Lisa Loves Literature: Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway - The Architect of Song by AG Howard

Book info:

Title: THE ARCHITECT OF SONG

Author: A.G. Howard

Pub. Date: August 15, 2016

Publisher: A.G. Howard

Pages: 425

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Find it: Amazon, Goodreads

A lady imprisoned by deafness, an architect imprisoned by his past, and a ghost imprisoned within the petals of a flower - intertwine in this love story that transcends life and death.

For most of her life, nineteen-year-old Juliet Emerline has subsisted – isolated by deafness – making hats in the solitude of her home. Now, she’s at risk to lose her sanctuary to Lord Nicolas Thornton, a twenty-seven-year-old mysterious and eccentric architect with designs on her humble estate. When she secretly witnesses him raging beside a grave, Juliet investigates, finding the name “Hawk” on the headstone and an unusual flower at the base. The moment Juliet touches the petals, a young English nobleman appears in ghostly form, singing a song only her deaf ears can hear. The ghost remembers nothing of his identity or death, other than the one name that haunts his afterlife: Thornton.

To avenge her ghostly companion and save her estate, Juliet pushes aside her fear of society and travels to Lord Thornton’s secluded holiday resort, posing as a hat maker in one of his boutiques. There, she finds herself questioning who to trust: the architect of flesh and bones who can relate to her through romantic gestures, heartfelt notes, and sensual touches … or the specter who serenades her with beautiful songs and ardent words, touching her mind and soul like no other man ever can. As sinister truths behind Lord Thornton’s interest in her estate and his tie to Hawk come to light, Juliet is lured into a web of secrets. But it’s too late for escape, and the tragic love taking seed in her heart will alter her silent world forever.

International and NYT bestselling author, A.G. Howard, brings her darkly magical and visual/visceral storytelling to Victorian England. The Architect of Song is the first installment in her lush and romantic Haunted Hearts Legacy series, a four book gothic saga following the generations of one family as - haunted by both literal and figurative ghosts - they search for self-acceptance, love, and happiness.

New Adult: Recommended for ages 17+.

Book trailer:

My Review:
I don't know exactly where to begin, I just loved this book so much! Once again Howard has created a vivid, wonderfully complex world that I lost myself in right away. The characters were intriguing, and even with the seriousness of the story and mystery, you still get some humorous dialogue, something that is a big plus in a story for me! Juliet is a strong female character for the time period the story takes place in. She is able to get by even with being deaf, although she does need the help of her uncle. And soon, once she meets Hawke, her ghost, he also becomes her ears, and what is special about him being her ears is that she can actually hear him. He can hear her when she thinks, so she is able to talk to him and listen to him without drawing unwanted attention from the world around her. But who Hawke is and how he is connected to Juliet, as well as the things happening in her world, is a mystery with twists and turns that will keep you turning pages and unable to put the book down. Every time it seems that maybe there is an answer to what is behind all the intrigue and tragedies in the past, something else comes to light that either throws that all out the window or puts another piece into the puzzle's final image. I fell in love with Hawke, but knowing he is a ghost, and how much the author made sure we knew that there was probably not any way to bring him back, there was always that heartache as the romance developed. And then Lord Thornton. His character goes from one you don't like, to one who might be there in a manner that could only be helpful to Juliet, to even a possible romantic interest, one of true love, then back to being suspicious. In the end all of it tied up perfectly, and I was extremely satisfied with the outcome. When I went to mark the book read on Goodreads, I was extremely pleased to also note that this is a series, and that we will get to return to this world in some other aspect, even if not with this exact couple's story.

About A.G. Howard:

A.G. Howard was inspired to write SPLINTERED while working at a school library. She always wondered what would've happened had the subtle creepiness of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland taken center stage, and she hopes her darker and funkier tribute to Carroll will inspire readers to seek out the stories that won her heart as a child.

When she's not writing, A.G.'s pastimes are reading, rollerblading, gardening, and family vacations which often include impromptu side trips to 18th century graveyards or condemned schoolhouses to appease her overactive muse.

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All tour prizes (INTL):

2 - signed The Architect of Song paperbacks

3 - The Architect of Song e-books

1 - heart locket necklace

1 - Architect of Song poster

1 - faux leather journal

1 - 5X7 musical print

3 - The Architect of Song swag packs

1 – LitCube surprise box