This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Kimberlee J Benart for Readers' Favorite
Song at Dawn: 1150 in Provence (The Troubadours Quartet) Book 1 is a historical fiction novel, the first in a four-part series, by Jean Gill. Set against the background of political and religious power struggles in twelfth-century France, it follows the adventures of a sixteen-year-old young noblewoman trained as a troubadour, who fakes her own death to flee an abusive home. Adopting the “stage name” Estela de Matin, she ends up by the roadside in a muddy servant’s dress, carrying only her instrument and accompanied by a large white dog, just as Aliénor (Eleanor), Duchess of Aquitaine and Queen of France, happens to ride by. Hearing Estela sing, the Queen invites Estela to join her retinue and continue her training as a troubadour, beginning an action-packed adventure of mystery, betrayal, political intrigue, murder, jealousy, and romance.
If you like historical fiction with a full cast of characters who don’t always turn out to be what they seem, who have hidden agendas, and show no hesitation at deception, murder, or torture to get their rivals out of their way, you’ll like Song at Dawn. Gill writes in an engaging style that moves along at a good pace and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I found Estela a sympathetic character, intelligent, talented, and courageous; though I could have done without a particular visit to the stable. That said, I found myself eager to read the next books in the series, to see what happens in the years ahead to Estela and to those who have become important in her life.
