldon is also a playwright, having had his play The Long Goodbye performed at a local theater in 2010. More recent plays are also in the hands of a producer.
Sheldon is a resident of Colorado, USA
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Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house during the last week. Be warned that Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
Mailbox Monday now has a permanent home, where links may be added each week. So why not stop by, leave a link to your own Mailbox Monday post, oh! and don’t forget to leave a comment for our three new joint administrators, after all, we all like to receive them … Your Hosts for ‘Mailbox Monday’
Leslie of ‘Under My Apple Tree’
Serena of ‘Savvy Verse & Wit’
Martha of ‘Reviews By Martha’s Bookshelf’
This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… You never know where that next “must read” book will come from!
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I like secrets. 🙂
They both sound good…thanks for sharing, Yvonne.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Mailbox Monday
Hi Elizabeth,
Given Travis’s emotional and disrupted childhood and the fact that we don’t really know what ‘tragedy’ befell the family, I’m not sure where Lindsay’s mother fits into the equation, or what her secret is, but I’m sure the two things are linked in some way!
I really don’t enjoy secrets or surprises, Things like surprise parties, presents or outings are definitely not to my liking and I have been known to go to extreme lengths to avoid such occasions!
Great to speak to you again, it seems like such an age. I hope that all is well with you and yours 🙂
Despite the assurance they can be read as stand-alones, I think I would have to start with the first book. It appeals to me more than the second and would set the stage should I want to continue on.
It looks like an interesting duo and I hope the author will join you here with a guest post.
Hi Kelly,
I totally understand why some authors prefer to shun the limelight and the all too often intrusive nature of social media. However, given the times in which we live, I’m afraid that this is all part and parcel of the sacrifices which need to be made if they want to get their writing, or any other medium which they hope to persuade others to buy, out there and available! I am therefore hoping that Sheldon can be persuaded to at least stop by with a guest post, so that we can either learn more about the author as a person, or discover a little more about the thinking behind the series and the individual books.
I totally agree with your thinking that this duo needs to be read in order, as the story line is most definitely a continuation from one book to the other and the characters appear to naturally develop, strengthen and come into their own by the time we get to ‘The Satin Sash’
Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you are reading something good this week 🙂
These both sound like great reads, both from the storylines and the characters themselves. Hope you enjoy them!
Hi Laura,
There haven’t been too many reviews of either book to date, but those which have been published, have all made pretty much the same observation as you yourself picked up on from the premises … that these books are very much character and relationship driven and that both are good and strong in those respects, also being well backed up by excellent story lines.
Thank you for your interesting observations and for taking the time to comment. It is always good to chat with you 🙂
I like the covers and they sound engaging. Happy Reading!
Hi Martha,
I can’t say that the cover art is my favourite thing about this series, as it is a bit too bright and gaudy for my liking.
However, I do like it when cover art says something about the story line inside and when a series reflects the same style of cover art right the way through.
So this looks promising if there are any more books to follow in the series and the style does reflect the rather ‘arty’ nature of the story line, doesn’t it?
Thanks for taking the time to stop by. It is great to catch up with you again and I hope that you are well 🙂
Eye-catching covers – I hope the books are just as engaging. Have a good week, Yvonne.
Hi Mary,
Serena commented that the cover art reminded her of impressionist paintings, which it does … However, I’m almost thinking poster art in their strength of image and colour?
Either way, they look great when featured together, with the first book sounding particularly engaging.
Thanks for stopping by, I always appreciate your visits 🙂
I’ve found that books in well written series can stand alone just fine. I hope these are as good as they sound!
Hi Kathy,
As I am so notoriously bad at following through on a series, it would be good to know that the ending of ‘The Velvet Prison’ isn’t left too open, so that I am obliged to read ‘The Satin Sash’ to gain any closure. It isn’t quite so bad if there are only going to be the two books in this mini series, but any more would definitely cause problems!
Thanks for visiting this week, I am on my way over to check out your MM post 🙂
Those covers remind me of impressionist paintings. Have a great week
I see where you are coming from Serena, in which case the bold colours are totally in keeping.
I do hope that if the series is extended past two books, that Sheldon decides to keep the cover art sympathetic with these.
Thanks for hosting Mailbox Monday and ‘Happy Reading’ 🙂
Nice cover art, plus they sound good. Enjoy!
Thanks Mary Ann.
I hope that your mailbox was also good this week, I shall be stopping by to check out your latest reads!
‘Happy Reading’ and have a good week 🙂
Yvonne
Loving the covers but alas I’m afraid neither of these shout ‘Read Me’ to me. Having said that, books I might pick up at the library or charity shop, I just wouldn’t buy them.
Hi Tracy,
If I am being totally honest, I too would probably only pick up many of the books I feature, if I came across them by accident whilst browsing a book sale somewhere.
That doesn’t mean to say that I don’t thoroughly enjoy them once I read them, just more a case of me sticking to authors whose work I know and trust, if I am parting with my hard earned cash on a full price book.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope that all is well with you and that you enjoy your weekend 🙂
These both sound good and NY settings always catch my eye. Enjoy them and looking forward to the guest post!
Hi Naida,
Author Sheldon Friedman really does seem to shun the limelight, which is such a shame in an era when social media is king and just about the only way to get yourself noticed in an ever increasingly large market.
I haven’t seen the guest post copy yet:), but I am hoping that it is going to be a good strong piece, to really get the message out there about this amazing series!
Thanks for stopping by, it is always good to catch up with you 🙂