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Hi Friends,
The audiobook version of IRISH EYES is now available for pre-order! Buy it on Apple, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Google, Libro.fm and Spotify.
Narrated by Galway-born Jade Yourell, IRISH EYES will release this March 31st. Jade’s work is absolutely amazing! I can’t imagine an artist better suited to voice my heroine, Rose O’Neill.
As always, you can get IRISH EYES and its sequel, STARDUST in print and ebook on Amazon and everywhere books are sold.
Until next time…
Hope
UPDATE 1/3/26: Congratulations to Keith G, winner of an author signed copy of THE VERSAILLES FORMULA by Nancy Bilyeau!
Seasons Greetings Friends,
I hope everyone who celebrates is enjoying a fabulous winter holiday season. My personal highlights so far: the Winter Village at Bryant Park, the Holly Jolly Holiday Bar, a holiday pop-up in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, and The Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. Making the latter extra-special, the 2025 show, titled “Celebrating 100 years of Sisterhood,” marks the 100th anniversary of this legendary, all-female precision dance troupe. More on that in my next History With Hope newsletter.
Further to sisterhood, I am so lucky to have shared a lovely Christmas lunch at historic Pete’s Tavern in Irving Place with fellow historical fiction authors Kate Braithwaite and Nancy Bilyeau. Nancy’s latest historical mystery novel, The Versailles Formula is the prize for my December book giveaway. Read on for details!
THE VERSAILLES FORMULA follows intrepid Georgian era art sleuth, Genvieve Planché, from London to Paris where she must track down a rare pigment of pure blue coveted by royalty, chemists and spies, all whilst fending off feelings for a handsome new romantic interest.
I’ll choose one winner (U.S. residents, only) from among my History With Hope and Author newsletter lists (existing + new sign-ups). The contest closes at the final stroke of midnight on December 31st. If you’re not already subscribed to one or both of these free newsletters, you can fix that here!
First-time subscribers to the author newsletter also receive a free ebook: my Victorian “My Fair Lady” with-a-twist historical romance, TEMPTING.
Books make great holiday gifts. In addition to my recent historical fiction releases, IRISH EYES and STARDUST, I have four Christmas romances on offer: IT’S A WONDERFULLY SEXY LIFE, TWELVE NIGHTS, TOMORROW’S DESTINY, and A CINDERELLA CHRISTMAS CAROL. Enjoy these timeless titles as ebooks and audiobooks.
Browse my entire catalogue here.
Want me to give a talk to your book club or other group, either in-person or via Zoom?
Wishing you and yours a joyous, peaceful and safe holiday!
You asked, we delivered! IRISH EYES and STARDUST will release as audio books from Tantor Media. Release date TBA here and in my monthly newsletter.
And for those of you who prefer reading in print and/or ebook format, both books are available wherever books are sold, including:
Join me on Substack where I write History With Hope.
Want me to speak to your book club or other group?
Happy Summer ((Reading))!
Hope
Hi History Lovers,
I’m thrilled to announce, unveil, and altogether shout from the rooftops that I have a cover for my new #histfic novel, STARDUST and boy oh boy is she a beauty.
But there’s m-o-r-e. Now through release, February 20th, you can preorder the Kindle edition of STARDUST for just 99 cents!
The sequel to IRISH EYES, STARDUST is the second book in my American Songbook series for Joffe Books and follows Rose’s granddaughter, Daisy to Paris where she apprentices with the legendary fashion designer, Coco Chanel.
1938, Paris.
War is looming and 18-year-old Daisy Blakely arrives in Paris as apprentice to the renowned fashion designer Coco Chanel. Enchanted by the beauty and glamour of the City of Light, Daisy throws herself into the whirlwind of couture and culture. When she meets charming and enigmatic Jean-Claude Jacob, a Jewish doctor, an instant connection cements Daisy’s happiness.
Then everything changes when the Germans march into the city. Daisy and Jean-Claude join the Resistance. But her world comes crashing down when Jean-Claude is taken by the Gestapo. Learning to live with her loss, Daisy’s life becomes one of secrets and danger as she works tirelessly to undermine the Nazi regime.
But the arrival of German soldier Fritz causes Daisy to question everything she thought she knew about life, and love, as she’s drawn to a man tied to the enemy she has vowed to defeat.
For a limited time, buy the STARDUST ebook on Kindle for just 99 cents.
Buy IRISH EYES in ebook and trade paperback wherever books are sold.
The wait is over! IRISH EYES, my historical saga set in turn-of-the-century New York City, is for sale wherever books are sold. I’ve received a VERY special SURPRISE Release Day prezzie — a gorgeous review from bestselling author, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York!
“WELL DONE TO HOPE C. TARR FOR A MAGICAL JOURNEY, SO GRUELLING, SO FULL OF OPTIMISTIC BELIEF, IN THE HOPE OF A BETTER FUTURE. I LOVED ROSE AND HOW SHE FOUGHT FOR HER OWN STRENGTH WITHIN HERSELF.” – Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York
Find Irish Eyes at any of these brick-and-mortar and online booksellers:
Book Culture – signed copies avail in-store
The Corner Bookstore – signed copies avail in-store
Thunder Road Books – signed copies avail in-store
Join me in celebrating later tonight at Thunder Road Books, an awesome indie bookstore in quaint Spring Lake, New Jersey. As part of Spring Lake’s Holiday Shopping Soiree, from 5-7pm, I’ll sign copies of Irish Eyes and raffle off a gift basket of tasty NYC-themed treats to one lucky winner. Cocktails, mocktails, snacks — we are going to have THE A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E BEST TIME. Join us!
Speaking of winners, congrats to the winners of my Irish Eyes Shelf-Awareness Giveaway sponsored by AuthorBuzz: Laurie J., Susan B., Beth T., Melissa M., Mary G. and Lizz at Curiouser Books. Your copies of Irish Eyes are en route in plenty of time for the holidays.
Also, darling historical fiction author Finola Austin and I are giving away a signed copy of Irish Eyes and Finola’s brilliant historical novel, Bronte’s Mistress to one lucky winner. If you haven’t already done so, pop over to Finola’s site, The Secret Victorianist, and enter to win. Bonus: read our fun and (hopefully) informative interview on writing the historical novel.
xo Hope