Guest Post by Allison Pataki & Tour Wide Giveaway

Today I have the wonderful opportunity to host Allison Pataki, author of The Accidental Empress about Empress Sisi of Austria.  Today she is here to tell you why Sisi's story is a must read for any HF enthusiast.  Stay tuned at the end for a tour wide giveaway. 

Why I Would Say The Accidental Empress is a Must-Read!

Guest Post by Allison Pataki, Author of
The Accidental Empress

The Accidental Empress is the little-known love story of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known to her people by the affectionate nickname of “Sisi.” I found that writing the story of Sisi was a pure delight, and I can’t wait for readers to meet her.

As a reader, there is no greater joy when reading a book than finding that you have become completely and totally invested in the characters about whom you are reading. That they have morphed from just words and the one-dimensional to become living, feeling beings. They have become like close friends. You care deeply about what happens to them, and you find yourself rooting for them more and more with each page. When the book is over…you actually miss them, like you would miss a close friend who has gone away.

Well, the same goes for the writer of fiction. As a writer, there is no greater joy than feeling like the process of writing about a character is also a process of falling completely under the spell of said character. Like you are pulled into your character’s world and feelings and emotions and thoughts. Your character comes alive, becomes troublingly (but in a good way) real. You find yourself thinking about her long after you’ve stepped away from the computer. You cry when you have to write something that is difficult for her. Your heart beats a bit faster when something exciting happens for her.

Allison Pataki is the author of the New York Times bestselling historical novel, The Traitor's Wife. She graduated Cum Laude from Yale University with a major in English and spent several years writing for TV and online news outlets. The daughter of former New York State Governor George E. Pataki, Allison was inspired to write her second novel, The Accidental Empress, by her family’s deep roots in the former Habsburg empire of Austria-Hungary. Allison is the co-founder of the nonprofit organization, ReConnect Hungary. Allison is a regular contributor to The Huffington Post and FoxNews.com, as well as a member of The Historical Novel Society. Allison lives in Chicago with her husband. To learn more and connect with Allison visit her website www.AllisonPataki.com or on Twitter.

Website | Goodreads |  Twitter | Facebook

The Accidental Empress

Book Blurb:

New York Times bestselling author Allison Pataki follows up on her critically-acclaimed debut novel, The Traitor’s Wife, with the little-known and tumultuous love story of “Sisi,” the Austro-Hungarian Empress and captivating wife of Emperor Franz Joseph.

The year is 1853, and the Habsburgs are Europe’s most powerful ruling family. With his empire stretching from Austria to Russia, from Germany to Italy, Emperor Franz Joseph is young, rich, and ready to marry.

Fifteen-year-old Elisabeth, “Sisi,” Duchess of Bavaria, travels to the Habsburg court with her older sister, who is betrothed to the young emperor. But shortly after her arrival at court, Sisi finds herself in an unexpected dilemma: she has inadvertently fallen for and won the heart of her sister’s groom. Intrigued by Sisi’s guileless charm and energetic spirit, not to mention her unrivaled beauty, Franz Joseph reneges on his earlier proposal and declares his intention to marry Sisi instead.

Plucked from obscurity and thrust onto the throne of Europe’s most treacherous imperial court, Sisi has no idea what struggles and dangers—and temptations—await her. Sisi upsets political and familial loyalties in her quest to win, and keep, the love of her emperor, her people, and of the world.

With Pataki’s rich period detail and cast of complex, compelling characters, The Accidental Empress offers a captivating glimpse into the bedrooms and staterooms of one of history’s most intriguing royal families, shedding new light on the glittering Habsburg Empire and its most mesmerizing, most beloved “Fairy Queen.”

Buy the Book: Allison's Website | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | RJ Julia

Also from Allison Pataki

The Traitor's Wife

My 4 Star Review of The Traitor's Wife

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | RJ Julia

 

Now what you have all been waiting for...the giveaway!!

This is a tour-wide giveaway and the rules are provided to me by the tour company.

Thanks to Allison Pataki and Simon & Schuster, one lucky winner will receive a $120 gift card to the e-book retailer of their choice (Amazon/B&N/iTunes)! Please enter via the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open internationally.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Tour Schedule: Check out the individual tour stops below or visit the tour page at Kismet Book Touring.

• Monday, February 9th - Reader Girls - Guest Post

• Tuesday, February 10th - Sassy Book Lovers - Excerpt

• Wednesday, February 11th - Fine Lines - Author Interview

• Thursday, February 12th - Reading Reality - Guest Post

• Friday, February 13th - Fiktshun - Author Interview

• Monday, February 16th - The Maiden's Court - Guest Post - YOU ARE HERE!!

• Tuesday, February 17th - Bewitched Bookworms - Author Interview

• Wednesday, February 18th - Fire and Ice - Guest Post

• Thursday, February 19th -  Bookish - Author Interview

• Friday, February 20th - Curling Up With A Good Book - Author Interview

• Monday, February 23rd - Books and Things - Guest Post

• Tuesday, February 24th - Books Glorious Books - Excerpt

• Wednesday, February 25th - Sara In Bookland - Author Interview

• Thursday, February 26th - Historical Fiction Obsession - Guest Post

• Friday, February 27th - Library of a Book Witch - Author Interview

 

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