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The only thing better than a read-a-thon is when it's for a great cause!

Teaching me to be a reader is one of the most precious gifts my parents ever gave me. But not everyone in the world is so lucky to have the opportunity to learn how to read. That's why I'm an ambassador for Chapters for Change, an organization dedicated to help improve literacy rates in Cambodia.

July 1st kicks off our Read-A-Thon - bringing a fun way to not only read, but help give others the gift of reading.

The registration is $25 (AUD which is about $17 USD) and affords one child a library membership. Sponsor fees and registration fees all go toward helping improve literacy in Cambodia. A little really goes such a long way.

If you'd like to register to join our fun Read-A-Thon, sign up at the Chapters for Change website:

If you'd like to sponsor me, you can pledge here:

Thank you <3

Warning: Sweet story ahead...

Just a little over 9 years ago when my debut novel was published, a Scottish historical romance titled Deception of a Highlander, my mom proudly displaying all my bookmarks at her job at the time working in the post office for a local college. Even though historical romance isn't her genre, she's read EVERY SINGLE book I've ever written - including all my romances - and has continued to be immensely proud of my writing.

When we went to Target together once, we saw The Librarian Spy on the shelves and my mom asked if it was OK if she embarrassed me. I said yes, not knowing what she would do. She held up my book and said to every person passing, "This is my daughter and she wrote this book" I confess, it was a smidge embarrassing, but looking back on that moment now I get choked up because my mom is an introvert and you don't do something like that as an introvert unless you are soul-bursting proud.

Through the years, she's continued to be my biggest cheerleader, telling people about my books and how proud she is of me, and reading through each book when it's in that final phase before it goes to print.

Two years ago when I was researching The Keeper of Hidden Books, she joined me in Warsaw for two weeks, accompanying me on tours and museums, learning right along with me. When the book came out, I dedicated it to her - not because she was such an integral part of that book, but because she's been such an integral part of EVERY book.

I know it's not Mother's Day yet, but I never stop being grateful for my beautiful mother and the nonstop show of her love and support and wanted to celebrate her with this post. <3

Where are my early reviewers at? ;)

My newest historical fiction, The Booklover's Library is officially up on NetGalley for your requesting pleasure:

If you haven't heard about The Booklover's Library yet, here's some info:
Nottingham, England, 1939:
The heartbreak of sending her daughter away at the onset of war is more than widow Emma Taylor can bear. Though her new job at the Booklover’s Library keeps her busy with disappearing books and a quirky slew of regulars, can she overcome her painful past to once more turn to books for comfort?

What you can expect from this story:
- The loving bond between mother and child
- Heartwarming friendships
- An adorable little dog named Tubby (he stays safe!)
- Women doing their bit for the war effort
- A cameo from The Last Bookshop in London
- Characters you’ll love
- Books, books, and more books

Also, the cover just released last week and I'm OBSESSED! Check it out here:
/book/show/1...

Thank you for requesting! <3

With 2023 drawing to a close, I am so immensely grateful to the many readers who have taken time of our their busy lives to read my books, leave reviews, and recommend my books to friends and family, as well as for all the votes The Keeper of Hidden Books received for the Readers Choice Awards. It's because of you and all your support that I'm able to keep writing the books.

I want to send you all my love this holiday season and wishes for an amazing 2024! Here's to a year of prosperity, love, happiness, and a lot of really wonderful books!

xoxo,
Madeline

Psst…I wrote a fun Christmas short story for Grace and the characters from The Last Bookshop in London.

This is a thank you gift to my amazing readers whose love and support has meant to much to me. The gorgeous pics you take and share of my books, the reviews you’ve left, the people you recommend my books to, the emails you take the time to send to me �� they all mean more to me than I could ever say.

I’ll be sending out a newsletter this Wednesday with the story, so if you haven’t signed up for my newsletter, please make sure you do to receive your special holiday treat. 🎁

Set in 1942, this special Christmas short includes a gift list for all of Grace’s friends as well as a fun Christmas program hosted at Primrose Hill Books.

Enjoy �� and, again, thank you!!! ��

Newsletter sign up here:

Eeeee!!! I'm SO excited to share the gorgeous cover of The Keeper of Hidden Books! You can see it on my website:


This cover represents a very important scene in the book, which makes me love it all the more! A few other things I really love about this cover:

- The arm band of the Polish Home Army - worn during the Warsaw Uprising. And on that note, The Keeper of Hidden Books actually is releasing on the anniversary of the start of the Warsaw Uprising - August 1st.

- That golden ray of sunshine coming in from the right. Those years of Nazi occupation in Poland were very dark. I tried to infuse hope and love and joy amid so much heartache and the beautiful addition of that light streaming in feels so on point for the mood of the book.

- The books! As with all my historical fiction, books play such a vital role in the plot. In this particular book, there will not only be books and authors mentioned, but I also have Zofia and her friends having a secret book club. Having her pictured here hiding a book behind her and with those books at her side is so spot on for the story.

I could go on forever about this cover, but I'll leave it at that for now LOL I hope everyone enjoys the cover as well and I hope you all love the book! It came from my heart (and a ton of research too LOL) :)

PS If you're looking for it on NetGalley, it's not there yet as I'm still working through edits. I'll be posting here on the blog when it's available.

Happy New Year!

The Librarian Spy doesn't come out until the end of July, but you could win a copy way before then with this fabulous ŷ������ Giveaway my fabulous publisher is putting on.

25 copies are up for grabs - are you entered yet?

If not, check it out here: /giveaway/sh...

PS I am SO, SO excited for this book to come out into the world!!! I hope everyone enjoys it

For this weekend only, The Last Bookshop in London is only $6.99 for the ebook version and see what all the buzz is about!

In the harrowing times of the Blitz in London during WWII, a woman discovers the dazzling city she’s spent a lifetime dreaming of has been dulled by the threat of war. Though not much of a reader, she finds herself employed at a small bookshop. Through blackouts, rations and bombs, she turns to an unlikely source for comfort: the very books she sells. This is the story of one woman’s unexpected love of reading and the impact of how one small, surviving bookshop can alter the hearts and lives of all of London.

My fabulous publisher has listed 25 print copies of The Last Bookshop in London in a ŷ������ Giveaway!

Set during the Blitz of London during WWII, The Last Bookshop in London is the story of one woman’s unexpected love of reading and the impact of how one small, surviving bookshop can alter the hearts and lives of all of London.

Enter to win here:
/giveaway/sh...

Good luck!

I'm so excited to share the LEILA'S LEGACY has been selected as one of Barnes & Nobel's Top Indie Favorites!!!

Check it out here:

And make sure you add it to your Want to Read:
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