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Spotlight Feature: Did I Mention I Love You? by Estelle Maskame + Giveaway (CLOSED)
Title: Did I Mention I Love You?
Author: Estelle Maskame
Release Date: December 1, 2015
Publishers: Sourcebooks Fire
Praise for Did I Mention I Love You?:
“Readers will root for them like they would with Edward and Bella—the mutual attraction and need for one another is palpable. It rings of passion, excitement, and first love.” – VOYA Magazine
“An edgy young adult romance with dark layers.” – The Examiner
“A believable coming-of-age story and an unconventional romance, set against a present-day California summer.... The fallout of divorce, the insidiousness of substance abuse and family secrets, and especially the pangs of first love drive this emotionally resonant tale.” – Publishers Weekly
“Written in first person, Maskame’s trilogy opener is an excellent portrayal of a teenage girl’s life in the 21st century. Eden has to adjust to her blended family, try to feel pretty, be body conscious, and make friends, all while falling in love for the first time. She is someone all young people can relate to...Romance fans will be captivated by Eden and her journey to finding herself and true love.” –School Library Journal
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Annie Kelsey,
Author Bio
Spotlight Feature: Pippa Morgan’s Diary by Annie Kelsey + Giveaway (CLOSED)
Disclaimer: A lot of Spotlight Feature will be posted to make up for the lack of write-ups for a month.
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Title: Pippa Morgan’s Diary
Author: Annie Kelsey
Release Date: October 6, 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Praise for Pippa Morgan’s Dairy:
“With its approachable style and friendly language, this is sure to please both older fans of Rebecca Elliott’s “Owl Diaries” (Scholastic) and reluctant readers alike.” – School Library Journal
“Likable characters in humorous situations make for a promising series opener.” – Kirkus
“A charming story about the lengths you can go to win someone over, this is a great addition to the perennially popular illustrated-journal trend in middle-grade fiction. Although the character created sketches can draw Wimpy Kid comparisons, the tone more closely matches Marissa Moss’ Amelia’s Notebook (1995)… the perfect quick read for any student with starry-eyed aspirations and a big imagination.”- Booklist
Title: The Dogs
Author: Allan Stratton
Release Date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Praise for The Dogs:
“Stratton masterfully constructs a creepy gothic setting…A monstrous, stalking father, unhinging nightmares, a ghostly boy, wild dogs, and a moldy basement add creepy deliciousness to a murder mystery and tale of a boy who, in trying to solve a mystery, may just discover what a loving family might be. An engrossing blend of murder mystery and family story.” – Kirkus STARRED Review
"There’s fear aplenty in Allan Stratton’s The Dogs and a tantalizingly uncertain element of the supernatural… refreshingly like an old-fashioned mystery, but the passion and terror underlying (our hero's) own family give it emotional complexity and suspense." – Toronto Star
“A real page-turner... [The Dogs] stayed with me for days, author Allan Stratton having created an unsettled aura the likes of which Alfred Hitchcock and Stephen King routinely built into their work, too... Stratton’s depiction of setting and characters is masterful, and his ability to create tension and keep readers on edge is equally strong.” – Montreal Gazette
“A chilling tale of a mother and son on the run, from the author of the award-winning Chanda’s Secrets…Written in accessible prose, The Dogs manages to thrill while exploring the mindset of the victim in ways that are both insightful and affecting, artfully portraying permanent state of dread and a creeping self-doubt. This is an accomplished, gripping and thoughtful story, whose dramatic ending delivers on every level.” – The Guardian
“Brilliant, page-turning, and eerie. Had me guessing to the very end.” – Joseph Delaney, author of The Last Apprentice series.
“An Agatha Christie mystery novel on cocaine” – SLJ Teen Newsletter
Summary:
Constantly on the run from a dangerous father, Cameron’s used to pushing away the trauma of his past. But when his mother moves them to an old farmhouse in the middle of nowhere, he discovers that there are some things you can’t escape. His new schoolmates taunt him about the bloodthirsty dogs that supposedly haunt the farm, and Cameron soon stumbles upon a child’s drawings in the cellar that depict a violent history. The line between reality and nightmare begins to blur as the house’s horrifying secrets mix with fragments of Cameron’s own memories—some best left forgotten.
Excerpt:
Goodreads Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25496559-the-dogs
Buy Links:
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About the Author:
Allan Stratton is an internationally published playwright and author. His awards include a Michael L. Printz Honor Award, multiple ALA picks and the Independent Publisher Book Award.
Social Networking Links:
Website: http://www.allanstratton.com/
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Good luck and happy reading everyone!
Love lots, xx
Style Reader
Title: The Suffering
Author: Rin Chupeco
Release Date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Praise for the Suffering:
"Rin Chupeco's The Suffering is a horror lover's dream: murders, possessed dolls, and desiccated corpses. I cringed. I grimaced. You won't soon forget this exorcist and his vengeful water ghost."
--Kendare Blake, author of Anna Dressed in Blood
“Chupeco deftly combines ancient mysticism with contemporary dilemmas that teens face, immersing readers in horrors both supernatural and manmade. The Suffering is a chilling swim through the murky waters of morality."
--Carly Anne West, author of The Bargaining and The Murmuring
Summary:
Breathtaking and haunting, Rin Chupeco’s second novel is a chilling companion to her debut, The Girl from the Well.
The darkness will find you.
Seventeen-year-old Tark knows what it is to be powerless. But Okiku changed that. A restless spirit who ended life as a victim and started death as an avenger, she’s groomed Tark to destroy the wicked. But when darkness pulls them deep into Aokigahara, known as Japan’s suicide forest, Okiku’s justice becomes blurred, and Tark is the one who will pay the price…
Excerpt:
Goodreads Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24789796-the-suffering?from_search=true&search_version=service_impr
Buy Links:
New in Paperback from this Author: The Girl From The Well Praise for The Girl From The Well:
“[A] Stephen King-like horror story.” -Kirkus Reviews
“Told in a marvelously disjointed fashion.” -Publishers Weekly STARRED Review
“This gorgeously written story reads like poetry.” -Brazos Bookstore
“Darkly mesmerizing.” -The Boston Globe
“A superior creep factor that is pervasive in every lyrical word.” -Booklist
Summary:
The Ring meets The Exorcist in this haunting and lyrical reimagining of the Japanese fable.
Okiku has wandered the world for hundreds of years, setting free the spirits of murdered children. Wherever there’s a monster hurting a child, her spirit is there to deliver punishment. Such is her existence, until the day she discovers a troubled American teenager named Tark and the dangerous demon that writhes beneath his skin, trapped by a series of intricate tattoos. Tark needs to be freed, but there is one problem—if the demon dies, so does its host.
With the vigilante spirit Okiku as his guide, Tark is drawn deep into a dark world of sinister doll rituals and Shinto exorcisms that will take him far from American suburbia to the remote valleys and shrines of Japan. Can Okiku protect him from the demon within or will her presence bring more harm? The answer lies in the depths of a long-forgotten well
Goodreads Link:
Buy Links:
About the Author:
Despite uncanny resemblances to Japanese revenants, Rin Chupeco has always maintained her sense of humor. Raised in Manila, Philippines, she keeps four pets: a dog, two birds, and a husband. She's been a technical writer and travel blogger, but now makes things up for a living. Connect with Rin at www.rinchupeco.com.
Social Networking Links:
Website: http://www.rinchupeco.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RinChupeco
Get a chance to win a copy of The Suffering and The Girl From the Well By Rin Chupeco! Join through the Rafflecopter below:
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Spotlight Feature: Girl World: How to Ditch The Drama and Find Your Inner Amazing by Patricia Ottaviano + Giveaway (CLOSED)
Title: Girl World: How to Ditch The Drama and Find Your Inner Amazing
Author: Patricia Ottaviano
Release Date: August 4, 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Summary:
The guide every girl needs to survive the pitfalls of teen-dom Mean stares. Hurtful whispers. The cold shoulder. Being a girl is harder than it looks. In a world where gossip, drama, and rumors seem to be never ending, it’s not easy to navigate the halls of middle school or high school without earning a few battle scars. But what if you could change all that? With practical advice for how to fearlessly stand your ground, hold your own, and dictate your own happiness, Girl World will help you move beyond the bad attitudes and transform your insecurities into strengths. From friendship conflicts to the ugly side to social media, learn how to ditch the drama and kick your inner critic to the curb so you can truly start appreciating yourself. Every day is a new day. Embrace it!
Excerpt:
Goodreads Link:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25868559-girl-world
Buy Links:
About the Author:
Patricia Ottaviano is the 23-year-old founder of Sister Soldier—Stand up for Each Other, a nonprofit dedicated to stopping girl-on-girl bullying in all of its forms through school assemblies and outreach. A graduate of Michigan University, she is currently pursuing a doctorate in Clinical Child Psychology at Yeshiva University. Learn more at sistersoldier.org.
Social Media Links:
Website: http://sistersoldier.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sistersoldier_
Instagram: https://instagram.com/Sister_soldier/
Get a chance to win 2 copies of Girl World by Patricia Ottaviano! Join through our Rafflecopter here:
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Good luck and happy reading everyone!
Love lots, xx
Style Reader
Today I have the lovely, Emma Kavanagh on the blog to share a guest post for her book, After We Fall, and to answer the question, "How does your background as a police psychologist influence your writing?"
GUEST POST:
What comes next?
Gosh, it’s been an interesting couple of years. I have had my debut book published, have given birth to a baby, survived a toddler (my crowning achievement), have enjoyed the roller coaster that is the publication of my second book, Hidden. Now I get to live my other dream - to have my novel, After We Fall, published in the U.S.
So, what comes next?
I am really hoping that the answer is a nap!
Kidding. Kidding. I thrive on the chaos.
Or, more accurately, it hasn’t killed me yet.
Well, just recently I signed my second two-book deal in the UK, with the exceptionally talented team at Arrow, which is all kinds of wonderful and allows me to continue doing this job that has become as important as breathing to me.
And what that means is that I am now knee-deep in book three (currently known as The Missing Hours), the story of a woman who vanishes, only to reappear 18 hours later with no knowledge of where she has been or what has happened to her. I have to admit that it’s getting pretty twisty, sufficiently so that I have had to unleash the index cards. But I am loving writing this as the characters sit beside me and mercilessly order me about.
I am also, perhaps prematurely, lining up book four. That doesn’t have a title. It doesn’t have much of anything, in fact. Just the kernel of an idea and a couple of characters that have already begun to nose around the watering hole. It’s about a serial killer. That’s all I’m going to say. Oh, and there are police in it. But you knew that anyway…
About the Author
Emma Kavanagh was born and raised in South Wales. After graduating with a PhD in psychology from Cardiff University, she spent many years working as a police and military psychologist, training firearms officers, command staff, and military personnel throughout the UK and Europe. She started her business as a psychology consultant, specializing in human performance in extreme situations. She lives in South Wales with her husband and two young sons.
Twitter: @EmmaLK
A plane falls out of the sky.
A woman is murdered.
Four people all have something to hide…
For fans of Tana French and Alice LaPlante comes After We Fall, a debut psychological thriller by former police psychologist Emma Kavanagh that explores four lives shattered in the tense aftermath of a plane crash.
Shortly after takeoff, flight 2940 plummets to the snow-covered ground, breaking into two parts, the only survivors a handful of passengers and a flight attendant.
Cecilia has packed up and left her family. Now she has survived a tragedy and sees no way out.
Tom has woken up to discover that his wife was on the plane and must break the news to their only son.
Jim is a retired police offer and worried father. His beloved daughter has disappeared, and he knows something is wrong.
Freya is struggling to cope with the loss of her father. But as she delves into his past, she may not like what she finds.
Four people, who have never met but are indelibly linked by these disasters, will be forced to reveal the closely guarded secrets that unlock the answers to their questions. But once the truth is exposed, it may cause even more destruction.
Told from various points of view, chapter by chapter, readers follow the investigation into the doomed plane alongside the investigation of a murder. Kavanagh deftly weaves together the stories of those who lost someone or something of themselves in one tragic incident, exploring how swiftly everything we know can come crashing down.
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Spotlight Feature: The Curse of Anne Boleyn by C.C. Humphreys + Giveaway (CLOSED)
Title: The Curse of Anne Boleyn
Author: C.C. Humphreys
Release Date: May 05, 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
SUMMARY:
"If you like Bernard Conwell's Grail Quest series, you'll love The French Executioner and The Curse of Anne Boleyn. To my mind Cornwell is good, but Humphreys is better."—Sally Zigmund, Historical Novels Review (UK)
From the masterful C.C. Humphreys, comes the captivating sequel to The French Executioner.
Nearly twenty years have passed since Anne Boleyn died at the hands of her slayer and savior, Jean Rombaud. All he wants is to forget his sword-wielding days and live happily with his family. Yet her distinctive six-fingered hand, stolen at her death—and all the dark power it represents—still compels evil men to seek it out.
When Jean's son, Gianni, joins the Inquisition in Rome and betrays all his father worked for, Jean discovers that time alone cannot take him—or his son—far from his past. But he never expected his whole family, especially his beloved daughter Anne, to become caught up once more in the tragic queen's terrible legacy.
From the savagery of way in Italy to the streets of London and Paris and the wilds of North America, The Curse of Anne Boleyn sweeps readers into a thrilling story that puts love, loyalty, and family to the ultimate test.
"With The French Executioner, Humphreys established himself as a quality purveyor of historical detail and vigorous action...This unusual story line is dispatched with consummate skill." —Good Books Guide (UK)
Goodreads Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23413919-the-curse-of-anne-boleyn?from_search=true&search_version=service
Buy Links:
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Author Biography:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23413919-the-curse-of-anne-boleyn?from_search=true&search_version=service
Buy Links:
Amazon
B&N
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IndieBound
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Author Biography:
Chris (C.C.) Humphreys is an actor, playwright, fight choreographer and novelist. He has written nine historical fiction novels including The French Executioner, runner up for the CWA Steel Dagger for Thrillers; Vlad – The Last Confession, the epic novel of the real Dracula; and A Place Called Armageddon. His latest YA novel is The Hunt of the Unicorn. His work has been translated into thirteen languages.
Social Networking Links:
Website: http://cchumphreys.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HumphreysCC
3 bookworms can win a copy of The Curse of Anne Boleyn by C.C. Humphreys (US only)! Join the rafflecopter below!
Title: Making Your Mind Up
Author: Jill Mansell
Release Date: May 05, 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Summary:
International bestseller Jill Mansell delivers a hilarious and heartwarming tale about falling in love when you have opinionated kids.
Love is a complicated thing…
Lottie Carlyle is happy enough. Living in a beautiful cottage with her two adorable—sometimes—kids in an idyllic village, on good terms with her ex-husband, and with friends all around, everything is going just fine. But when she meets her new boss, her peaceful world is thrown into delightful, exciting, and frustrating chaos. Tyler is perfect for Lottie, but her kids do not agree. To make matters worse, the handsome and mysterious Seb appears on the scene, intriguing—and distracting—Lottie and charming her children, making it more and more difficult for her to make up her mind…
“Very nicely done… Jill Mansell’s chorus of sharp-witted youth, shaking sticks at the foibles of their elders, is delightful.” —Daily Express
“A smashing read that both delights and surprises the reader.” —The Sun
Praise for Thinking of You:
“Mansell is like a Michelin-rated chef: She may use common ingredients, but under her sure hand the results are deliciously superior.” —Kirkus
“Humorous, sometimes poignant... Her breezy style resembles that of Sophie Kinsella or Helen Fielding… readers will be delighted.” —Booklist
“Jill Mansell combines, humor, friendship, romance and betrayal... keeps you wanting more.” —Fresh Fiction
“Beyond the fun, faulted characters, Mansell has a gift for humorous and witty dialogue that will leave readers in stitches... Mansell excels at creating relationships that are dynamic and complicated.” —Savvy Verse and Wit
Buy Links:
Amazon
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BAM
IndieBound
Kobo
Author Biography:
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With over 9 million copies sold, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Mansell writes irresistible and funny romantic tales for women in the tradition of Marian Keyes and Sophie Kinsella. She worked for many years at the Burden Neurological Hospital, Bristol, and now writes full time. She lives with her partner and their children in Bristol, England.
Social Networking Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jillmansell
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23625.Jill_Mansell
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23625.Jill_Mansell
3 bookworms can win a copy of Making Your Mind Up by Jill Mansell (US only)! Join the rafflecopter below!
Looking for a new read this summer? Here's a book that you must-read or add to your summer reading list!
Title: Meant For You
Author: Samantha Chase
Release Date: April 7, 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Summary:
She dares to dream...
Summer Montgomery wants to be taken seriously almost as much as she wants her brother's best friend, Ethan. But with a long resume of seemingly random career choices and a protective brother on watch, those things are nothing more than pipe dreams...
Does he dare to try?
Ethan Reed would like nothing more than to live by his own rules. Not wanting to disappoint his best friend Zach, or any of the Montgomerys, Ethan's had to push his long-denied feelings for Summer aside. But it only takes one night away from watchful eyes to make impossible dreams come true...
Want to get a snippet of the reading experience? Read the excerpt on the widget below! (Click to read to switch to full screen)
Goodreads Link:
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://bit.ly/MeantForYou
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/MeantForYouBN
iBooks: http://bit.ly/MeantForYouApple
IndieBound: http://bit.ly/MeantForYouIndieB
Author Biography:
New York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan's Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40's to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.
When she's not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.
Social Networking Links:
Website: http://www.chasing-romance.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamanthaChase3
And now, time for some awesome giveaway! Win a Samantha Chase book bundle + $50 giftcard by joining through the rafflecopter below!
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Happy Reading everyone!
Love lots, xx
Style Reader
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Happy Reading everyone!
Love lots, xx
Style Reader
PUBLICATION DATE: February 15, 2013
GENRE: Contemporary Women's Fiction
SYNOPSIS
Paige Scott spent her childhood shuffled between relatives who ignored her, and her adult life hiding in her crumbling marriage to wealthy David Davenport. When David suddenly thrusts her into a remote, impoverished world, Paige is forced to face the betrayals of her past - not to mention the colorful townies of her present. Unexpected friendships and her discovery of running propel her on a jagged and comical journey toward learning how to truly live.
AVAILABLE ON
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00BMHF62M
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/running-against-traffic-gaelen-vandenbergh/1114707735?ean=9781621419938
Today I have the lovely Gaelen VanDenbergh on the blog for a guest post.
GUEST POST:
When someone says that a scenario, or a feeling, or a response, or something that happens to a character I have created is “unrealistic”, I find myself itching to ask this:
Based on what criteria – your own experience? Just because it hasn’t happened to you, or to anyone you know, does that make it unrealistic? This story is fiction – therefore, it is not real. However, I never write about something that I know nothing about. And more importantly, just because this person has not personally experienced anything like this does not mean that therefore it cannot be, or is even unlikely. That’s ridiculous. They have lived one life.
I admit, I understand the skepticism. I can’t tell you how many instances in my life have happened where I have been thinking “wow. I don’t believe it!” But, these were responses to things going on around me, in real life. So, in the end, I had to believe it.
The adage is true – truth is stranger than fiction.
I was recently invited to attend a book group, featuring my novel Running Against Traffic. Everyone in the group enjoyed the novel very much, but a few of them spoke up and declared what I have heard from a couple of reviewers as well. They didn’t buy that Paige would “take” what happened to her lying down. They wanted her to fight, to march right back to Philadelphia and resume her life. I asked them to what life? I have also been challenged about not providing enough information about Paige’s relationship with Al. To that I say I’m sorry, I’m just the kind of writer that prefers to leave a few details open to interpretation. Relationships are often strange, confused, unsure, passionate, disappointing, uplifting, co-dependent. Sounds like most of my past relationships, anyway! Write to me and let me know what you thought was going on with them, and I’ll write back and share what I thought was going on, what I think Al thought was going on, and what Paige thought was going on. And remember, there is more to come in the sequel. Just remember, you can think and decide for yourself.
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Gaelen VanDenbergh is a writer, runner, and compulsive list-maker who lives in Philadelphia with her family, a fat cat, and several fish. Her debut novel Running Against Traffic, was a Global Ebook Award nominee, a semifinalist in the The Kindle Book Review’s 2013 Best Indie Book Awards, a semifinalist in the Readers' Favorite 2013 International Book Award Contest, Indie Book of the Day, June 30, 2013, a 2013 Beach Book Festival Award nominee, and has received a four star review in InD’tale Magazine.
When not writing, Gaelen enjoys reading, running races for charities, and spending as much time in Key West and the Adirondacks as she can.
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Finally! I would be able to share to you this very pretty cover reveal. My stop was official yesterday but due to technical problems, I wasn't able to post it immediately. But it's never too late to do it since it's still November 01 in the other side of the world.
Pastels & Jingle Bells by Christine S. Feldman
Publisher: Kindle Direct
Publication Date: November 01, 2013
Shelf: Goodreads
Summary/Description:
Trish Ackerly never expected to cross paths with Ian Rafferty again, but when she spots the former bully of her childhood years through her bakery window, she thinks she may just have been given the best Christmas gift ever: the opportunity to finally give Ian the comeuppance he deserves.
But clearly she does not have a knack for this whole revenge thing, because before she can make good on her plans, Trish gets inadvertently drawn into Ian’s life in an unexpected way that lets her see just how different the man is from the boy he used to be. In fact, much to her astonishment, she actually starts to like the guy.
A lot.
Trouble is, Ian doesn’t know who she really is, and explaining it to him is going to be a little difficult now—which is bad news, because Trish is starting to realize that all she really wants for Christmas this year…is Ian.
Christine S. Feldman writes both novels and feature-length screenplays, and, to her great delight, she has placed in screenwriting competitions on both coasts—and has even won a couple of them. In 2012 one of her screenplays was featured as a staged reading in New York City at the Gotham Screen International Film Festival (http://www.gsiff.com/content/staged-screenplay-reading-1), and later that same year she signed her first publishing contract. When she is not writing, she is teaching kindergarten, puttering around in her garden, ballroom dancing with her husband, or doing research for her next project.
Connect with her on:
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Today I have the lovely Stephanie Carroll on the blog who will share her a guest post for her book, A White Room.
GUEST POST:
Halloween History: Victorian Halloween Party Decorations, Games, and Spells
By Stephanie Carroll
The following turn of the century Halloween festivities were taken from two articles in the October 25, 1903 edition of The Sunday Herald of Syracuse, New York. The first article is titled “Halloween: Unique and Ghost-Like Decorations” and is an account of a Halloween party for adults, focusing specifically on the decorations.
The second article was titled “Halloween: What to do on this Witching Eve,” and is an instruction for a witch themed party for young unmarried girls. It includes detailed descriptions of Halloween “charms” or what we would call spells, most of which were designed to determine the girls’ future husbands.
Victorian Halloween Decorations for a Turn of the Century Party
The writer of the article explained that this was a party he actually attended, and it is given from his perspective. When he asked the hostess where she got the ideas for the decorations, she said she had thought them up on the spur of the moment.
Outside of the house, yellow jack-o-lanterns and squash hung from plazas. They included a lamp and had eyes, noses, and grins carved into them. The author of this article writes about the jack-o-lantern faces in a way that suggests it may have been a novelty, at least to him.
Just at the door stood a tall wooden figure draped in black sheets. It had red eyes, a nose, and a grinning mouth. The author commented that the figure “suspiciously looked like a photographer’s lantern on a jag.” Chains bound the hands of the figure and also hung from the door, making it rattle as guests entered the house.
Inside, the only light came from green flames burning in tin plates. The flame came from alcohol sitting on a bed of salts. The writer commented that the flames made the guests’ faces glow green, a color that was “subconsciously associated with ghosts.” Inside the library there were more of these plates with green flames, which the author then commented created a mood that “was enough to conjure up his Satanic Majesty to the ‘flow of soul’ about to begin.” The author’s remark about the devil being conjured suggests lighthearted references to the satan were common during Halloween even at this time period. This may disprove a common conception that the Victorians were too religious for the darker side of Halloween.
Cushions were strewn about the floor for the guests in the library. When the green flames flickered out, someone lit the fireplace, and attendees began telling ghost stories. Each guest had been instructed to bring a ghost story or be “threatened with violent ejection.” The author commented that the stories were so frightening more than one person screamed when an alarm clock went off in the middle of it. He also commented that it was surprising how many guests had brought alarm clocks for this purpose. After the stories had ended, electric lights flickered on to reveal popping corn, games, and refreshments.
The author then goes into a long list of party favors suitable for a Halloween party. It was difficult to discern whether or not all of these favors were at the party he attended or if these were examples of what could be done at a party.
Some of the objects described as party favors were more games as opposed to gifts. Dainty salt cellars with tiny spoons could be provided, so guests could stand in a place they have never stood before, eat a bit of salt, and make a wish. Little mugs or cups could be filled with water and accompanied by paper cutouts of the alphabet as “Every properly educated girl knows that the initial of her future husband will be the only letter that can be depended upon to float.”
Several Halloween souvenirs were described and they all seemed to include messages. There were small bits of silver beaten into favors, like miniature frames in odd shapes from abroad and accompanied with a note saying, “May it be your fate to travel double.” The writer described desk scales with the motto “Don’t weigh your friends in the balance,” and collapsible lanterns with the message “The light fails when you are absent,” along with boxes for holding cord with the message “Always have a string to your kite.” Other gifts included devil paperweights, gnome and toadstool inkstands, and rabbit designs for keeping away ghosts.
Halloween Witchcraft Spells for Unmarried Girls
In addition to the spells below, this article also suggests some decorations and refreshments as this was an instruction for a witch themed party. It describes how to set a dinner table with a jack-o-lantern centerpiece and carved carrots and turnips as candlesticks. Red and green cabbages could be used as baskets for nuts, fruit, and marshmallows for toasting. The article explains refreshments should also include apples, cider, fried cakes, and tea grounds, which are good for prophesizing one’s future. On the dinner cards could be placed witch dolls. The doll could be made with a nut for a head, with a witch hat on top and toothpicks for the body.
The article also recommends using “Burn’s Poem” to determine other fun things to try or to use lines from the poem for dinner cards. The fact that the article only ever refers to this poem as “Burn’s Poem” suggests that it was a common reference around Halloween time, and that anyone would recognize it. Robert Burn’s 1785 Halloween Poem is almost guaranteed the poem to which the article is referring to because it includes the same and additional instructions on Halloween charms. All the charms below appear to have come from this poem.
Although the “charms” or spells below are reminiscent of something 12 or 13-year-old girls would partake in today, this article does not specify an age but is clearly directed toward unmarried girls. It was expected that most girls would be married before or during their early twenties.
I cannot help but point out the fact that unmarried girls at this time were expected to be virgins, and virgins are common components in spells popularized through modern-day pop culture. However, there was no mention of a virgin in this article.
Charms and Games for a Bewitching Halloween Party:
1. Girls can throw two nuts into a fire, each representing a person. Most pop out but the two that burn quietly to ashes show a good omen for those two people.
2. Melt lead taken from tea boxes in a cheap iron spoon (as the lead will ruin the spoon) and then drop it into cold water. It will turn into a shape representative of the occupation of the girl’s future husband. Almost any shape can be formed, but the common shapes and meanings are: shears for a tailor or newspaperman, sword for a soldier, book for an author, or a desk for a preacher.
3. Seven girls can mix a dumb cake consisting of water and flour mixed into stiff dough. The girls cannot speak a word during this. Each girl stirs the dough once or twice and before baking uses a “new pin” to carve her and her beloved’s initials. The initials that are still visible after baking belong to the couples who will be married within the year.
4. Another cake of the usual ingredients can be made with silver objects mixed into the dough. The girls can speak while making this cake, and each must stir it once or twice. After it’s baked, each girl has a slice. Whichever object is in her slice of cake prophesizes her future. A ring means a happy wife; a dime means riches; a raisin means happy motherhood; a thimble means she will never cease to wear it; a key unlocks the hearts of all men but means many lovers and never a husband; and a wheel means travel over land and sea.
5. Everyone knows about bobbing for apples, according to the article, but few are aware that if you hang an apple by a string and then catch it with your mouth without using your hands, it foretells the successes of the coming year.
6. A girl can name an apple the name of her most desired person then pierce the core with a needle. If the needle goes through a seed, the desired one is hers.
7. The girls can name several apple seeds and place them on their lips. The one that stays the longest is the one with the name of the man who loves her most.
8. If a person peels an apple, then turns the peel around her head three times and drops it on the ground, the peel will form the initial that she wishes her future name to have.
9. In complete silence, a girl can walk down the stairs backwards, while eating an apple and holding a mirror up to look for the face of her true love who will appear in it. (The article mentioned that this one is trying on the nerves even if a friend is holding a lamp at the bottom of the stairs.)
10. Girls can run two new needles, one representative of her and the other of “he,” into a candle at right angles so that they cross. The article isn’t clear, but I’m pretty sure you are supposed to stick the needles into the hard wax of a standing candle or candlestick, and not into the flame. If the candle burns passed the spot where the needles cross, all will go well but if it does not, who knows.
11. The cabbage charm originates from Scotland. Girls walk blindfolded into a cabbage field and pick a head. If a lot of dirt clings to the roots, wealth is coming by marriage. If the stem is good and straight, the future husband will be comely. A taste of the cabbage heart indicates the disposition of the man of a woman’s future. The article recommends people who cannot go into an actual field, bring cabbages in and store them in a cellar. It does not explain how guests are supposed to read the cabbage accurately when the freshly pulled roots are what are to be read.
12. To produce a prophetic dream: Seven girls each make a string of acorns and wind it around the same log or stick of wood and place it into a fire. They must all sit at the opposite side of the room in complete silence until all is burned. Then they take out the ashes without any help and repeat:
May my marriage be my theme
To visit me in this night’s dream
The image of my lover send
Let me see his name and face
And his occupation trace
13. A charm that is not well known, according to the article, is the card charm. At a quarter to 12 a.m., all sit at a table and say nothing. One word will break the spell. Promptly at midnight, cards are dealt using only face cards. A king means a speedy marriage; a jack means a broken engagement; a queen means an old maid; a diamond means riches; a spade means thrift; a club means poverty; and a heart means love in a cottage.
14. When the guests leave, one last charm can be done by a girl alone in her room. This charm will determine the faithfulness of a lover. She must pick two long stem roses and return to her room without saying a word. She names one rose for herself and the other for her current beloved. She then binds the stems together with twine while gazing intently at her sweetheart’s rose and recites:
Twine, twine and intertwine
Let my love be wholly mine
If his heart be kind and true
Deeper grow his rose’s hue
If he is faithful, the color of his rose will darken and become more intense. The article says there are recorded accounts of roses actually changing hue, but the only witnesses were the girls who produced the charm.
I hope you enjoyed reading these historical accounts of Victorian Halloween decorations, parties, and party games as much as I enjoyed researching and writing about them. I hope they make a unique and fun addition to your Halloween party this year.
Stephanie Carroll is the author of Gothic Victorian novel A White Room, on sale for $0.99 cents until Oct. 31! As a reporter and community editor, Stephanie Carroll earned first place awards from the National Newspaper Association and from the Nevada Press Association. She holds degrees in history and social science and graduated summa cum laude. Her Gothic and magical writing style is inspired by the classic authors Charlotte Perkins Gilman (The Yellow Wallpaper), Frances Hodgson Burnett (The Secret Garden), and Emily Bronte (Wuthering Heights).
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About A White Room
At the close of the Victorian Era, society still expected middle-class women to be “the angels of the house,” even as a select few strived to become something more. In this time of change, Emeline Evans dreamed of becoming a nurse. But when her father dies unexpectedly, Emeline sacrifices her ambitions and rescues her family from destitution by marrying John Dorr, a reserved lawyer who can provide for her family.
John moves Emeline to the remote Missouri town of Labellum and into an unusual house where her sorrow and uneasiness edge toward madness. Furniture twists and turns before her eyes, people stare out at her from empty rooms, and the house itself conspires against her. The doctor diagnoses hysteria, but the treatment merely reinforces the house’s grip on her mind.
Emeline only finds solace after pursuing an opportunity to serve the poor as an unlicensed nurse. Yet in order to bring comfort to the needy she must secretly defy her husband, whose employer viciously hunts down and prosecutes unlicensed practitioners. Although women are no longer burned at the stake in 1900, disobedience is a symptom of psychological defect, and hysterical women must be controlled.
A novel of madness and secrets, A White Room presents a fantastical glimpse into the forgotten cult of domesticity, where one’s own home could become a prison and a woman has to be willing to risk everything to be free.
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