Monday, November 26, 2012

Teaser Tuesday - The Samurai's Garden

The Samurai's Garden  
I'm about halfway through this lovely book and I'm enthralled. This love story is set in rural Japan when its feudal system ended and rogue samurai (ronin) terrorized villagers, destroying farms and taking lives. The unusual setting, time period (1870s), and strong characters have held my interest from the first page. Beautiful writing and good reading.


Genre: Historical Romance (Japan)
Author: Patricia Kiyono
Amazon Link:
The Samurai's Garden

Teaser:
He hadn't intended to do more than help her make her purchase, but the chance to get acquainted intrigued him. Working on her farm would allow him to pass the time while he decided on his life's course, as well as pay penance for the wrongs done by his former comrades.
[at 5% on my Kindle]

Goodreads Synopsis: 
Hiro Tanaka prepared for a life as a samurai warrior. But his world changed when Japan's feudal system was abolished by the Emperor. Now, he must find a new vocation. Disillusioned with fighting and violence, he travels alone, going north to the island of Hok-kaido. Many other samurai wander through the country and are known as ronin. Some have forsaken their honorable way to prey on the less fortunate.

Hanako Shimizu experienced first-hand the devastation caused by these disreputable wanderers. The previous winter, they raided her farm and killed her husband. Now, she needs to rebuild but has no money and no prospects -- except for the dubious intentions of the town merchant.

When Hiro, tired of his wandering, encounters Hanako in the market, arguing with the merchant, he poses as her late husband’s cousin then offers to help her on the farm in exchange for a place to stay. Working on the land, Hiro finally finds the peace he has been seeking. But the reappearance of the rogue ronin, led by an unscrupulous leader from Hiro’s past, forces him to take up his swords again. But now, the stakes are higher.

This time, he's fighting from the heart.


Teaser Tuesdays
 is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away -- you don't want to ruin the book for others)
  • Share the title and author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers

45 comments:

  1. interesting concept! Thanks for sharing!

    Trish - My Teaser

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  2. Intriguing. It's like a historical romance, set in Japan, making it fresh. :)

    Happy Reading

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    Replies
    1. I liked learning about that period of time and the way farmers lived, as well as enjoying the romance. Times were harsh.

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  3. Hm. I wonder what she was purchasing. Sounds like an interesting read. I love the cover!

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    1. She was purchasing livestock for her farm, Felicia. But the merchant didn't want to deal with a woman. Thanks for stopping!

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  4. It sounds interesting and has a pretty cover too.
    Here's My Teaser

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  5. This sounds great, and what a gorgeous cover - enjoy.

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  6. THANKS for the teaser...love the cover.

    My teaser is from The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton.

    My Teaser is below. Have a great Tuesday.

    Elizabeth
    Silver’s Reviews
    MyTT

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  7. Lovely cover, sounds really good.

    http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/11/teaser-tuesday_27.html

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  8. This one does sound tempting...I don't read a lot of historical novels anymore, but whenever I do, I am pulled in by the beautiful literary images of another time.

    Here's MY TUESDAY MEMES POST

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  9. Sounds very intriguing, I love the setting, it's definitely a unique time!

    Thanks for stopping by Bookmunchies (:

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  10. This sounds like a fabulous story. I've never read a novel set in Japan. The cover is beautiful. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

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  11. I bet the scenery descriptions are amazing. I see you recently reviewed Midwives. I just got the book after waiting for it for quite awhile and I'm so excited to read it in the coming months.

    PS Great blog name

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    Replies
    1. I hope you enjoy Midwives as much as I did.
      As for the blog name, you'll notice that's the name of the book I co-authored with Sandra Allen!

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  12. A desperado with a heart of gold? I'm all for it.

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    1. The hero is a true samurai and adheres to all their principals. He's a good guy, even though he was once a warrior.

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  13. Hmmm....that's an intriguing teaser!

    Thanks for visiting!

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  14. Doesn't sound like my kind of read (historical fiction is lower on my list), but I like the teaser!

    Thanks for visiting my Teaser Tuesday.

    Brandy

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  15. Like the concept, something new out there :)

    Thanks for visiting my teaser!

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  16. Not the sort of historical fiction/romance I normally read, but it does sound promising. Thanks for visiting!

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    Replies
    1. That's why I enjoyed it -- the setting and time period are unusual.

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  17. Not sure this would be a book I'd pick to read but the teaser is good and the cover is lovely. Thanks for sharing it!

    My teaser is from Ten Tiny Breaths:
    http://mrscaptkirk51.blogspot.com/2012/11/teaser-tuesday-nov-27.html

    ~alli

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  18. Interesting teaser! You don't often see historical romances set in this time and place!

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  19. Very intriguing! Thanks for stopping by The Coffee Pot. =)

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  20. This is something I would like to read. I don't think I've read this part of Japan's history. It would be great to read about it.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  21. Sounds good and a very pretty cover, too!

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  22. Love the cover, sounds like a great book. Great teaser too. Thanks for stopping by Turner’s Antics

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  23. I do love a good historical romance! Thanks for the TT, and also for dropping by Read@UTS!

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  24. this book sounds great and the cover is beautiful as well.. have to add it to my TBR..

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  25. Sounds like a pretty great love story! I'm going to add this one to my TBR pile. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

    Adria
    Breath of Life Reviews

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  26. Hi Sandra,

    I haven't read any books set in Japan and I do read historical romances from time to time, so this sounds like a great addition to my list.

    Your teaser lines are great on their own, but read in conjunction with the synopsis, I really do hope that Hiro does the right thing and isn't too influenced by 'The Ronin'.

    I checked out the author's site and see that this is first full length novel, although she seems to have plenty of new ideas bubbling away under the surface.

    A great find and thanks for sharing.

    Yvonne

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  27. Hmmm.. historical romance with exotic place for the setting, never read one like this, except in the desert.
    The cover is beautiful!
    thanks for commenting on my blog. :)

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  28. Lovely teaser. Thanks for sharing!

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  29. I LOVE Samurai stories, so I'm in for this. Thanks a lot for stepping by and sharing!

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  30. What wrongs were done, I wonder.

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  31. Ah Sandy, the books that you read always interest me! Great teaser! :D

    Thanks for stopping by The Readdicts Teaser Tuesday post earlier.

    Happy reading!

    Sarika @ The Readdicts

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  32. Interesting teaser! Sounds like a wonderful read. Enjoy!

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  33. Sounds really interesting!
    Thanks for visiting my blog and sharing!

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  34. Oh my! I'm so sorry I'm late getting here. I'm so honored by this feature! Thanks so much for the lovely comments, everyone. If you do read it, I hope you enjoy it. Sandy, thank you so much for the wonderful reviews. You're an angel!

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  35. I am intrigued and want to know what wrongs he is speaking about. Here is the link to my Tuesday Teaser:

    http://meandu-justthinking.blogspot.ca/2012/12/teaser-tuesday-december-4-2012.html

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