From Across the Room by Gina Mulligan #bookreview #tarheelreader #thrfromacross @ginalmulligan #fromacrosstheroom @hfvbt #blogtour #HFVBTBlogTours #giveaway

Happy Thursday and welcome to my stop on the blog tour for From Across the Room by Gina Mulligan, hosted by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours! I have a review and giveaway for you today, so make sure to read all the way to the bottom.

My Thoughts:

I read and loved Gina Mulligan’s other novel, Remember the Ladies, about the women’s suffrage movement, so I was excited to return to her writing with From Across the Room. 

Thomas Gladwell is a writer who has traveled to California from his home in Boston in order to finish his novel when he bumps into (literally) Miss Mary Harting, from a well-to-do railroad-owning family. Thomas’ desire to write is cast aside because he falls in love; however, the Harting family is not on board with the match because a writer simply could not be worthy. 

There is a bit of intrigue as Thomas uncovers some information that could have big and lasting repercussions. I have to mention, Thomas’ mentor is none other than Henry James. It is through letters that Thomas and Mary continue their forbidden courtship. Will love win out over family and rules of social class?

Set during the Gilded Age, the sense of time and place immediately was brought to life in From Across the Room. The epistolary style was achieved in a natural way with a bird’s-eye-view on Mary and Thomas. The intrigue added some fun and flair and definitely kept up the tension. 

Overall, I found From Across the Room to be delightful and charming with characters I cherished and a compelling storyline. 

Thank you to Amy Bruno of HFVBT for the invitation to read this novel, and to the author for the beautiful signed copy. All opinions are my own. 

From Across the Room by Gina L. Mulligan

Self-indulgent young writer Thomas Gadwell has traveled from Boston to the new Hotel Del Coronado in California to at last finish his novel when he meets the clever and headstrong Miss Mary Harting. At once Thomas tosses aside his literary pursuits for a charmed summer of romance that ends with the happy couple making future plans. However, Mary Harting is the only unmarried daughter of notorious railroad tycoon Charles Harting, and he has no intention of letting a useless wordsmith derail his own critical plans for Mary. The couple must continue a clandestine courtship, but Thomas’ ingenuity has unexpected repercussions and he unwittingly uncovers a sinister plot of deception, greed, and blackmail. Guided by mentor Henry James, to win Mary, Thomas must step from the pages of the world he creates to explore his own insecurities, battle against worldly corruption, and expose family demons.

Told through a series of clever, heartfelt, and engaging letters, From Across the Room is a voyeuristic escapade that delights at every twist. Reflecting back to a time when letters were saved in the imagination of the reader, the lost art of letter writing brings to life the opulent Gilded Age and unfolds the universal passions of love, ambition, and the resilient bonds of family.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | Chapters | IndieBound

Praise for From Across the Room

About the Author

Gina L. Mulligan is a veteran freelance journalist for numerous national magazines and the author of the award-winning novel, REMEMBER THE LADIES and FROM ACROSS THE ROOM. After her own diagnosis, Gina founded Girls Love Mail, a charity that collects handwritten letters of encouragement for women with breast cancer. She was honored for her charitable work on the nationally syndicated television talk show The Steve Harvey Show, People.com, and TODAY.com.

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Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, November 26
Review at Creating Herstory
Excerpt at Spellbound by History

Tuesday, November 27
Review at Pursuing Stacie

Wednesday, November 28
Review at Jathan & Heather

Thursday, November 29
Review at Tar Heel Reader
Review at Svetlana’s Reads and Views

Friday, November 30
Review at A Holland Reads

Saturday, December 1
Review & Guest Post at Clarissa Reads it All

Monday, December 3
Review at Jorie Loves a Story
Review at A Chick Who Reads

Wednesday, December 5
Interview at Passages to the Past

Thursday, December 6
Review at Peppermint Ph.D.

Friday, December 7
Interview at Jorie Loves a Story

Monday, December 10
Guest Post at Let Them Read Books

Tuesday, December 11
Review at Passages to the Past

Wednesday, December 12
Review at Laura’s Interests

Friday, December 14
Review at 100 Pages a Day

Monday, December 17
Review & Excerpt at Locks, Hooks and Books

Tuesday, December 18
Feature at Broken Teepee

Wednesday, December 19
Review & Excerpt at The Book Junkie Reads

Thursday, December 20
Review at Bri’s Book Nook

Friday, December 21
Review at The Book Mind
Guest Post and Excerpt at Confessions of an Avid Reader

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away 3 copies of From Across the Room & Stationary! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on December 21st. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

From Across the Room

Have you read From Across the Room, or is it on your TBR? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR