I’m welcoming The Earl’s Bride by Fenella J Miller to the blog with a fab post about Regency Bath #blogtour #historicalromance #RegencyEngland Life in Regency Bath: Fashion, Society, and the Art of Being Seen In the early decades of the nineteenth century, the elegant city of Bath became one of the most fashionable destinations in Britain. During the period now known as the Regency (roughly 1811–1820), when George IV ruled as Prince Regent for his incapacitated father George III, Bath flourished as a hub of health, leisure, and above all society. Visitors arrived not merely to take the waters but to see and be seen in one of the most vibrant social theatres of the age. Bath’s distinctive honey-coloured Georgian architecture created a perfect stage for Regency society. Elegant terraces such as the Royal Crescent and the circular grandeur of The Circus reflected the city’s carefully designed sense of order and beauty. Wide streets and sweeping crescents allowed promenading visitors to display their fashionable attire while admiring the architecture and the company. Many visitors stayed for the “season,” renting townhouses or lodging houses for weeks or months at a time. London’s elite often travelled to Bath during quieter periods of the capital’s social calendar, bringing with them the latest fashions, gossip, and ambitions. Yet Bath was not reserved exclusively for the aristocracy. Wealthy merchants, naval officers on leave, widows with modest fortunes, and families hoping to introduce daughters into society also flocked to the city. Bath offered something unique: a social environment where rank mattered, but introductions and reputation could shape one’s fortunes just as strongly as birth. The Healing Waters Bath’s popularity originally grew from its natural hot springs, known since Roman times. By the Regency period, visiting the baths was still considered an important health practice. The famous Roman Baths remained a central attraction, though the ritual of “taking the waters” had evolved into a highly social activity. Visitors drank mineral water in the elegant Pump Room each morning, often accompanied by live music. The water itself had a strong mineral taste—many found it unpleasant—but its supposed curative powers for ailments ranging from gout to digestive troubles made it widely popular. The morning ritual also provided an ideal opportunity for polite conversation and discreet observation. Friendships were formed, introductions arranged, and reputations quietly assessed over glasses of warm mineral water. Rules of Society Regency Bath society operated under a complex web of etiquette. Social events such as balls, card parties, concerts, and public breakfasts structured the daily lives of visitors. The city’s social life was historically overseen by the Master of Ceremonies, a role once famously held by Richard ‘Beau’ Nash, whose influence helped establish the rules governing behaviour and introductions. By the Regency period, these conventions were deeply embedded in Bath’s culture. Strangers could not simply approach one another at social events; proper introductions were essential. A person’s reputation could determine whether they were welcomed into fashionable gatherings or quietly excluded. The grand centre of this social world was the Assembly Rooms, where elegant balls and concerts brought together hundreds of guests. These glittering events allowed young people to dance, families to negotiate advantageous marriages, and ambitious visitors to cultivate connections. Leisure and Entertainment Beyond balls and social calls, Bath offered a wide variety of amusements. Visitors attended theatre performances at the Theatre Royal Bath, one of the most respected provincial theatres in Britain. Concerts, lectures, circulating libraries, and pleasure gardens ensured that boredom was rarely a concern. Promenading remained a daily pastime. In the afternoons, fashionable visitors would stroll along Great Pulteney Street or gather in the public gardens to exchange news and admire the latest styles. Shopping was also an important activity. Milliners, dressmakers, and jewellers catered to the city’s fashionable clientele, ensuring that visitors could maintain the appearance required for Bath’s competitive social stage. Bath in Literature and Legacy Bath’s lively society and carefully structured etiquette made it an ideal setting for fiction. The city appears prominently in the works of Jane Austen, particularly in the novels Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. Austen herself lived in Bath for several years and observed its social rituals closely. Through her writing—and through the preserved beauty of the city itself—we still glimpse the world of Regency Bath: a place where health cures mingled with ambition, romance blossomed in crowded ballrooms, and reputation could change with a single introduction. Today, walking through Bath’s sweeping crescents and elegant streets, it is still possible to imagine the rustle of silk gowns, the rhythm of a quadrille, and the quiet calculations of those seeking their place in one of Britain’s most fashionable Regency playgrounds. Here’s the blurb Bath, 1810. Lord James Brotherton, the charismatic Earl of Avon, is wealthy, intelligent—and marked for death. His own cousin believes him an imposter and has enlisted corrupt lawyers and treacherous servants to remove him permanently. Enter Sofia Brotherton. Unconventional, outspoken, and entirely irresistible, Sofia turns James’s ordered world upside down. He falls for her instantly. She follows a week later. As danger closes in, their growing attraction becomes both a refuge and a risk. With enemies plotting murder and passions running high, James and Sofia must fight for love—and survival. A witty, action-packed Regency romance filled with intrigue, danger, and deliciously sensuous tension. Purchase Link  https://mybook.to/Earlsbride1 Meet the author Fenella J. Miller is a bestselling historical fiction author, known for her emotionally rich World War II family sagas, sweeping Regency romances, and Jane Austen-inspired variations. With over 100 novels published, she continues to captivate readers who love strong heroines, resilient communities, and heartfelt historical storytelling. Fenella currently writes for Boldwood Books, where she has launched several beloved WWII series, including: •          The Goodwill House series, beginning with The War Girls at Goodwill House •          The Army Girls series, starting with Army Girls – Reporting for Duty •          The Harbour House series, introduced with Wartime Arrivals at Harbour House She is also the author of the popular six-book Regency romance series, The Duke’s Alliance, which begins with A Suitable Bride. Her novels are praised for their authentic period detail, compelling characters, and uplifting themes of courage and love during turbulent times. Born on the Isle of Man to a Yorkshire father and a mother of Anglo-Indian descent, Fenella brings depth and diversity to her storytelling. She previously worked as a nanny, chef, hotelier, and teacher—experiences that inspire her vivid, grounded characters. Now writing full-time, Fenella lives in a peaceful village in Essex with her British Shorthair cat. She enjoys a close relationship with her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson, and continues to share powerful stories of women facing challenges with strength and hope. Social Media Links –  Fenella J Miller facebook   fenellajmiller.co.uk  website. Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming The Earl’s Bride by Fenella J Miller to the blog with a fab post about Regency Bath #blogtour #historicalromance #RegencyEngland Blog Tour · Boldwood Books · Historical Romance · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m welcoming Ancestral Virgins by Fiona J MacKintosh to the blog, with a fab guest post #historicalfiction #blogtour #nonfiction Blog Tour · Family History · historical fiction · history · Rachel’s Random Resources On This Day In History 1066 – Harald Hardrada, king of Norway, arrives near York, England to advance his claims to be England’s king Action and adventure · Anglo-Saxon · history · M J Porter · Medieval · Mercia · Non-fiction · William The Conqueror I’m excited to share an excerpt from RJ Verity’s new historical fiction novel, Poole of Honour #PooleOfHonour #ThePooleLegacy #HistoricalFiction #LGBTQHistoricalFiction #RJVerity #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub  Blog Tour · Coming Of Age · Rachel’s Random Resources

The Battle of Stamford Bridge On this day in history, the battle that many say brought the Viking Age to an end (in England at least) was fought between two Harolds/Haralds not far from York. SPOILERS. The English Harold won, the Norwegian Harald lost his life, and you can read all about it in the new anthology available NOW. (Read on to find out about the previous battle of Gate Fulford and to find out who Harald Hardrada was. https://books.vikingauthors.com/1066 What was the battle of Gate Fulford, or Fulford Gate? The battle took place on 20th September 1066, between the Norwegian forces led by Harald Hardrada and the English forces commanded by the two brother earls, and was the first of three battles in 1066, which eventually ended Saxon England, and brought about the beginning of the Norman era (Boo). Having arrived near York two days earlier, Harald Hardrada had his first encounter with the forces of the English, led by two young earls, Morcar and Edwin (Eadwine) of the House of Mercia, at Gate Fulford. Morcar was earl of Northumbria, replacing the disgraced Tostig Godwineson (who had enticed Hardrada to England), while Edwin was the earl of Mercia, succeeding to the position after the death of his father Ælfgar, who’d held Mercia after his father Leofric. (Fans of the Earls of Mercia series will so far have only encountered Morcar and Eadwine as children). Their youth, their inexperience, and the perceived defeat in this terrible battle are all that people know about Edwin and Morcar. What’s so often overlooked is that they marched into battle determined to counter the might of what many believe was the last great Viking warrior, and they were also the king’s brothers by marriage; their sister now married to Harold Godwineson. They also survived the battle and probably fought at Stamford Bridge and Hastings. So, who was Harald Hardrada? Hardrada was king of Norway, half-brother to St Olaf, who was killed at the battle of Stiklestad in 1030 by forces loyal to King Cnut, who’d claimed Norway as part of his determination to rule much of Scandinavia. Harald was forced to flee and spent many years fighting in the Varangian guard until he decided to advance his claims to the kingship once more (in 1045), initially forging an alliance with Sweyn of Denmark (nephew of King Cnut) until allying with King Magnus of Norway, who was his nephew, and somewhat conveniently, died only the next year, making Harald the sole king of Norway. (You will find some of this story told in my Earls of Mercia series, and also in Lady Estrid, the story of Sweyn of Denmark’s mother). Why did he invade England in 1066? It is from the alliance with King Magnus that Harald Hardrada exerted his right to rule England, as Magnus stated he had a claim, having earlier agreed it with King Harthacnut of England (Cnut’s son), that he (Magnus) would rule England after Harthacnut’s death and equally that Harthacnut would rule Norway after Magnus’ death. Harald adopted the claim as he did the kingdom of Norway after Magnus’ death. Admittedly, the intervention of the disgruntled Tostig Godwineson probably also encouraged him. (To read about Harald’s life, check out JC Duncan’s fab five-part series covering his life). And so, the man lauded as the last great Viking made his way to England, and on this day, he first encountered the English resistance. And while most say the brother earls were defeated, I wonder if the narrative should be a little different. After all, their brother by marriage, their king, was already on his way north to counter the threat. Did they do what needed to be done? Did they temporarily halt the Norwegian invasion and buy Harald time to bring his warriors to the battle… The Stamford Bridge Anthology Thirteen writers. One battle. The same afternoon, told from both sides of the bridge. Giles Kristian · Matthew Harffy · Angus Donald · Tim Hodkinson · Peter Gibbons · MJ Porter · Justin Hill · Theodore Brun · Eric Schumacher · Will Dowling · M. Thomas Kingsley · Mark Oxbrow · Åsli & Bakkejord On 25 September 1066, a Norwegian army lay resting on both banks of the Derwent, seven miles from York. They had beaten one English army five days earlier and taken the city’s surrender, and the fighting was done. Most of them had left their mail at the ships. They were not expecting Harold Godwinson. The battle that followed ended the Viking age in England. Three weeks later it helped decide a second one, on a hill near Hastings, that everyone remembers instead. A king who has spent his life outrunning the end of an age. A skald asked to praise a man he no longer believes in. A priest tends the wounded on the eve of a battle nobody knows is coming. A lone axeman on the bridge, and the Englishman in the water beneath him. Afterwards, a farmer walks the field looking for his son, and twenty years later an old earl sits in a Norman prison, still deciding what to tell his gaoler. The man who holds the bridge in one story is watched from the water in another. Thirteen stories, one day. Over 100,000 words of Viking historical fiction, published on the 960th anniversary of the battle. Now available Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming Ancestral Virgins by Fiona J MacKintosh to the blog, with a fab guest post #historicalfiction #blogtour #nonfiction Blog Tour · Family History · historical fiction · history · Rachel’s Random Resources On This Day In History 1066 – Harald Hardrada, king of Norway, arrives near York, England to advance his claims to be England’s king Action and adventure · Anglo-Saxon · history · M J Porter · Medieval · Mercia · Non-fiction · William The Conqueror I’m excited to share an excerpt from RJ Verity’s new historical fiction novel, Poole of Honour #PooleOfHonour #ThePooleLegacy #HistoricalFiction #LGBTQHistoricalFiction #RJVerity #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub  Blog Tour · Coming Of Age · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m reviewing The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder (The Crooked Medium 1) by Stephen Cox #blogtour #bookreview #historicalmystery Blog Tour · book review · historical fiction · Historical Mystery · murder mystery · Mystery · Rachel’s Random Resources

I’m welcoming Ancestral Virgins by Fiona J MacKintosh to the blog, with a fab guest post #historicalfiction #blogtour #nonfiction Why Write about the Past?  Historical fiction has been around as long as there have been novels. In 1859, Charles Dickens published The Tale of Two Cities, which was set during the French Revolution. Thackeray’s Vanity Fair came out in 1849, 34 years after the historic events it portrayed including the Battle of Waterloo. And Walter Scott went even further back in his 1819 novel Ivanhoe to the reign of Richard the Lionheart in 12th century England.   My recently published historical novel, Ancestral Virgins, is set in Britain a little over a century ago in the period before, during, and after the Great War. It was a time – like now – when new technologies were overturning the old realities at a rapid pace as the telephone, the car, and the airplane came into regular use. In one scene in the novel, the guests at a dinner party in a Sussex manor house rush outside to look up at the night sky, trying to spot a Zeppelin on a test flight above southern England.  “Someone shouted ‘Look!’ and a long slim shadow moved out from behind a cloud and stole very slowly across the open sky, sliding out of sight behind another cloud. ‘How can there be people up there in that thing?’ Tessa whispered.” Today, most of us see planes crisscrossing the sky every day, but for those people in 1914, who would never before have seen anything up there but birds, the sight of that metal tube bearing humans high above the earth must have been both amazing and terrifying.  Capturing that lost sense of newness about things we now take for granted is one reason why I write historical fiction.  Another reason is that as the Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana famously said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” History can be reexamined just as legitimately by the novelist as by the non-fiction writer, because fiction can take us deep into the minds and emotions of people who lived through real events of the past.  To take an example from Ancestral Virgins, George Ingham, a young British explosives expert working for the de Beers diamond company in South Africa, finds himself trapped in Kimberley during its long siege by the Boers. Food supplies run short, and soon the townspeople are barely getting by on “mealie pap, horseflesh, and the occasional vegetable from the de Beers kitchen garden.” Ingham and the woman with whom he’s in love lie awake at nights talking about the meals that they’re craving.  “Ingham described the Sunday dinners his mother made on special occasions – roast beef, a little pink, with roasted potatoes, carrots, and parsnips in parsley and gravy, with warm yeasty bread crowned with knobs of melting butter. In the moonlight, he could see a gleam of saliva at the corner of Ottilie’s mouth.”   The starvation during the siege is a historical fact; the fantasies of food are how I imagined that it was experienced by those who lived through it.  But imagination alone is not enough when writing realist historical fiction. It must always build on what is already there – otherwise known as the facts. I can attest that my descriptions of the historical events in Ancestral Virgins are based on a huge amount of research. For that Kimberley chapter alone, I memorized the entire map of the town by heart as well as a week-by-week digest of what happened during the four-month siege and bombardment. It’s not the quickest way to write a novel, but you learn an enormous amount and the grounding that the research gives you is invaluable for imagining your way inside the heads of your characters and to experience the sights, sounds, and smells that they would have seen, heard, and smelled.  I do this work because I hope that you, the reader, can also feel like you’re in that Sussex garden in 1914 looking up at the night sky or in that dusty South African wartime town in 1899. I want us to go back there together, right alongside the characters I’ve made up from my imagination.  This is my overriding motivation for why I write historical fiction – so that, however briefly, we can feel the way our ancestors felt within their own lifetimes when they had no conception of all the history that was still to come.      Here’s the blurb In early 20th century Britain, society was changing rapidly, but not much was changing for women. From different ends of the social spectrum, Celia Mapperley and May Hallam wrestle with rules and circumstances beyond their control and must navigate love, sex, war, and the thin line between conformity and scandal. As they each bear the shame of a devastating family secret, their stories come together in ways that neither could have imagined.     Purchase Link https://books2read.com/rl/ancestralvirgins Meet the author Fiona J. Mackintosh is a Scottish-American author living in Washington D.C. whose fiction draws from both sides of the Atlantic. Her flash fiction collection, The Yet Unknowing World (Ad Hoc Fiction, 2021), was a runner-up for the 2021 Saboteur Award for best short story collection, and her debut novel Ancestral Virgins will be published on June 26, 2026. Her flashes were selected for Best Small Fictions in 2023 and 2019, and her short stories have been finalists in the Cairde Word, Colm Toíbín, Bristol, Galley Beggar, Exeter, and Fish Short Story Prizes. She is a proud recipient of an Individual Artist’s Award from the Maryland State Arts Council. www.fionajmackintosh.com https://linktr.ee/Fionajanemack Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming Ancestral Virgins by Fiona J MacKintosh to the blog, with a fab guest post #historicalfiction #blogtour #nonfiction Blog Tour · Family History · historical fiction · history · Rachel’s Random Resources On This Day In History 1066 – Harald Hardrada, king of Norway, arrives near York, England to advance his claims to be England’s king Action and adventure · Anglo-Saxon · history · M J Porter · Medieval · Mercia · Non-fiction · William The Conqueror I’m excited to share an excerpt from RJ Verity’s new historical fiction novel, Poole of Honour #PooleOfHonour #ThePooleLegacy #HistoricalFiction #LGBTQHistoricalFiction #RJVerity #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub  Blog Tour · Coming Of Age · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m reviewing The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder (The Crooked Medium 1) by Stephen Cox #blogtour #bookreview #historicalmystery Blog Tour · book review · historical fiction · Historical Mystery · murder mystery · Mystery · Rachel’s Random Resources

To be a writer, you first must write Dragonbound has been a story so many years in the making that since I first set pen to paper (yes, you read that correctly) I’ve undergone a complete sea change in how I write, and probably, why I write as well. But with the release of Dragonbound, I thought I’d share a throwback image of what a first story looks like, from the very beginning. Although that’s not quite right either, because this image is from when I first ‘properly’ started to write this story, and I can assure you I’d already discarded some even earlier ideas. (I had yet to discover my favourite inky pen). A handwritten notebook showing the first page of what would become Dragonbound by MJ Porter And now you can read the ‘cleaned up’ version of this opening of the book in Dragonbound, released today. A story, I am very proud to say, has taken me about 30 years to get to this stage. It’s a good job that I went on to write other stories in the intervening period. Here’s the blurb The Long Night is ending. The dragon is waking. Sereh is finally free — but the frozen wilds are just as deadly as the life she left behind. When she saves a mysterious stranger, she binds herself to a fate she doesn’t understand. Erann has secrets. About the cold. About the land. About why the world is changing. As the Long Night lingers and something ancient stirs beneath the frozen land, survival means staying together. And their fragile alliance turns into something neither of them can afford. Because in a world of ice and fire, trust might be the spark that destroys them both. This slow-burning Norse fantasy romance is perfect for fans of Robin Hobb, T. Kingfisher, S.L. Rowland and Anne McCaffrey. Available Now Check out the dedicated website for the Ice and Fire Series and see the cover for Stormlost, book 2 in the series. Check out the Ice and Fire Series page on the blog Buy directly from me Posts Introducing Dragonbound, the first book in the Ice and Fire series, a book 18 years in the making #historicalromantasy #authorinspiration July 23, 2026 It’s time… 757, the first book in the brand-new series, The House of Mercia, is now available. Listen to me talking about the new book #fiction #TalesOfMercia July 22, 2026 757, the first book in the brand-new series, The House of Mercia. Listen to me talking about the new book #fiction #TalesOfMercia July 15, 2026 757, the first book in the brand new series, The House of Mercia. Here are some photos from my visit to Repton’s Saxon crypt #fiction #TalesOfMercia July 8, 2026 The Eagle Will Rise, the first book in The Sundered Kingdom Series. Listen to me talk about why I wrote this book #historicalfiction #Mercia May 7, 2026 Storm of Mercia is now available. This is also known as ‘the one on the ship.’ #histficbook #newrelease #authorinspiration April 5, 2026 Storm of Mercia is now available. Let’s talk about Wynflæd #histficbook #newrelease #characterinspiration April 4, 2026 Introducing Mercia: A Companion Guide to the Tales of Mercia April 2, 2026 Storm of Mercia. Return to the world of young Icel in the ninth book in the Eagle of Mercia Series. #histficbook #newrelease #HadPossessionOfThePlaceOfSlaughter April 1, 2026 Storm of Mercia. Return to the world of young Icel in the ninth book in the Eagle of Mercia Series. #histficbook #newrelease March 25, 2026 The Secret Sauce is now available in audiobook format #histfic #historicalmystery March 24, 2026 Introducing The Ultimate Pantsers Writers’ Notebook by yours truly March 23, 2026 The Dark Age Chronicles might be complete, but I imagine my readers still have questions. Check out this blog post about what comes before (and what came after) #TheDarkAgeChronicles#MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #LordsofIron #histfic February 14, 2026 Introducing 757, the first book in the brand new series, The House of Mercia #fiction #nonfiction #Mercia February 12, 2026 It’s happy release day to Lords of Iron, the third and concluding book in the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy. Let’s talk about battle standards #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #LordsofIron #histfic January 5, 2026 It’s happy release day to Lords of Iron, the third and concluding book in the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy. Watch and listen to a short recording about the research books I used #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #LordsofIron #histfic January 5, 2026 Lords of Iron, the third and concluding book in the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy. Let’s talk about Wærmund, warrior of the Gyrwe #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #LordsofIron #histfic January 4, 2026 Lords of Iron, the third and concluding book in the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy. Here are the original (very long) historical notes for Men of Iron #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #LordsofIron #histfic January 3, 2026 Lords of Iron, the third and concluding book in the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy. Let’s talk about Meddi , the seeress of the Eorlingas #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #LordsofIron #histfic January 2, 2026 2025 – A Writing Year in Review January 1, 2026 The inspiration for The Barrage Body, book 4 in The Erdington Mysteries (and why this isn’t quite the book I thought it would be) #histfic #mystery December 16, 2025 It’s happy release day to The Barrage Body, book 4 in The Erdington Mysteries #histfic #mystery November 30, 2025 The Secret Sauce is on blog tour with Rachel’s Random Resources hosts. Check out the reviews, blog posts and Q & As below #histfic #historicalmystery November 19, 2025 Shield of Mercia is now available. Return to the world of young Icel, and listen to me rabbiting on, again #newrelease #histfic #TheEagleofMerciaChronicles #audio October 5, 2025 It’s happy release day to Shield of Mercia. Return to the world of young Icel. I attempt to summarise all the books in just 20 seconds each. #newrelease #histfic #TheEagleofMerciaChornicles October 3, 2025 Letter writing in the Eleventh Century, how I recreated Lady Estrid’s connections with her vast family. #non-fiction #histfic September 20, 2025 What languages were being spoken in Post-Roman Britain? #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #histfic September 17, 2025 The Saxon Settlement of Tamworth in the 800s July 16, 2025 It’s happy release day to Warriors of Iron, the second book in the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #histfic July 13, 2025 Warfare during the Saxon period. What we know and what we don’t about the battle of Hædfeld. #GodsAndKingsTrilogy #histfic May 25, 2025 It’s happy release day to Betrayal of Mercia, so I’m sharing a post about Crime and Punishment in Saxon England January 5, 2025 It’s happy release day to Betrayal of Mercia, so I’m sharing a post about Mercia’s alleged ‘Bad Queens.’ January 5, 2025 It’s happy release day to The Last Deceit, book 10 in The Last King series, so I’m sharing a blog post about my decision to include a fictional character December 26, 2024 MJ Porter’s Saxon Stories Order and Series Pages | Infographic July 27, 2024 The Royal Women Who Made England: The Tenth Century in Saxon England. But who were these royal women? January 29, 2024 Happy release day to Dragonbound, the first book in the Ice and Fire series, #historicalromantasy #booklaunch September 23, 2026 On This Day In History 1066 – The Battle of Gate Fulford (well, yesterday. I’m a day late) September 21, 2026 On This Day In History 1066 – Harald Hardrada, king of Norway, arrives near York, England to advance his claims to be England’s king September 18, 2026 I’m excited to share an excerpt from RJ Verity’s new historical fiction novel, Poole of Honour #PooleOfHonour #ThePooleLegacy #HistoricalFiction #LGBTQHistoricalFiction #RJVerity #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub  September 14, 2026

What was the battle of Gate Fulford,or Fulford Gate? The battle took place on 20th September 1066, between the Norwegian forces led by Harald Hardrada and the English forces commanded by the two brother earls, and was the first of three battles in 1066, which eventually ended Saxon England, and brought about the beginning of the Norman era (Boo). Having arrived near York two days earlier, Harald Hardrada had his first encounter with the forces of the English, led by two young earls, Morcar and Edwin (Eadwine) of the House of Mercia, at Gate Fulford. Morcar was earl of Northumbria, replacing the disgraced Tostig Godwineson (who had enticed Hardrada to England), while Edwin was the earl of Mercia, succeeding to the position after the death of his father Ælfgar, who’d held Mercia after his father Leofric. (Fans of the Earls of Mercia series will so far have only encountered Morcar and Eadwine as children). Their youth, their inexperience, and the perceived defeat in this terrible battle are all that people know about Edwin and Morcar. What’s so often overlooked is that they marched into battle determined to counter the might of what many believe was the last great Viking warrior, and they were also the king’s brothers by marriage; their sister now married to Harold Godwineson. They also survived the battle and probably fought at Stamford Bridge and Hastings. So, who was Harald Hardrada? Hardrada was king of Norway, half-brother to St Olaf, who was killed at the battle of Stiklestad in 1030 by forces loyal to King Cnut, who’d claimed Norway as part of his determination to rule much of Scandinavia. Harald was forced to flee and spent many years fighting in the Varangian guard until he decided to advance his claims to the kingship once more (in 1045), initially forging an alliance with Sweyn of Denmark (nephew of King Cnut) until allying with King Magnus of Norway, who was his nephew, and somewhat conveniently, died only the next year, making Harald the sole king of Norway. (You will find some of this story told in my Earls of Mercia series, and also in Lady Estrid, the story of Sweyn of Denmark’s mother). Why did he invade England in 1066? It is from the alliance with King Magnus that Harald Hardrada exerted his right to rule England, as Magnus stated he had a claim, having earlier agreed it with King Harthacnut of England (Cnut’s son), that he (Magnus) would rule England after Harthacnut’s death and equally that Harthacnut would rule Norway after Magnus’ death. Harald adopted the claim as he did the kingdom of Norway after Magnus’ death. Admittedly, the intervention of the disgruntled Tostig Godwineson probably also encouraged him. (To read about Harald’s life, check out JC Duncan’s fab five-part series covering his life). And so, the man lauded as the last great Viking made his way to England, and on this day, he first encountered the English resistance. And while most say the brother earls were defeated, I wonder if the narrative should be a little different. After all, their brother by marriage, their king, was already on his way north to counter the threat. Did they do what needed to be done? Did they temporarily halt the Norwegian invasion and buy Harald time to bring his warriors to the battle… The Stamford Bridge Anthology Thirteen writers. One battle. The same afternoon, told from both sides of the bridge. Giles Kristian · Matthew Harffy · Angus Donald · Tim Hodkinson · Peter Gibbons · MJ Porter · Justin Hill · Theodore Brun · Eric Schumacher · Will Dowling · M. Thomas Kingsley · Mark Oxbrow · Åsli & Bakkejord On 25 September 1066, a Norwegian army lay resting on both banks of the Derwent, seven miles from York. They had beaten one English army five days earlier and taken the city’s surrender, and the fighting was done. Most of them had left their mail at the ships. They were not expecting Harold Godwinson. The battle that followed ended the Viking age in England. Three weeks later it helped decide a second one, on a hill near Hastings, that everyone remembers instead. A king who has spent his life outrunning the end of an age. A skald asked to praise a man he no longer believes in. A priest tends the wounded on the eve of a battle nobody knows is coming. A lone axeman on the bridge, and the Englishman in the water beneath him. Afterwards, a farmer walks the field looking for his son, and twenty years later an old earl sits in a Norman prison, still deciding what to tell his gaoler. The man who holds the bridge in one story is watched from the water in another. Thirteen stories, one day. Over 100,000 words of Viking historical fiction, published on the 960th anniversary of the battle. Releasing 25th September 2026 – preorder now in ebook. Paperback available now. Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. On This Day In History 1066 – The Battle of Gate Fulford (well, yesterday. I’m a day late) Action and adventure · Anglo-Saxon · history · M J Porter · Medieval · Mercia · Non-fiction · William The Conqueror On This Day In History 1066 – Harald Hardrada, king of Norway, arrives near York, England to advance his claims to be England’s king Action and adventure · Anglo-Saxon · history · M J Porter · Medieval · Mercia · Non-fiction · William The Conqueror I’m excited to share an excerpt from RJ Verity’s new historical fiction novel, Poole of Honour #PooleOfHonour #ThePooleLegacy #HistoricalFiction #LGBTQHistoricalFiction #RJVerity #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub  Blog Tour · Coming Of Age · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m reviewing The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder (The Crooked Medium 1) by Stephen Cox #blogtour #bookreview #historicalmystery Blog Tour · book review · historical fiction · Historical Mystery · murder mystery · Mystery · Rachel’s Random Resources

Who was Harald Hardrada? Hardrada was king of Norway, half-brother to St Olaf, who was killed at the battle of Stiklestad in 1030 by forces loyal to King Cnut, who’d claimed Norway as part of his determination to rule much of Scandinavia. Harald was forced to flee and spent many years fighting in the Varangian guard until he decided to advance his claims to the kingship once more (in 1045), initially forging an alliance with Sweyn of Denmark (nephew of King Cnut) until allying with King Magnus of Norway, who was his nephew, and somewhat conveniently, died only the next year, making Harald the sole king of Norway. (You will find some of this story told in my Earls of Mercia series, and also in Lady Estrid, the story of Sweyn of Denmark’s mother). Why did he invade England in 1066? It is from the alliance with King Magnus that Harald Hardrada exerted his right to rule England, as Magnus stated he had a claim, having earlier agreed it with King Harthacnut of England (Cnut’s son), that he (Magnus) would rule England after Harthacnut’s death and equally that Harthacnut would rule Norway after Magnus’ death. Harald adopted the claim as he did the kingdom of Norway after Magnus’ death. Admittedly, the intervention of the disgruntled Tostig Godwineson probably also encouraged him. (To read about Harald’s life, check out JC Duncan’s fab five-part series covering his life). And so, the man lauded as the last great Viking made his way to England and arrived on this day, 1066. And the rest can be discovered in… The Stamford Bridge Anthology Thirteen writers. One battle. The same afternoon, told from both sides of the bridge. Giles Kristian · Matthew Harffy · Angus Donald · Tim Hodkinson · Peter Gibbons · MJ Porter · Justin Hill · Theodore Brun · Eric Schumacher · Will Dowling · M. Thomas Kingsley · Mark Oxbrow · Åsli & Bakkejord On 25 September 1066, a Norwegian army lay resting on both banks of the Derwent, seven miles from York. They had beaten one English army five days earlier and taken the city’s surrender, and the fighting was done. Most of them had left their mail at the ships. They were not expecting Harold Godwinson. The battle that followed ended the Viking age in England. Three weeks later it helped decide a second one, on a hill near Hastings, that everyone remembers instead. A king who has spent his life outrunning the end of an age. A skald asked to praise a man he no longer believes in. A priest tends the wounded on the eve of a battle nobody knows is coming. A lone axeman on the bridge, and the Englishman in the water beneath him. Afterwards, a farmer walks the field looking for his son, and twenty years later an old earl sits in a Norman prison, still deciding what to tell his gaoler. The man who holds the bridge in one story is watched from the water in another. Thirteen stories, one day. Over 100,000 words of Viking historical fiction, published on the 960th anniversary of the battle. Releasing 25th September 2026 – preorder now in ebook. Paperback coming soon. Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. On This Day In History 1066 – Harald Hardrada, king of Norway, arrives near York, England to advance his claims to be England’s king Action and adventure · Anglo-Saxon · history · M J Porter · Medieval · Mercia · Non-fiction · William The Conqueror I’m excited to share an excerpt from RJ Verity’s new historical fiction novel, Poole of Honour #PooleOfHonour #ThePooleLegacy #HistoricalFiction #LGBTQHistoricalFiction #RJVerity #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub  Blog Tour · Coming Of Age · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m reviewing The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder (The Crooked Medium 1) by Stephen Cox #blogtour #bookreview #historicalmystery Blog Tour · book review · historical fiction · Historical Mystery · murder mystery · Mystery · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m reviewing The Knife Maker of Venice by David Gilman #bookreview #blogtour #historicalfiction historical fiction

I’m excited to share an excerpt from RJ Verity’s new historical fiction novel, Poole of Honour #blogtour #historicalfiction Here’s an excerpt Excerpt 2 (Chapter 2, Barkston Chambers) Two years into his career as a criminal barrister, Daniel is defending the clients nobody else wants – and his head of chambers isn’t happy. Daniel drops a file onto the mountainous pile on his desk – the cases never seeming to diminish. The youth used by gangs to slip through windows. The teacher caught in the crossfire of a pub brawl. The single mother accused of stealing a tin of baked beans. He wishes he could have been there sooner – to stop the exploitation; to steer the couple elsewhere; to buy the woman a meal before she had to choose between hunger and shame. He has learned that small mercies rarely alter the machinery. He slumps in his chair. Two years at Barkston Chambers, and still that sense of not quite belonging. Educated in England since the age of fourteen, yet his American background continues to mark him out as a foreigner. The irony is that he came here because he didn’t fit in there either. In the States, expectation pressed constantly at his back; here, the scrutiny is better concealed, but no less real. Swivelling around, he stares out of the window. A starling lands on the ledge and walks jerkily back and forth, its metallic plumage catching the weak afternoon sun. It taps at the glass, bristling at the bird opposite – unaware that it is only confronting its own reflection. Sometimes you see something from afar and feel drawn towards it. You move closer, circling, trying to understand. But even up close – perhaps especially then – it is hard to know what’s real. Better, sometimes, to leave it be. There’s a knock, and the door opens before Daniel can answer. Gareth Glover-Rees, head of chambers, stands in the doorway, his stance wide, his six-foot-three frame almost touching the ceiling and filling the tiny room. ‘Poole—’ Glover-Rees stops as he eyes the paperwork on Daniel’s desk and lets out a sigh. ‘We need to talk about this backlog.’ ‘I’m sorry, it’s just that there’s so much coming in these days. Most of them are minor offences, but it still takes time to put all the arguments forward.’ ‘Actually, that’s why I came to see you.’ He takes one step to the middle of the office. ‘I’ll be candid. When we agreed to take you on, you had a first from Oxford and excellent recommendations from the Bar School. Not to mention your Poole family connections in the business world.’ ‘I never disclosed my family b—’ ‘That’s not my point. We expected more from you than defending petty criminals.’ Glover-Rees brandishes a piece of paper in his right hand. ‘You’re behind on rent, and your fees are shockingly low.’ ‘But so many cases need representing, and they can’t all afford our fees.’ ‘This is not Hollywood, Poole. Sentiment is all very well, but it has no place in English law. We are not a charity, and neither are you. Don’t you have a wife with a child on the way?’ Daniel concedes a nod. Glover-Rees gestures towards the files on his desk. ‘Some of the other barristers—’ he stops. ‘Some of their clients are unhappy with the endless stream of ruffians you’re bringing into chambers. Only the other day, an elderly widow was horrified to find herself sitting next to a violent criminal.’ ‘I’m just following the cab-rank rule.’ Glover-Rees’ face reddens. ‘Is that so? Then how come you haven’t covered a single prosecution case in the last six months?’ ‘I’ve been run off my feet. I just haven’t had the time t—’ ‘Nonsense. Any criminal barrister must prosecute and defend if he is really to learn his art.’ ‘But—’ ‘No buts, Poole. Clear your cases and start taking on some more lucrative ones. That’s my advice if you want to remain here. Some early guilty pleas wouldn’t go amiss either – or is every one of your clients a victim of gross injustice with a reasonable prospect of success?’ He pauses for effect. ‘Thought not. Look, if your clerk hands you a prosecution brief, you take it. Besides, it’s good to win some points with the police. I trust I’ve made myself clear?’ Before Daniel can respond, Glover-Rees leaves, punctuating his departure with an exclamatory slam of the door. Here’s the blurb London, 1965. The city is swinging, the world is shifting, and Daniel Poole is a rising criminal barrister with everything to prove – to the courts, to his father, to his wife and to himself. But Daniel is carrying a secret that could shatter the life he has so carefully built. As society begins to question the rules it once held sacred, he is forced to decide what he stands for — and what he is willing to risk in order to belong. Set against a backdrop of cultural upheaval and political change, Poole of Honour is a tense, character-driven historical novel exploring ambition, identity, and the cost of silence, as the next generation of the Poole family confronts a world on the brink of transformation. Purchase Link https://mybook.to/poole-of-honour Meet the author RJ Verity grew up in Yorkshire and studied at King’s College London before spending more than twenty years working in financial services across Asia. She now lives in Guernsey with her endlessly patient husband and their ageing but ever-spirited Labradinger. When she’s not writing or reading, she can often be found exploring the island’s rugged coastline. RJ writes character-led historical fiction rooted in place, memory, and the social and personal forces that shape ordinary lives. Her debut novel, Poole of Light, opens The Poole Legacy – a trilogy following three generations of one family across a century of change. The second novel, Poole of Honour, publishes on 15 September 2026. Set in London in 1965, it follows Daniel Poole, a rising criminal barrister drawn into the most divisive political debate of the decade – one that cuts closer than he dare admit. Facebook Instagram Bluesky Pinterest Goodreads X Amazon https://www.rjverity.com https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rj-verity   Follow the Poole of Honour blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m excited to share an excerpt from RJ Verity’s new historical fiction novel, Poole of Honour #PooleOfHonour #ThePooleLegacy #HistoricalFiction #LGBTQHistoricalFiction #RJVerity #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub  Blog Tour · Coming Of Age · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m reviewing The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder (The Crooked Medium 1) by Stephen Cox #blogtour #bookreview #historicalmystery Blog Tour · book review · historical fiction · Historical Mystery · murder mystery · Mystery · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m reviewing The Knife Maker of Venice by David Gilman #bookreview #blogtour #historicalfiction historical fiction It’s time for a new Bradecote and Catchpoll historical mystery. I’m reviewing A Shroud of Snow by Sarah Hawkswood #historicalmystery #bookreview #favouriteseries book review · historical fiction · murder mystery

I’m reviewing The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder (The Crooked Medium 1) by Stephen Cox #blogtour #bookreview #historicalmystery Here’s the blurb London 1881. Can two crooked women stop a murder? Extravagant medium Mrs Ashton and her lover, blunt working-class Mrs Bradshaw, run a spiritualist scam. Mrs Ashton secretly reads minds. Believing that Mrs Ashton is genuine, grieving Lady Violet craves the truth behind her mother’s untimely death. But Lady Violet’s powerful husband Sir Charles hates spiritualists. Has he killed before? Uncovering this MP’s wicked crimes will put all three women in terrible danger… To solve a shocking murder, look both sides of the grave. “I loved this book! Victorian murder mystery meets “ghost” story, with delicious sprinklings of compassion and mischief…” Caroline Day, author of Sunday Times Bestseller Hope Nicely’s Lessons for Life Purchase Links THE CROOKED MEDIUM’s guide to MURDER https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crooked-Mediums-Guide-Murder-Victorian-ebook/dp/B0FLK68742/ https://www.amazon.com/Crooked-Mediums-Guide-Murder-Victorian-ebook/dp/B0FLK68742/ Exciting News: Book 2 in the Crooked Medium series is now available for pre-order!! – https://stephencox.co.uk/buy-terror/ My Review The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder is an enthralling late nineteenth century set mystery, with all the trappings we would expect from a story set in this era, complete with a spiritualist (or is she?), an angry husband and a desperate wife, told with a flare for the language of the time, and some quite amusing insults to boot. The setting is well depicted, and the mystery quickly reveals itself, as Mrs Ashton determines to aid poor Lady Violet, as she discovers the truth about her husband. A rousing mystery, with plenty of pace and a sure fire hit for those who love stories set in the era. Meet the author My grandmother told me I read too much.  I remember walking in the garden when I was small, telling myself stories. It was over thirty years of wanting to be a novelist before I tried… and succeeded.  The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder arose because I wanted to write about Britishness and specifically about Englishness; about our complex relationship with the past; I wanted leads who were morally grayer but still capable of kindness. It was time for a novel with queer leads. And in quite desperate times, I needed to write something with some uplift. It’s the first book intended to start a series. My first books, Our Child of the Stars and Our Child of Two Worlds are set in the 1960s USA. It’s about Gene and Molly, a childless couple, and Cory, the little boy from the stars that they adopt, under such challenging circumstances. The books got lovely reviews and are available on both sides of the Atlantic.   I spent nearly all my childhood in Bristol, and I’m now an adoptive Londoner.   I live with my partner, and it’s the best thing our two adult children come back from time to time. Our garden rages wild. https://stephencox.co.uk Bluesky Facebook YouTube https://stephens-newsletter-69af79.beehiiv.com Giveaway to Win 4 x Signed Books by Stephen Cox (Open to UK Only) https://gleam.io/gFE4O/win-4-x-signed-books-by-stephen-cox-open-to-uk-only Prize includes – Our Child of the Stars, Our Child of Two Worlds, The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder and the Crooked Medium’s Guide to Terror.  *Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize. Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m reviewing The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder (The Crooked Medium 1) by Stephen Cox #blogtour #bookreview #historicalmystery Blog Tour · book review · historical fiction · Historical Mystery · murder mystery · Mystery · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m reviewing The Knife Maker of Venice by David Gilman #bookreview #blogtour #historicalfiction historical fiction It’s time for a new Bradecote and Catchpoll historical mystery. I’m reviewing A Shroud of Snow by Sarah Hawkswood #historicalmystery #bookreview #favouriteseries book review · historical fiction · murder mystery Book review The Eagle and the Wolf by Gordon Doherty #histfic #Romanfiction #BookReview book review · historical fiction · writing

I’m reviewing The Knife Maker of Venice by David Gilman #bookreview #blogtour Here’s the blurb A young Englishman captured by slavers must survive the snakepit that is seventeenth-century Venice. 1604. As pirates seeking slaves to sell in the markets of North Africa terrorise the coasts of Europe, headstrong Richard Sheriff and his sister Elizabeth are torn from their Devonshire home and thrust into a waking nightmare. Richard’s skills as a blacksmith see him fetch a high price, but the pirate captain has other plans for Elizabeth and once they are separated, Richard has no idea of his sister’s fate. They must both learn to survive on a deadly voyage into the unknown. Sold into servitude in Venice: glittering, vicious city of secrets, he is apprenticed to a knife maker. Richard’s talents soon win him renown… but haunted by his sister’s absence, he vows never to stop looking for her, knowing she would do the same for him. First he must survive that city of ghosts. Will the siblings live to see each other again, or will they join the myriads lost to Venice, where life is cheap, profit is all, and escape nigh-on impossible? A powerful historical adventure perfect for fans of Kate Mosse, Ken Follett and Robert Harris. Purchase Links https://www.amazon.co.uk/Knife-Maker-Venice-David-Gilman/dp/1035910373 https://www.amazon.com/Knife-Maker-Venice-David-Gilman/dp/1035910373 My Review The Knife Maker of Venice is a chunk of a book, following the events that befall Richard and Elizabeth, starting with a good punch, before moving somewhat into the future. It is fraught with peril for our two main characters, although they’re far from the only two voices we hear. Richard is almost unbearably headstrong, and gets himself into many scrapes. Elizabeth is far from the naive individual we might originally suspect, although her story is teased out more slowly than Richard’s. What follows is a deeply researched tale of life in the early 1600s, thrusting the reader into the possibly previously unknown world of slavers and what happened to those stolen away from the Devonshire coast. I listened to the audio book for the novel, and very much enjoyed the narrator as he expertly brought the characters to life. This does take a while to get going – there is a lot of action in the first third, but much of it takes place on the high seas where the author ensures we all know how miserable the voyage is for the unfortunate abductees. An engaging read. Meet the author David Gilman has enjoyed many careers, including paratrooper, firefighter, and photographer. An award-winning author and screenwriter, he is the author of the critically acclaimed Master of War series of historical novels, and was shortlisted for the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize for The Last Horseman. He was longlisted for the same prize for The Englishman, the first book featuring ex-French Foreign Legionnaire Dan Raglan. David lives in Devon. Follow David on @davidgilmanuk, http://www.davidgilman.com, and facebook.com/davidgilman.author Posts by davidgilmanuk X Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m reviewing The Knife Maker of Venice by David Gilman #bookreview #blogtour #historicalfiction historical fiction It’s time for a new Bradecote and Catchpoll historical mystery. I’m reviewing A Shroud of Snow by Sarah Hawkswood #historicalmystery #bookreview #favouriteseries book review · historical fiction · murder mystery Book review The Eagle and the Wolf by Gordon Doherty #histfic #Romanfiction #BookReview book review · historical fiction · writing Check out my review for House of Thieves by Rachel Walkley #historicalmystery #blogtour #countryhousemystery Blog Tour · book review · Family History · Historical Mystery

It's time for a new Bradecote and Catchpoll historical mystery. I'm reviewing A Shroud of Snow by Sarah Hawkswood #historicalmystery #bookreview #favouriteseries

Book review The Eagle and the Wolf by Gordon Doherty #histfic #Romanfiction #BookReview

Check out my review for House of Thieves by Rachel Walkley #historicalmystery #blogtour Here’s the blurb At Terrington Hall, objects are treasured while people are forgotten.  Chief conservator Amy is restoring the Hurly family’s guilt-stained hoard when a theft forces her to hire Harrison, a security adviser on a personal quest to uncover his own history.  Unknown to anyone, an invisible presence woven into the fabric of the house watches their every move.  When Harrison uncovers a room sealed for decades, the investigation shifts from simple theft to the resurrection of murderous secrets. In a house where the past is too heavy to escape, the dead don’t need bodies to tell their stories — they just need someone to listen. One house. Two mysteries. Two centuries apart. Trailer https://youtu.be/SpbHfueEYdU Purchase Links https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H9HY2WZL https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H9HY2WZL https://books2read.com/u/m2gOqG My Review House of Thieves is an intriguing novel that follows the modern conservation of an old country house under the guidance of Amy. Into the midst comes Harrison, connected to the house through a long and tangled family history, and employed to discover how certain thefts have been occurring. There are also other modern characters, each with their own stories to tell, alongside the house, which seems to have largely discarded elements of its history. Our narrator is (for much of the time) an otherworldly presence who says very little but offers hints about why she continues to haunt the property. The storyline slips back in time, and so we have two timelines: the present day and the early 1800s. Because of all this, the storyline seems to move a little slowly in places. It takes a long time to discover exactly what’s happening, and why the thefts are even relevant. It takes even longer to begin to learn the ghost’s secrets, and when they do reveal themselves, they’re quite horrifying. This is where the novel is at its strongest, bringing together all these threads, which seem unconnected but aren’t. It’s definitely a slow burn, but it rewards the reader as the pacing increases, and we almost don’t want to know what happened to our ghostly narrator. House of Thieves is stuffed with delightful little details, just like Terrington Hall, and it’s almost as reluctant to give them up as the house is, but give them up to the reader it does. Meet the author Rachel Walkley is a former librarian and scientist who lives in the North West of England, where she spends her spare time making music and writing. Her debut novel, The Women of Heachley Hall, was a bestseller in the UK and Australia. Known for weaving together family secrets, magical mysteries, old houses and inspirational women, Rachel also writes gripping female-led crime novels under the pen name Rae Shaw. Rachel Walkley’s author website Social Media Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. Check out my review for House of Thieves by Rachel Walkley #historicalmystery #blogtour #countryhousemystery Blog Tour · book review · Family History · Historical Mystery I’m reviewing the new book in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Italian Mysteries, Murder at Christmas by TA Williams #BookReview #BlogTour #CosyCrime #ContemporaryCrime Blog Tour · Boldwood Books · book review · Cozy Mystery · Crime Fiction · murder mystery · Mystery · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m welcoming The Fern Flower by Kathleen Shoop to the blog #HistoricalFiction #TheFernFlower #ballet #WW1 #ReaderReach #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club I’m reviewing House of Twisted Shadows by JH Mann, an extremely atmospheric story set in Cornwall #bookreview #blogtour #historicalmystery historical fiction

I'm reviewing the new book in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Italian Mysteries, Murder at Christmas by TA Williams #BookReview #BlogTour #CosyCrime #ContemporaryCrime

I’m welcoming The Fern Flower by Kathleen Shoop to the blog #HistoricalFiction #TheFernFlower #ballet #WW1 #ReaderReach #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub Here’s the blurb St. Petersburg 1908-1917 Born into privilege as the daughter of the Tsar’s favored vodka maker, Mila appears to have everything: wealth, status, and a household devoted to her happiness. But behind the gilded doors of her family estate, she is trapped by the cruelty of a stepmother whose greatest wish is to give birth to her own child. Each summer on Ivan Kupala Eve, Russia turns its gaze to river bends and forest floors in search of the legendary Fern Flower—a mythical bloom said to grant fortune, power, and the deepest desires of the heart. Only one person had ever found it. Until Mila. Years later, in the fading grandeur of Petrograd, Mila and her friends slip into the fabled Stray Dog Café, once the sanctuary of Russia’s most daring artists and dreamers. Inspired by its ghosts, murals, and memories, Mila’s group resurrects the work she’d first imagined as a child. The Fern Flower is a breathtaking ballet drawn from folklore, magic, and the secrets of Mila’s past. But in the fiercely competitive ranks of the Imperial Ballet School, talent is never enough. Though Mila wrote the ballet and her gifted musician friend composed its score, rivals question whether Mila is worthy of claiming the coveted lead role. As World War I intensifies and revolution ignites, the Russia Mila knows begins to collapse. Family secrets surface, loyalties are tested, and the people she loves begin to disappear. When her parents flee and her young brother’s life hangs in the balance, Mila is faced with an impossible choice: remain with the found family who helped her chase her dreams or risk everything to save the person who needs her most. With Russian folklore, imperial grandeur, and the fierce beauty of ballet, The Fern Flower is a sweeping tale of ambition, friendship, sacrifice, and the magic that survives even when the world is falling apart. Any Triggers: Set 1908-1917 so people weren’t so kind to each other. Mila’s in ballet school at one point and living away from home. She always has adult support of some kind, but faces abandonment to some degree from those she loves. Buy Links https://books2read.com/u/m0jpWJ  Barnes & Noble Kobo Meet the author Bestselling author, Kathleen Shoop, PhD’s novels have won awards in the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY), Eric Hoffer Book Awards, the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Readers’ Favorite, and more. Kathleen has more than 20 years of experience in the classroom and has been featured in USA Today and the Writer’s Guide. She co-coordinates Mindful Writers Retreats and co-coordinated the 2023 Pennwriters Conference.  She frequently teaches and is a regular presenter at conferences for writers. Facebook Instagram Bluesky Pinterest TikTok Amazon X Goodreads http://kshoop.com https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kathleen-shoop Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming The Fern Flower by Kathleen Shoop to the blog #HistoricalFiction #TheFernFlower #ballet #WW1 #ReaderReach #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club I’m reviewing House of Twisted Shadows by JH Mann, an extremely atmospheric story set in Cornwall #bookreview #blogtour #historicalmystery historical fiction I’m welcoming Anthea Laurelton and Fearless Hearts Forbidden Love to the blog #HistoricalRomance #SpartanRomance #HistoricalFantasy #HeartsOfSparta #FearlessHeartsForbiddenLove #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub Action and adventure · Blog Tour · fantasy · fiction · historical fiction · Historical Romance I’m welcoming G.G. MacLeod to the blog with VIA MALORUM #AncientRome #Agrippina #Messalina #DarkRomantasy #PsychThriller #Giallo #BlogTour #ReaderReach #TheCoffeePotBookClub #YardeBookPromotions Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · fantasy · historical fiction · Roman Fiction · Yarde Book Reviews

I’m delighted to be reviewing House of Twisted Shadows by JH Mann, an extremely atmospheric story set in Cornwall #bookreview #blogtour Here’s the blurb A HOUSE ON THE EDGE A DAUGHTER DRIVEN TO OBSESSION A FORBIDDEN LOVE Winter 1962. Amelia Tremayne has spent the past ten years in London trying to forget the lonely clifftop house where her father was killed. Tyler House was built shortly before the Second World War on Cornwall’s stormy coast by a wealthy German outsider. Its most unsettling feature is a vast glass dome that bends the light, casting twisted, elongated shadows across the walls. Amelia’s father, Douglas Tremayne, a noted historian, was researching a controversial book about Tyler House’s Nazi origins – and its links to powerful figures in the local community. As Amelia begins to uncover the truth about her father’s death, she is pulled into a web of buried secrets – and into a forbidden love that could destroy everything she holds dear. INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY Praise for J.H.Mann: ‘Powerful, evocative and steeped in atmosphere – J.H. Mann vividly brings Cornwall’s wild, haunting landscape and its legends to life’ – Margaret James, bestselling author of the Denham Family Sagas ‘Vivid details of the landscape, eroding cliffs and crumbling house…the tension grips you and the atmospheric setting of Tyler House draws you in’ – Cheshire Novel Prize  Purchase Links https://www.amazon.co.uk/House-Twisted-Shadows-Wild-Cornwall-ebook/dp/B0H2WRJDTJ/ https://www.amazon.com/House-Twisted-Shadows-Wild-Cornwall-ebook/dp/B0H2WRJDTJ/ My Review House of Twisted Shadows is an engrossing, claustrophobic historical thriller set in a bitterly cold winter in 1962. Our main character, Amelia, is driven to finally discover the truth about her father’s murder, ten years earlier, no matter what it takes. Returning to the long-abandoned home, she’s met by firm resistance from all she hopes will aid her in the quest to discover her father’s last manuscript before the house finally crashes onto the coastline below the cliffs. Perhaps it’s mention of the German who built the house, or perhaps it’s the close-knit community who don’t want Amelia to prevail. Perhaps it’s because she immediately seeks out her former lover, now married with a child, and it stirs up resentment. Or perhaps, it’s the house itself, which is oppressive and filled with ghosts of the past, which doesn’t wish to give up its secrets. This is a real race against time thriller, as the reader certainly knows the house isn’t going to stay standing for much longer as wild winter weather covers the land. I really enoyed House of Twisted Shadows. It’s a fast-paced read, with some lovely elements to it, as Amelia confronts the ghosts of her past and the ghosts of many others as well. I’ll be grabbing the rest of the books in this interlinked collection of novels by the author. Meet the author J.H.Mann is an award-winning journalist and writer living in the South West of England. His second novel, The Echoing Shore, was a Yeovil Literary Prize award winner and the Adult Fiction Winner of the 2025 Selfies Book Awards at the London Book Fair. His third novel, The Silver Tide, has just been shortlisted for the 2026 Selfies Book Awards. He has strong family links with Cornwall. His novels are inspired by the many stories told by his mother and father and his own experiences as a shore-based volunteer for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). He lives with his wife, Nicola, and their lively whippet Patch. Facebook Instagram TikTok  www.jhmannauthor.com Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m reviewing House of Twisted Shadows by JH Mann, an extremely atmospheric story set in Cornwall #bookreview #blogtour #historicalmystery historical fiction I’m welcoming Anthea Laurelton and Fearless Hearts Forbidden Love to the blog #HistoricalRomance #SpartanRomance #HistoricalFantasy #HeartsOfSparta #FearlessHeartsForbiddenLove #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub Action and adventure · Blog Tour · fantasy · fiction · historical fiction · Historical Romance I’m welcoming G.G. MacLeod to the blog with VIA MALORUM #AncientRome #Agrippina #Messalina #DarkRomantasy #PsychThriller #Giallo #BlogTour #ReaderReach #TheCoffeePotBookClub #YardeBookPromotions Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · fantasy · historical fiction · Roman Fiction · Yarde Book Reviews Book Review. Helen Golden’s A Blighter is Bumped Off-#bookreview #historicalmystery #blogtour #avidreader Blog Tour · book review · Cozy Mystery · murder mystery · Rachel’s Random Resources

You might well have read romantasy there and wondered what it was all about, but while this is certainly ‘my romance’ story, this book (which you may have read in a previous iteration), like my historical fiction novels, was most certainly inspired by my historical research. Read on….. The setting for Dragonbound – the first book in the Ice and Fire series The Ice and Fire series is set in my re-imaginings of an alternative Viking-age Iceland, with dragons (and a few other things going on too). So yes, this is potentially not a ‘normal’ inspiration for fantasy writers, but I’ve always been drawn to fantasy books that heavily rely on a historical setting (and very rarely a true medieval one, (although the PERN novels of Anne McCaffrey do perhaps fall into that category)).  What drew me to this time and place was the stunning bravery of men and women who decided to risk it all and start afresh in an entirely new ‘land’ to the one they called their home. It’s always been said that Iceland was settled because those living in Norway didn’t wish to fall under the sway of ‘a’ king, and a king they were going to get in the final years of the 800s. While this is somewhat contested now, back then (last century when I first had the idea) this enthralled me.  Iceland, when it was settled, is said to have been empty apart from one of two religious figures living at the extreme of the known world. Can you imagine being the first to step foot on that landscape? It must have been magical. But that wasn’t the only inspiring element. Those first settlers also undertook a number of endeavours that are unique. They wrote the Landnámabók (the book of Settlements)– a book detailing the land claimed by those settlers, and in that way recorded their history (astonishing).  The Landnámabók begins, ‘In his book On Times the Venerable Priest Bede mentions an island called Thule, said in other books to lie six days’ sailing to the north of Britain. He says there’s neither daylight there in winter, nor darkness when the day is at its longest in the summer.’ (from the translation by H Pálsson and Paul Edwards.) These settlers also vowed to have no one king and to rule largely through consensus (amazing). And they decided to live in an environment that was harsher than they were used to, even coming from Norway. And so, I set my characters in an idea of what this might have been, adopting the customs, the ideas, the way they might have lived, but in an entirely fantastical world (unless, of course, there were dragons in Viking age Iceland). I do not profess that everything is accurate (it isn’t), it couldn’t be, but the beautiful, deadly landscape; the bravery of those men and women all inspired me to create the setting for the world of Ice and Fire (and, to be honest, earlier iterations stayed even more true to this setting and landscape, but have been somewhat relaxed to ensure this is a work of fiction).  An antique map of Iceland Here’s the blurb The Long Night is ending. The dragon is waking. Sereh is finally free — but the frozen wilds are just as deadly as the life she left behind. When she saves a mysterious stranger, she binds herself to a fate she doesn’t understand. Erann has secrets. About the cold. About the land. About why the world is changing. As the Long Night lingers and something ancient stirs beneath the frozen land, survival means staying together. And their fragile alliance turns into something neither of them can afford. Because in a world of ice and fire, trust might be the spark that destroys them both. This slow-burning Norse fantasy romance is perfect for fans of Robin Hobb, T. Kingfisher, S.L. Rowland and Anne McCaffrey. Releasing 23rd September 2026 Check out the dedicated website for the Ice and Fire Series Check out the Ice and Fire Series page on the blog Buy direct from me Posts Introducing Dragonbound, the first book in the Ice and Fire series, a book 18 years in the making #historicalromantasy #authorinspiration July 23, 2026 It’s time… 757, the first book in the brand-new series, The House of Mercia, is now available. Listen to me talking about the new book #fiction #TalesOfMercia July 22, 2026 757, the first book in the brand-new series, The House of Mercia. Listen to me talking about the new book #fiction #TalesOfMercia July 15, 2026 757, the first book in the brand new series, The House of Mercia. Here are some photos from my visit to Repton’s Saxon crypt #fiction #TalesOfMercia July 8, 2026 It’s happy release day to The Eagle Will Rise, the first book in The Sundered Kingdom Series. Listen to me talk about why I wrote this book #newbook #historicalfiction #Mercia May 7, 2026 Storm of Mercia is now available. This is also known as ‘the one on the ship.’ #histficbook #newrelease #authorinspiration April 5, 2026 Storm of Mercia is now available. Let’s talk about Wynflæd #histficbook #newrelease #characterinspiration April 4, 2026 Introducing Mercia: A Companion Guide to the Tales of Mercia April 2, 2026 It’s happy release day to Storm of Mercia. Return to the world of young Icel in the ninth book in the Eagle of Mercia Series. #histficbook #newrelease #HadPossessionOfThePlaceOfSlaughter April 1, 2026 It’s (nearly) happy release day to Storm of Mercia. Return to the world of young Icel in the ninth book in the Eagle of Mercia Series. #histficbook #newrelease March 25, 2026 The Secret Sauce is now available in audiobook format #histfic #historicalmystery March 24, 2026 Introducing The Ultimate Pantsers Writers’ Notebook by yours truly March 23, 2026 The Dark Age Chronicles might be complete, but I imagine my readers still have questions. Check out this blog post about what comes before (and what came after) #TheDarkAgeChronicles#MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #LordsofIron #histfic February 14, 2026 Introducing 757, the first book in the brand new series, The House of Mercia #fiction #nonfiction #Mercia February 12, 2026 It’s cover reveal time for Storm of Mercia. Return to the world of young Icel in the ninth book in the Eagle of Mercia Series. #coverreveal #preorder #histficbook February 7, 2026 It’s happy release day to Lords of Iron, the third and concluding book in the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy. Let’s talk about battle standards #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #LordsofIron #histfic January 5, 2026 It’s happy release day to Lords of Iron, the third and concluding book in the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy. Watch and listen to a short recording about the research books I used #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #LordsofIron #histfic January 5, 2026 It’s nearly happy release day to Lords of Iron, the third and concluding book in the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy. Let’s talk about Wærmund, warrior of the Gyrwe #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #LordsofIron #histfic January 4, 2026 It’s nearly happy release day to Lords of Iron, the third and concluding book in the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy. Here are the original (very long) historical notes for Men of Iron #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #LordsofIron #histfic January 3, 2026 It’s nearly happy release day to Lords of Iron, the third and concluding book in the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy. Let’s talk about Meddi , the seeress of the Eorlingas #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #LordsofIron #histfic January 2, 2026 2025 – A Writing Year in Review January 1, 2026 The inspiration for The Barrage Body, book 4 in The Erdington Mysteries (and why this isn’t quite the book I thought it would be) #histfic #mystery December 16, 2025 It’s happy release day to The Barrage Body, book 4 in The Erdington Mysteries #histfic #mystery November 30, 2025 The Secret Sauce is on blog tour with Rachel’s Random Resources hosts. Check out the reviews, blog posts and Q & As below #histfic #historicalmystery November 19, 2025 Shield of Mercia is now available. Return to the world of young Icel, and listen to me rabbiting on, again #newrelease #histfic #TheEagleofMerciaChronicles #audio October 5, 2025 It’s happy release day to Shield of Mercia. Return to the world of young Icel. I attempt to summarise all the books in just 20 seconds each. #newrelease #histfic #TheEagleofMerciaChornicles October 3, 2025 Letter writing in the Eleventh Century, how I recreated Lady Estrid’s connections with her vast family. #non-fiction #histfic September 20, 2025 What languages were being spoken in Post-Roman Britain? #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #histfic September 17, 2025 The Saxon Settlement of Tamworth in the 800s July 16, 2025 It’s happy release day to Warriors of Iron, the second book in the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #histfic July 13, 2025 Warfare during the Saxon period. What we know and what we don’t about the battle of Hædfeld. #GodsAndKingsTrilogy #histfic May 25, 2025 It’s happy release day to Betrayal of Mercia, so I’m sharing a post about Crime and Punishment in Saxon England January 5, 2025 It’s happy release day to Betrayal of Mercia, so I’m sharing a post about Mercia’s alleged ‘Bad Queens.’ January 5, 2025 It’s happy release day to The Last Deceit, book 10 in The Last King series, so I’m sharing a blog post about my decision to include a fictional character December 26, 2024 MJ Porter’s Saxon Stories Order and Series Pages | Infographic July 27, 2024 The Royal Women Who Made England: The Tenth Century in Saxon England. But who were these royal women? January 29, 2024 I’m welcoming Anthea Laurelton and Fearless Hearts Forbidden Love to the blog #HistoricalRomance #SpartanRomance #HistoricalFantasy #HeartsOfSparta #FearlessHeartsForbiddenLove #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub July 21, 2026 I’m welcoming G.G. MacLeod to the blog with VIA MALORUM #AncientRome #Agrippina #Messalina #DarkRomantasy #PsychThriller #Giallo #BlogTour #ReaderReach #TheCoffeePotBookClub #YardeBookPromotions July 16, 2026

It’s time… 757, the first book in the brand-new series, The House of Mercia, is now available. Listen to me talking about the new book #fiction #TalesOfMercia I recorded this when 757 was complete Here’s the blurb for 757 This is Mercia. The year is 757.  A king will fall. A king will rise.  But first, civil war will rage. King Æthelbald’s forty-year vice-like rule over Mercia has been rigid. But he lacks a legitimate heir despite his insatiable bedchamber antics. Offa must stand hostage to his family’s good behaviour, when his father missteps in removing his mother from Æthelbald’s bed. Shockingly, his younger sister now replaces her. But the king isn’t finished with his denigration of Offa’s noble House. When his parents are traitorously killed, Offa’s resentment grows, compounded by the ridicule heaped on him by King Æthelbald’s oathsworn warriors. With the king’s health deteriorating, the matter of the succession becomes paramount. There are plenty who share a claim to the kingship. Discord threatens to fracture the mighty realm, and those with sword and shield, seax and spear are prepared to risk it all to be the future king of Mercia. books2read.com/757 Or buy a signed copy direct from me Join my Boldwood newsletter to receive a free prequel short story, written exclusively for the the release of The House of Mercia series. https://BookHip.com/MKSKVRX Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming Anthea Laurelton and Fearless Hearts Forbidden Love to the blog #HistoricalRomance #SpartanRomance #HistoricalFantasy #HeartsOfSparta #FearlessHeartsForbiddenLove #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub Action and adventure · Blog Tour · fantasy · fiction · historical fiction · Historical Romance I’m welcoming G.G. MacLeod to the blog with VIA MALORUM #AncientRome #Agrippina #Messalina #DarkRomantasy #PsychThriller #Giallo #BlogTour #ReaderReach #TheCoffeePotBookClub #YardeBookPromotions Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · fantasy · historical fiction · Roman Fiction · Yarde Book Reviews I’m delighted to welcome a returning Helen Golden to the blog with her new book, A Blighter is Bumped Off-#bookreview #historicalmystery #blogtour #avidreader Blog Tour · book review · Cozy Mystery · murder mystery · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m welcoming the Wordsmith’s Guide to Writing Authentic Dialogue by Elizabeth M Hurst to the blog #blogtour #nonfiction #writingadvice Blog Tour · book review · Rachel’s Random Resources · writing

I’m welcoming Anthea Laurelton and Fearless Hearts Forbidden Love to the blog #HistoricalRomance Here’s the blurb To save her city, she must risk her life. To fulfil his oath, he must harden his heart. Together, they stand to lose everything. Spartan warrior, Diokles, has waited years for the opportunity to right a failure that torments his heart and integrity. Sent to hunt down a threat to Sparta, this campaign may be his final chance to restore his honour and uncover the traitor whose actions blighted his life. Success is at his fingertips, but when duty forces him to take an unwilling accomplice, his plans are challenged in ways he never foresaw. Leandra, high priestess of Apollysis, stands at the edge of revelation and ruin. Haunted by fragments of a forgotten past, she alone can uncover the truth that will save her city. To do so, she must wear the fabled Coronet of Apollo, a sacred act that could cost her life. Bound together by necessity and desire, captor and captive race into danger the closer they draw to the shrine of Apollo. With a relentless enemy closing in, one who seeks Diokles dead and Leandra for himself, their growing passion becomes both their greatest strength and their most perilous weakness. In a time where prophecy, honour, and blood rule, love was never part of the plan. An epic historical adventure romance of bravery, betrayal, and forbidden desire. Fully edited, revised version of ‘SpartanQuest – Salvation’ with extra scenes. Triggers: Love scenes on the page – Romance heat level 3. Some battle scenes. Buy Link http://www.books2read.com/HeartsofSparta-1 Meet the author Anthea Laurelton writes sweeping romances inspired by Ancient Sparta and Greek mythology. Her stories combine historical elements, forbidden love, dangerous quests and emotionally complex heroines for readers of mythological and historical fantasy. A fan of sword and sandal movies, her plots blend slow-burn romance, dangerous quests, warrior culture and family intrigue for readers who crave epic adventures. Falling in love with Greek mythology at the age of thirteen, her love of the Spartans especially, came after reading Roger Lancelyn Green’s THE TALE OF TROY where she cheered on Menelaus to take his queen back! She left a career in IT to pursue her passion for storytelling and pander to an extremely spoilt German Shepherd whom she refers to as ‘The Muse’.  A former equestrian, Anthea enjoys keeping active and has a bucket list of travel destinations waiting to be fulfilled.  www.anthealaurelton.com Facebook Instagram Amazon Goodreads X Follow the Fearless Hearts Forbidden Love by Anthea Laurelton blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming Anthea Laurelton and Fearless Hearts Forbidden Love to the blog #HistoricalRomance #SpartanRomance #HistoricalFantasy #HeartsOfSparta #FearlessHeartsForbiddenLove #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub Action and adventure · Blog Tour · fantasy · fiction · historical fiction · Historical Romance I’m welcoming G.G. MacLeod to the blog with VIA MALORUM #AncientRome #Agrippina #Messalina #DarkRomantasy #PsychThriller #Giallo #BlogTour #ReaderReach #TheCoffeePotBookClub #YardeBookPromotions Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · fantasy · historical fiction · Roman Fiction · Yarde Book Reviews I’m delighted to welcome a returning Helen Golden to the blog with her new book, A Blighter is Bumped Off-#bookreview #historicalmystery #blogtour #avidreader Blog Tour · book review · Cozy Mystery · murder mystery · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m welcoming the Wordsmith’s Guide to Writing Authentic Dialogue by Elizabeth M Hurst to the blog #blogtour #nonfiction #writingadvice Blog Tour · book review · Rachel’s Random Resources · writing

I’m welcoming G.G. MacLeod to the blog with VIA MALORUM #AncientRome #Agrippina #Messalina #DarkRomantasy #PsychThriller #Giallo #BlogTour #ReaderReach #TheCoffeePotBookClub #YardeBookPromotions Here’s the blurb In the shadows of Rome power bleeds red. In the shadowed streets of ancient Rome, 37 CE, power is a blade that cuts both ways. Agrippina, a towering enigma of ambition, slips from Caligula’s gilded cage with her newborn son, Domitius, her mind a labyrinth of cold calculation. At her side prowls Messalina, a siren in scarlet, her seductive cunning as deadly as her blade. Together, they navigate a city teeming with decadence and deceit, pursued by whispers of treachery and the emperor’s wrath. Their journey leads to the Temple of Fortuna where the enigmatic Prophet Cassandra unveils a cryptic fate – one that demands sacrifice and promises blood. As alleys echo with violence and forbidden passions ignite, Agrippina’s quest for dominion collides with Messalina’s ruthless desires. In a night where every step drips with danger, who will rise and who will fall? VIA MALORUM is a visceral plunge into the heart of Roman darkness, blending historical intrigue with the chilling allure of giallo. Prepare for a tale where power bleeds red, and trust is a luxury none can afford. Any Triggers: Some rough lesbian sex, moderate violence. https://books2read.com/u/bMkq6a Meet the author The author is a 59-year-old Canadian male based in Calgary. The author has always had a tendency of combining genres like horror and action along with drama, psychological thrillers, giallo, and sometimes even comedy.  It really depends on how the author feels from moment to moment as they write because the author likes to entertain themselves first and then hope that a smattering of other people out there in the world will like it as well. Instagram TikTok Amazon Goodreads X Follow the Via Malorum by GG MacLeod blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming G.G. MacLeod to the blog with VIA MALORUM #AncientRome #Agrippina #Messalina #DarkRomantasy #PsychThriller #Giallo #BlogTour #ReaderReach #TheCoffeePotBookClub #YardeBookPromotions Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · fantasy · historical fiction · Roman Fiction · Yarde Book Reviews I’m delighted to welcome a returning Helen Golden to the blog with her new book, A Blighter is Bumped Off-#bookreview #historicalmystery #blogtour #avidreader Blog Tour · book review · Cozy Mystery · murder mystery · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m welcoming the Wordsmith’s Guide to Writing Authentic Dialogue by Elizabeth M Hurst to the blog #blogtour #nonfiction #writingadvice Blog Tour · book review · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources · writing I’m welcoming Andrea Goyan and her new book, The Catalyst, to the blog, with an inspiring post for all those writers out there #blogtour #scifi #writersadvice Blog Tour · Rachel’s Random Resources · Sci Fi

I recorded this after completing the strutural edits for 757 Here’s the blurb for 757 This is Mercia. The year is 757.  A king will fall. A king will rise.  But first, civil war will rage. King Æthelbald’s forty-year vice-like rule over Mercia has been rigid. But he lacks a legitimate heir despite his insatiable bedchamber antics. Offa must stand hostage to his family’s good behaviour, when his father missteps in removing his mother from Æthelbald’s bed. Shockingly, his younger sister now replaces her. But the king isn’t finished with his denigration of Offa’s noble House. When his parents are traitorously killed, Offa’s resentment grows, compounded by the ridicule heaped on him by King Æthelbald’s oathsworn warriors. With the king’s health deteriorating, the matter of the succession becomes paramount. There are plenty who share a claim to the kingship. Discord threatens to fracture the mighty realm, and those with sword and shield, seax and spear are prepared to risk it all to be the future king of Mercia. books2read.com/757 Or buy a signed copy direct from me Join my Boldwood newsletter to receive a free prequel short story, written exclusively for the the release of The House of Mercia series. https://BookHip.com/MKSKVRX Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m delighted to welcome a returning Helen Golden to the blog with her new book, A Blighter is Bumped Off-#bookreview #historicalmystery #blogtour #avidreader Blog Tour · book review · Cozy Mystery · murder mystery · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m welcoming the Wordsmith’s Guide to Writing Authentic Dialogue by Elizabeth M Hurst to the blog #blogtour #nonfiction #writingadvice Blog Tour · book review · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources · writing I’m welcoming Andrea Goyan and her new book, The Catalyst, to the blog, with an inspiring post for all those writers out there #blogtour #scifi #writersadvice Blog Tour · Rachel’s Random Resources · Sci Fi I’m welcoming The Dowager’s Grand Triumph by Susanne Dunlap to the blog #blogtour #RegencyRomance Blog Tour · book review · historical fiction · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources

Image of the crypt at Repton Image of the crypt at Repton Image of the crypt at Repton Image of the crypt at Repton Image of the crypt at Repton Image of the crypt at Repton Image of the crypt at Repton Here’s the blurb for 757 This is Mercia. The year is 757.  A king will fall. A king will rise.  But first, civil war will rage. King Æthelbald’s forty-year vice-like rule over Mercia has been rigid. But he lacks a legitimate heir despite his insatiable bedchamber antics. Offa must stand hostage to his family’s good behaviour, when his father missteps in removing his mother from Æthelbald’s bed. Shockingly, his younger sister now replaces her. But the king isn’t finished with his denigration of Offa’s noble House. When his parents are traitorously killed, Offa’s resentment grows, compounded by the ridicule heaped on him by King Æthelbald’s oathsworn warriors. With the king’s health deteriorating, the matter of the succession becomes paramount. There are plenty who share a claim to the kingship. Discord threatens to fracture the mighty realm, and those with sword and shield, seax and spear are prepared to risk it all to be the future king of Mercia. books2read.com/757 Or buy a signed copy direct from me Join my Boldwood newsletter to receive a free prequel short story, written exclusively for the the release of The House of Mercia series. https://BookHip.com/MKSKVRX Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m delighted to welcome a returning Helen Golden to the blog with her new book, A Blighter is Bumped Off-#bookreview #historicalmystery #blogtour #avidreader Blog Tour · book review · Cozy Mystery · murder mystery · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m welcoming the Wordsmith’s Guide to Writing Authentic Dialogue by Elizabeth M Hurst to the blog #blogtour #nonfiction #writingadvice Blog Tour · book review · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources · writing I’m welcoming Andrea Goyan and her new book, The Catalyst, to the blog, with an inspiring post for all those writers out there #blogtour #scifi #writersadvice Blog Tour · Rachel’s Random Resources · Sci Fi I’m welcoming The Dowager’s Grand Triumph by Susanne Dunlap to the blog #blogtour #RegencyRomance Blog Tour · book review · historical fiction · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources

I'm delighted to welcome a returning Helen Golden to the blog with her new book, A Blighter is Bumped Off-#bookreview #historicalmystery #blogtour #avidreader @rararesources

I'm welcoming the Wordsmith’s Guide to Writing Authentic Dialogue by Elizabeth M Hurst to the blog #blogtour #nonfiction #writingadvice

I’m welcoming Andrea Goyan and her new book, The Catalyst, to the blog, with an inspiring post for all those writers out there #blogtour #scifi #writersadvice Thank you for inviting me to write a guest blog. I’m delighted to be here with you and your readers.  My post today directly relates to writers, but I think anyone who navigates risks, rejections, or affirmations will relate on some level because I we all face similar angels and demons.  “Thank You for Sharing Your Work with Us. Unfortunately…”   —Random Editor Ouch. These or similar words of rejection litter every writer’s email inbox. If you’re submitting work, receiving lots of them is part of the deal.   I want to recognize that sending stories (or anything) out into the world is an act of courage. Opening ourselves up for criticism or rejection risks bruising souls and fragile egos. It is not easy. But the need to be seen and heard—read—keeps most of us in the game. “Thank You for Sharing Your Work with Us. We’d be delighted to publish…”  —Favorite Random Editor  Yes! These are the emails we live for. But as fabulous as those acceptances, encouragement, and love are, those joyful feelings are fleeting. Fairy dust that blows away with the first breeze. The need for more, more, more feels akin to an addiction.  “Can you help us out?” —Magazine Editor  When I started submitting short stories to small markets seriously, I was thrilled that the online process was loads easier than the old-fashioned, snail-mail way. Faster, easier, less wasteful, but as nerve-wracking as ever. And rejections…ugh. Each one stung like a blade slipped between my ribs, touching my heart. I commiserated with other fiction writers, weeping onto my keyboard. Wondered why or if I should continue. The game seemed impossible. But I did continue, and a funny thing happened. I met a ton of other writers, and my writing community grew.  I watched how other writers managed their submissions, and found that the more I submitted, the less precious any one submission became, and its rejection hurt less when I had other pieces out for consideration. Every successful writer I know submits all the time. They look like they’re accepted and published by everyone, but they still get tons of rejections. It’s a numbers game. The more pieces out, the more potential, the more noes, and the more yeses.  More visibility led editors to ask for my help. I accepted, and I learned some surprising things along the way. Some of my most valuable insights came from being a slush reader for a magazine and serving as a judge for a few contests. The positions were different, but the similarities showed me how random a lot of editorial decisions are. They aren’t only about if the story is good, tons of great stories are rejected—I’ve rejected some. There are ineffable lists of criteria beyond any writer’s control. I found a lot of peace in that knowledge, and it made the rejections less personal—of course, they’d never been personal. They simply felt that way.  “Your work is more important than how you feel about it.”  —Claudette Sutherland, Mentor She’s retired now, but those words were like a mantra for Claudette. Her students oohed and ahhed whenever she said them, while I secretly wondered what the hell she meant. What I felt mattered to me and still does. It took me years to understand she wasn’t attacking my feelings. I believe she wanted us to get out of our own way. Stop whining about all the reasons we didn’t do and just do. Stop editing our work and push forward. Tell our egos to take a back seat for a while and set our creativity free.  “I can do this.” —Me, circa 2025-26 This past year, while I’ve been continually working on The Catalyst, I’ve been too busy to worry about rejections. Too busy to send out many submissions either. The novel’s deadlines were fast and unrelenting, and they forced me to move. To do. Always stepping forward and outside of my comfort zone.  I met the challenges and learned that what really matters, what really heals my bruised ego and feeds my soul, is the work itself. Not how other people receive it. It’s the act of creating, the spark, the fire that burns until it’s consumed at its source, leading to words on the page. Creating the thing, whatever that thing is. That’s the only thing I can hold onto and call my own. What anyone else feels about it belongs to them.  Thank you for sharing such a fab post:) And yes, rejection is part of the game, but the act of creating, and the joy it brings, is why we keep on keeping on! Here’s the blurb When human bodies are found with scales and tails, DNA specialist Kat Crocker is assigned to uncover the cause of the mutations and stop them before they spread. But her growing visibility makes her a target. As attacks escalate, the trail leads her to a newly released VR game powered by impossible genetics—and to one man: the mentor who taught her everything, the father she buried years ago. Purchase Link https://www.amazon.co.uk/Catalyst-Kat-Crocker-Book-ebook/dp/B0H67WYZ8N/ https://www.amazon.com/Catalyst-Kat-Crocker-Book-ebook/dp/B0H67WYZ8N/ Meet the author Andrea Goyan is an award-winning author and an avid animal person who grew up being called Goat-Girl and Raccoon-Mama. She is a grateful part of a flock of collaborative Magpie Poets whose first collection, An Illegal Feast, was released in 2025. Andrea also co-hosts MetaStellar Magazine’s “Long-Lost Friends” and “Storytime.” In her spare time, she walks her dogs and loves to paint, especially animal portraits.  Many of her stories are available for free on her website. Facebook Bluesky Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming Andrea Goyan and her new book, The Catalyst, to the blog, with an inspiring post for all those writers out there #blogtour #scifi #writersadvice Blog Tour · Rachel’s Random Resources · Sci Fi I’m welcoming The Dowager’s Grand Triumph by Susanne Dunlap to the blog #blogtour #RegencyRomance Blog Tour · book review · historical fiction · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m welcoming Fables & Lies: A World War II Novel Based on a True Story by Elizabeth Storrs to the blog #FablesAndLies #HistoricalFiction #WW2Fiction #enemiestolovers #darkfamilysecrets #undercoveragent #truestory #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub  Blog Tour · WW2 I’m sharing my review for a delightful cozy mystery, set in France, The Fatal Farandole by Ana T Drew #cozymystery #bookreview historical fiction

I'm welcoming The Dowager's Grand Triumph by Susanne Dunlap to the blog #blogtour #RegencyRomance @rararesources

I’m welcoming Fables & Lies: A World War II Novel Based on a True Story by Elizabeth Storrs to the blog #FablesAndLies Excerpt 4: Chapter Eighteen Klosterheide, December 1939 Freyja climbed the stairs behind the matron, peering into rooms where wintry sunlight poured through arched windows. Chubby toddlers and preschoolers sat on miniature railed wooden chairs at a bench. They ate from steel bowls, guarded by Brown Sisters pouring milk from pitchers into beakers. Freyja inhaled the aroma of freshly baked bread, amazed to see steamed vegetables and jacket potatoes heaped on the platters. The abundance was startling. Berliners struggled to find fresh produce with the British blockade squeezing supply lines. ‘For all this, we must thank the Führer,’ said the matron. ‘And Reichsführer Himmler believes in the best nutrition for these children.’ ‘Tante!’ Siggi waved from the far side of the room then ran towards her. Clipping a chair leg, he fell heavily. Blood spurted from his nose. Before she could reach him, a nurse yanked him to his feet, barking at him to stop whining. Matrone Hildegarde gripped Freyja’s wrist with blunt fingers. ‘Leave him. We’re making soldiers here, not encouraging cry-babies.’ She tried to break from her, but the woman held firm and growled an order to take the child to the infirmary. Dismayed, Freyja watched her sobbing nephew dragged away. Hildegarde glowered. ‘Siegfried has been coddled by his mother. Frankly, Hauptsturmführer von Erlbach and his wife should adopt him. Or he should be given to another deserving SS couple. It’s highly unusual to let a Lebensborn mother raise a child.’ She headed for another flight of stairs. Freyja hesitated, unsure whether to search for Siggi but doubted she’d find him in the maze of corridors. She hurried up the stairs behind the retreating figure of the matron. She was sickened by the threat to Volla. Her sister’s greatest fear was Otto giving her sons to his wife. Freyja prayed von Erlbach would never betray her. The air reeked of ether and ammonia on the next floor. Freyja saw a tiled operating theatre. The delivery bed looked forbidding, with a huge arc lamp suspended over it. A portable stand with two empty drips stood nearby. Poor Volla. Instead of giving birth with Mutti to assist her, she’d been tended by cold-hearted fanatics. The mewling of a baby drew her attention to a nursery next door. Brown Sisters moved between dozens of cribs with lace valances and flowered blankets. Babies in identical knitted caps lay in each. Blue or pink name tags were attached to the infants’ wrists, illustrated with either a boy or girl baby holding the trident-shaped Lebensrune symbol. Freyja stood aghast at the production line. ‘How many babies are here?’ ‘There are one hundred beds available in this clinic,’ said the matron. ‘Modest compared to Home Steinhoring in Munich. Nine homes have been established across Germany and more are planned. Any valuable Aryan girl who finds herself in trouble to a good German soldier can be admitted to a Lebensborn home. Of course, a high racial standard is required. Every mother of good blood must be holy.’ A Brown Sister approached, carrying a baby. The infant was shrieking, tonsils and tongue ululating. ‘It’s time for him to be fed, Matrone.’ Hildegarde claimed the child. ‘I’ll drop him off.’ ‘Where’s his mother?’ asked Freyja, aware she’d seen no women other than Brown Sisters. ‘In the maternity ward. It’s best to keep maternal contact to a minimum given the children will be adopted.’ Freyja imagined the girls’ distress. ‘It must be hard for them to give up their babies.’ The matron frowned. ‘Individual needs must be subordinated to the State, Fräulein. These women are doing their duty for the Vaterland. Reichsführer Himmler says eliminating abortions and saving unborn boys will lead to more than two hundred regiments of soldiers in twenty years’ time. Add girls, and in two decades we could have half a million additional decent Germans. We must outnumber the offspring of those vile Jewish refugees who’ve flooded in from the East.’ Freyja hid her disgust as she scanned the rows of bassinets. ‘Which one is my nephew?’ Here’s the blurb Under a brutal regime, what price must be paid to preserve truth, treasure and love in a world built on lies? WWII Berlin. Freyja Bremer, a patriotic museum assistant, marries Kaspar Voigt, an ambitious SS scholar, to protect her father. Yet she is unaware her husband is instrumental in Himmler’s twisted quest for Aryan supremacy. As she strives to safeguard the priceless Priam’s Treasure from air raids, Freyja falls in love with Darien Lessing, an archaeologist who exposes the moral decay beneath the Regime’s myths. Her awakening drives her into perilous resistance — aiding a Jewish doctor and his wife, Darien’s sister — while uncovering Kaspar’s role in the SS’s darkest programs, which subvert history to justify invasion, abduction and murder. As Berlin collapses into chaos and bloodshed, Freyja, caught between duty, deception and desire, must risk everything to preserve truth in a world built on lies. A heartbreaking yet triumphant love story, Fables & Lies shines light on lesser-known aspects of the Nazi Regime. It gives voice to the complex moral struggles of German women, the forgotten resistance of Gentiles married to Jews, the dangers of contested history, the evils of Himmler’s racial studies program and the unsung bravery of German museum curators who saved their nation’s treasures. Perfect for readers of Kelly Rimmer, Anthony Doer and Laura Morelli.  Any Triggers: The book contains offensive Nazi ideology together with graphic war imagery (including rape) still birth and bereavement. Praise for Fables & Lies: “A heartrending story of a young woman caught in the machinations of the Third Reich and in the web of a regime-compliant family. The novel is meticulously researched and emotionally resonant, sure to delight readers who love a hearty feast of history in their fiction.”~ Olivia Hawker, bestselling author of The Ragged Edge of Night “A powerful and heartbreaking story set in war-torn Berlin, FABLES & LIES charts the slow dawning horror of a young woman as she realises all she has been taught about Hitler and the Third Reich is a lie. Impeccably researched and sensitively rendered, Elisabeth Storrs has shone a light on little-known aspects of life in Germany under the Nazi regime.” ~ Kate Forsyth, bestselling author of Bitter Greens “Written from the little explored German viewpoint, FABLES & LIES is a gripping account of the quest to save the world’s great antiquities during WW2 and an ode to those women and men who risked all for freedom. A beautifully written novel. I’ve never read anything like it.” ~ Nicole Alexander, author of The Limestone Road “Elisabeth Storrs has indeed broken the mould by writing ‘from the other side’. Evocative, detailed and heart-rending as the heroine journeys through disillusion and danger in the Third Reich.” ~ Alison Morton, author of the Roma Nova series “A chilling and meticulously researched journey into the shadow world of the Ahnenerbe. Blending historical rigor with gripping fiction, FABLES & LIES reminds us of the devastating consequences when history is twisted to serve power.” ~ Leah Kaminsky, author of The Hollow Bones Buy Link  https://books2read.com/fablesandlies * Goodreads Giveaway * https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/442105-fables-lies-a-wwii-novel-based-on-a-true-story Meet the author Elisabeth Storrs has a great love for history and myths. She is the award-winning author of A Tale of Ancient Rome trilogy which was endorsed by Ursula Le Guin, Kate Quinn and Ben Kane. Now her obsession lies with Trojan treasure and twisted Germanic prehistory in her new release, Fables & Lies: A World War II Novel. Elisabeth is also the founder of the Historical Novel Society Australasia and the $155,000 ARA Historical Novel Prize. She lives in Sydney with her husband in a house surrounded by jacarandas. https://www.elisabethstorrs.com Instagram Facebook Pinterest TikTok Amazon Goodreads X https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elisabeth-storrs   Follow the Fables & Lies by Elizabeth Storrs blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming Fables & Lies: A World War II Novel Based on a True Story by Elizabeth Storrs to the blog #FablesAndLies #HistoricalFiction #WW2Fiction #enemiestolovers #darkfamilysecrets #undercoveragent #truestory #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub  Blog Tour · WW2 I’m sharing my review for a delightful cozy mystery, set in France, The Fatal Farandole by Ana T Drew #cozymystery #bookreview historical fiction I’m sharing my review for Death of a Fugitive, the second book in John Pilkington’s Elizabethan mysteries featuring Matthew Cutler #histfic #historicalmystery #bookreview Elizabethan · historical fiction · Historical Mystery · murder mystery · Mystery I’m welcoming Nicola Harris to the blog with her new novel, Infidel #InfidelTheDaughtersOfAragon #NicolaHarris #CatherineOfAragon #HistoricalFiction #TudorHistory #BookTour #BlogTour #YardeBookPromotions biographical historical fiction · Blog Tour · Yarde Book Reviews

I’m sharing my review for a delightful cozy mystery, set in France, The Fatal Farandole by Ana T Drew #cozymystery #bookreview Here’s the blurb The Fatal Farandole is a cozy mystery full of plot twists and small-town secrets. It’s perfect for fans of character-driven crime novels with emotional depth. A beloved Provençal festival. A murderous conspiracy. A bullfighter who knows too much. When two local chefs are killed within a week, shockwaves ripple through the region’s tight-knit culinary world. Suspicion lands squarely on baker Julie Cavallo. As whispers turn to accusations, her eccentric family closes ranks, and her loyal friends rally to her side. But Julie’s running out of time. Her pastry shop is at risk. Her love life is unraveling. The gendarmes are tracking her every move. Julie can’t afford to wait for the official investigation to uncover the truth. Her instincts go into overdrive. Dots connect. Patterns appear… Can Julie make it through this case, when asking the right questions has already gotten others killed? Purchase Links https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F749KMMK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F749KMMK My Review The Fatal Farandole is the latest release in this cozy mystery series. As it’s book 9, it did take me a while to get to know the characters. And although I’m never one to say you have to read a series in order, perhaps on this occasion, it might help to start with the first book, especially as the new mystery is so good. We begin straight away with our character in a tricky situation and the story unfolds quickly from there, as we learn what’s happening, alongside our main character. There is much discussion of food and mysteries and I look forward to going back to the beginning with this engaging and well-written mystery. Meet the author Ana T. Drew is the evil mastermind behind a recent string of murders in the fictional French town of Beldoc. A first-place winner of the Chanticleer MYSTERY & MAYHEM Awards, her books have been released in several languages, both independently and through traditional houses, including HarperCollins France and Straarup & Co. When she’s not plotting mysteries, Ana can be found perfecting her low-carb cookie recipes or watching The Rookie to cope with the void left by Castle. Ana lives in Paris with her husband and their dog, but her heart resides in Provence. https://www.ana-drew.com Facebook Goodreads Giveaway to Win a boxset of the three books in the Provence Mysteries Series (Open INT)  Win a boxset of the three books in the Provence Mysteries Series (Open INT) https://gleam.io/W5YAJ/win-a-boxset-of-the-three-books-in-the-provence-mysteries-series-open-int *Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize. Posts Stay up to date with the latest from our blog. I’m sharing my review for a delightful cozy mystery, set in France, The Fatal Farandole by Ana T Drew #cozymystery #bookreview historical fiction I’m sharing my review for Death of a Fugitive, the second book in John Pilkington’s Elizabethan mysteries featuring Matthew Cutler #histfic #historicalmystery #bookreview Elizabethan · historical fiction · Historical Mystery · murder mystery · Mystery I’m welcoming Nicola Harris to the blog with her new novel, Infidel #InfidelTheDaughtersOfAragon #NicolaHarris #CatherineOfAragon #HistoricalFiction #TudorHistory #BookTour #BlogTour #YardeBookPromotions biographical historical fiction · Blog Tour · Yarde Book Reviews I’m reviewing Harbour of Thieves by Richard Cullen, a brand new 19th century tale of smugglers and North Yorkshire #historicalfiction #bookreview Blog Tour · Boldwood Books · book review · historical fiction · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources

I’m sharing my review for Death of a Fugitive, the second book in John Pilkington’s Elizabethan mysteries featuring Matthew Cutler #histfic #historicalmystery #bookreview Here’s the blurb A BRAND NEW instalment in a gripping Tudor mystery from bestselling author John Pilkington. Perfect for fans of Andrew Taylor and S. J. Parris. This Ward, Cutler… it seethes, does it not? 1595, Bishopsgate Ward, London. Matthew Cutler, constable for the parish of Spitalfields, prides himself on always being on the side of justice. So when a young man on the run, whose only ‘crime’ was protesting about high prices and corruption, hides out in Bishopsgate, not for the first time Cutler finds his duties as constable at odds with his gut feeling. He feels compelled to help him, and not just because his daughter Jane is smitten with the plucky lad… Meanwhile there is trouble in Bishopsgate as fake coins keep turning up, convincing enough to fool many. Tensions rise and people are in fear of a brutal yet shadowy figure: the ‘coiner’ Thomas Gunnell, who seems to have eyes everywhere. Cutler must once again fall back on his skills of disguise, and risk his own life to root out Gunnell’s gang before they bring chaos to Bishopsgate Ward – and danger to everything he holds dear. Purchase Link https://amzn.to/4u5JErw My Review Death of a Fugitive is the secod book in the Bishopsgate Ward Mysteries, and I have read book 1. Like the first book, our main character is Matthew Cutler, although he is assisted by a number of collegues (if such they could be called). The story unfolds mostly through his eyes, as he pieces together events that have occured during a short absence from the ward. Quite a lot of time has elapsed since the first book – his oldest daughter is married, and his wife’s aunt is being pursued by a suitor, while his own fledgling love affair is largely absent in this book, aside from a few odd mentions. No sooner has he settled in the local tavern, than the mystery begins to unravel. Is there someone passing off fake coins in the area and how are they doing it? Cutler is resolved to finding out. Like the first book, Death of a Fugitive is filled with information about the late Tudor era. It is also written in a slightly archaic way, (purposefully), but once you get used to it, it doesn’t distract from the story, which rumbles along at a decent enough pace, although I found some elements a little slow. That said, this was a very enjoyable mystery and Cutler does once more, place himself in terrible danger in order to bring the enemy to justice, making some rather tricky decisions along the way. Check out my review for book 1 in the series, Death of a Stranger. Meet the author A writer for over forty years, John Pilkington was born in Lancashire and worked at many jobs including laboratory assistant, farm worker, weaver, shipping clerk, picture frame-maker and cabaret musician before taking a degree in Drama and English and finding his true 2 vocation. He has since written plays for radio and theatre, television scripts for a BBC soap, a short-lived children’s series and numerous works of historical fiction, concentrating now on the Tudor and Stuart eras. He also ventured into speculative fiction with his biography of Shakespeare’s famous jester, Yorick. He now lives in a village on a tidal estuary in Devon with his long-term partner Elisabeth; they have a son who is a psychologist and musician. When not at the desk he walks, swims, listens to music and tinkers with d.i.y. projects, and is enjoying being a grandfather. Connect with the author Bookbub profile: @jpscript Posts Stay up to date with the latest from our blog. I’m sharing my review for Death of a Fugitive, the second book in John Pilkington’s Elizabethan mysteries featuring Matthew Cutler #histfic #historicalmystery #bookreview Elizabethan · historical fiction · Historical Mystery · murder mystery · Mystery I’m welcoming Nicola Harris to the blog with her new novel, Infidel #InfidelTheDaughtersOfAragon #NicolaHarris #CatherineOfAragon #HistoricalFiction #TudorHistory #BookTour #BlogTour #YardeBookPromotions biographical historical fiction · Blog Tour · Yarde Book Reviews I’m reviewing Harbour of Thieves by Richard Cullen, a brand new 19th century tale of smugglers and North Yorkshire #historicalfiction #bookreview Blog Tour · Boldwood Books · book review · historical fiction · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m delighted to welcome Vicky Adin and her new book, Sarah’s Destiny, to the blog, #HistoricalFiction #VictorianWomen #workingclasswomen #enduringlove #Bristol #widows #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub  Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · historical fiction · New Release · writing

I’m introducing The Eagle Will Rise and reading the first chapter. Enjoy. Here’s the blurb The king is dead; for Mercia to survive, another must take his place. Coelwulf, Mercia’s last king, is dead. His legacy and right to rule Western Mercia have been claimed by Alfred of Wessex, but all know Alfred was never to have Mercia. Neither were the Viking raiders, who now command the eastern-most parts of Mercia and the former kingdom of the East Angles. Icel, the bastion of Mercia’s wars against Wessex and the Viking raiders, lies dying, but he refuses to abandon his beloved kingdom to her long-standing enemies. Rudolf, the once-young ally of King Coelwulf the second, is summoned by Icel to attend upon him. Grudgingly, he arrives at Budworth, the task laid before him, audacious to say the least; rescue Coelwulf’s acknowledged heir, Æthelred, from Wessex, where he’s held prisoner by King Alfred. To do so, Rudolf must prevail upon the dispersed oath-sworn warrior band of King Coelwulf, and all of them, aside from him, have ignored Icel’s increasingly furious demands to attend upon him. If they won’t obey Icel, then why should they listen to Rudolf? The fate of Mercia’s survival rests in the hands of a man who should long have been in his grave, and Rudolf, a boy who’s become a man in the most trying of circumstances. They must forge Æthelred into the emblem of Mercian survival. Or die trying. But first, they must rescue Æthelred from someone who’s always pretended to be Mercia’s ally, and is anything but. https://amzn.to/3PqbUGb (Kindle – it will be in KU as soon as I tick the correct button). Also available in paperback, large print and hardback. Check out The Sundered Kingdom Series Page on the blog Posts It’s happy release day to The Eagle Will Rise, the first book in The Sundered Kingdom Series. Listen to me talk about why I wrote this book #newbook #historicalfiction #Mercia May 7, 2026 Storm of Mercia is now available. This is also known as ‘the one on the ship.’ #histficbook #newrelease #authorinspiration April 5, 2026 Storm of Mercia is now available. Let’s talk about Wynflæd #histficbook #newrelease #characterinspiration April 4, 2026 Introducing Mercia: A Companion Guide to the Tales of Mercia April 2, 2026 It’s happy release day to Storm of Mercia. Return to the world of young Icel in the ninth book in the Eagle of Mercia Series. #histficbook #newrelease #HadPossessionOfThePlaceOfSlaughter April 1, 2026 It’s (nearly) happy release day to Storm of Mercia. Return to the world of young Icel in the ninth book in the Eagle of Mercia Series. #histficbook #newrelease March 25, 2026 The Secret Sauce is now available in audiobook format #histfic #historicalmystery March 24, 2026 Introducing The Ultimate Pantsers Writers’ Notebook by yours truly March 23, 2026 The Dark Age Chronicles might be complete, but I imagine my readers still have questions. Check out this blog post about what comes before (and what came after) #TheDarkAgeChronicles#MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #LordsofIron #histfic February 14, 2026 Introducing 757, the first book in the brand new series, The House of Mercia #fiction #nonfiction #Mercia February 12, 2026 It’s cover reveal time for Storm of Mercia. Return to the world of young Icel in the ninth book in the Eagle of Mercia Series. #coverreveal #preorder #histficbook February 7, 2026 It’s happy release day to Lords of Iron, the third and concluding book in the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy. Let’s talk about battle standards #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #LordsofIron #histfic January 5, 2026 It’s happy release day to Lords of Iron, the third and concluding book in the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy. Watch and listen to a short recording about the research books I used #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #LordsofIron #histfic January 5, 2026 It’s nearly happy release day to Lords of Iron, the third and concluding book in the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy. Let’s talk about Wærmund, warrior of the Gyrwe #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #LordsofIron #histfic January 4, 2026 It’s nearly happy release day to Lords of Iron, the third and concluding book in the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy. Here are the original (very long) historical notes for Men of Iron #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #LordsofIron #histfic January 3, 2026 It’s nearly happy release day to Lords of Iron, the third and concluding book in the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy. Let’s talk about Meddi , the seeress of the Eorlingas #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #LordsofIron #histfic January 2, 2026 2025 – A Writing Year in Review January 1, 2026 The inspiration for The Barrage Body, book 4 in The Erdington Mysteries (and why this isn’t quite the book I thought it would be) #histfic #mystery December 16, 2025 It’s happy release day to The Barrage Body, book 4 in The Erdington Mysteries #histfic #mystery November 30, 2025 The Secret Sauce is on blog tour with Rachel’s Random Resources hosts. Check out the reviews, blog posts and Q & As below #histfic #historicalmystery November 19, 2025 Shield of Mercia is now available. Return to the world of young Icel, and listen to me rabbiting on, again #newrelease #histfic #TheEagleofMerciaChronicles #audio October 5, 2025 It’s happy release day to Shield of Mercia. Return to the world of young Icel. I attempt to summarise all the books in just 20 seconds each. #newrelease #histfic #TheEagleofMerciaChornicles October 3, 2025 Letter writing in the Eleventh Century, how I recreated Lady Estrid’s connections with her vast family. #non-fiction #histfic September 20, 2025 What languages were being spoken in Post-Roman Britain? #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #histfic September 17, 2025 The Saxon Settlement of Tamworth in the 800s July 16, 2025 It’s happy release day to Warriors of Iron, the second book in the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy #newrelease #MenOfIron #WarriorsOfIron #histfic July 13, 2025 Warfare during the Saxon period. What we know and what we don’t about the battle of Hædfeld. #GodsAndKingsTrilogy #histfic May 25, 2025 It’s happy release day to Betrayal of Mercia, so I’m sharing a post about Crime and Punishment in Saxon England January 5, 2025 It’s happy release day to Betrayal of Mercia, so I’m sharing a post about Mercia’s alleged ‘Bad Queens.’ January 5, 2025 It’s happy release day to The Last Deceit, book 10 in The Last King series, so I’m sharing a blog post about my decision to include a fictional character December 26, 2024 MJ Porter’s Saxon Stories Order and Series Pages | Infographic July 27, 2024 The Royal Women Who Made England: The Tenth Century in Saxon England. But who were these royal women? January 29, 2024 I’m welcoming Nicola Harris to the blog with her new novel, Infidel #InfidelTheDaughtersOfAragon #NicolaHarris #CatherineOfAragon #HistoricalFiction #TudorHistory #BookTour #BlogTour #YardeBookPromotions May 6, 2026 I’m reviewing Harbour of Thieves by Richard Cullen, a brand new 19th century tale of smugglers and North Yorkshire #historicalfiction #bookreview May 5, 2026 I’m delighted to welcome Vicky Adin and her new book, Sarah’s Destiny, to the blog, #HistoricalFiction #VictorianWomen #workingclasswomen #enduringlove #Bristol #widows #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub  May 5, 2026 I’m reviewing the new book in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Italian Mysteries, Murder in Rome by TA Williams #BookReview #BlogTour #CosyCrime #ContemporaryCrime May 2, 2026 I’m welcoming Maryka Biaggio and her new book, Margery and Me, to the blog #MargeryandMe #historicalfiction #realpeople #TheCoffeePotBookClub #BlogTour April 30, 2026

I’m welcoming Nicola Harris to the blog with her new novel, Infidel Guest post by Nicola Harris My research for Infidel began long before I ever thought of writing a novel about Catherine of Aragón. It began on a beach in Tenerife, years before tourism transformed the island. To a child, it felt like another world. The light, the heat, the colours, the food, the rhythm of life.  I was fortunate enough to spend a great deal of time with a Spanish family who welcomed me into their home and their culture year after year. They taught me fragments of their language and, more importantly, the stories that shaped their history. Through them, I first encountered the world of Muslim Spain and the Catholic warrior monarchs who fought to reclaim it. It was impossible not to be fascinated. Catalina’s mother, Isabella of Castile, stood out immediately. She was disciplined, relentless, and utterly convinced of her divine purpose. She was also a mother raising her children in a kingdom defined by conflict. That tension between power and vulnerability became the foundation of my interest in Catalina’s early life. Before she was a queen, she was a child shaped by siege warfare, political ambition, and the expectations of a dynasty that demanded strength from its daughters. As I began to research more deeply, I found myself drawn to the wider world that touched Catalina’s childhood. I have always been captivated by the fall of Constantinople and the Turkish Sultan Mehmed II’s audacious plan to take the city.  On a trip to Turkey a few years ago, I spoke with a Turkish waiter about his view of the sultan. His pride and respect for Mehmed stayed with me. It reminded me that history is never simple. Every figure we study has another side, another story, another set of loyalties and beliefs.  That conversation helped me approach the period with a wider lens, aware that the Christian and Muslim worlds were not simply enemies but complex civilisations with their own brilliance and contradictions. Juana of Castile, Catalina’s older sister, became a vital part of the novel for this reason. She is often reduced to the label Juana the Mad, but she was far more than that. In Infidel, Juana allows me to explore the moral questions surrounding the Muslim wars and the Inquisition.  She is outspoken, intelligent, and unwilling to accept cruelty as the natural cost of faith. Through her, I could give voice to the discomfort a modern reader might feel when confronted with the punishments and persecutions of the age. Without revealing too much, Juana’s own journey takes her far from home, and the emotional cost of that distance shapes her view of the world. Her brother Juan was married to Margaret of Austria, who is frequently remembered for educating Anne Boleyn. What is less often acknowledged is that long before Anne ever entered Margaret’s household, Catalina was already connected to Margaret by family. In Infidel, those family connections matter. It reminds us that Catalina did not exist only in relation to Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. She belonged to a wider European network of women whose lives, loyalties, and alliances shaped the courts that Anne would later enter. There is a great deal of sadness in this story, because there was a great deal of sadness in Catalina’s early life. She lost people she loved. She witnessed the brutality of war. She learned to read cyphers and how to read hearts. She watched her parents arguing over her father’s love affairs. She learned to stand firm even when everything around her was shifting.  Her childhood was not soft or sheltered. It was an ordeal. She came face to face with native Americans who were snatched from their land and brought to the palace. I wanted to understand what forged her, what hardened her, and what gave her the strength she carried into England. Her resilience did not appear by magic. It was earned. Infidel grew from all these threads: my early love of Spain, my fascination with the fall of Constantinople, my respect for the complexity of the period, my interest in the overlooked connections between women like Catalina and Margaret of Austria, and my desire to show Catalina not as a symbol but as a girl shaped by fire.  She was fierce, vulnerable, determined, and unforgettable long before she became a Tudor queen. I wanted to bring that girl to life. I wanted to show the sisters who stood beside her, the world that formed her, and the dynasty that demanded so much from its daughters. Here’s the blurb Born in the glittering courts of Castile and Aragon and forged in the shadow of war, Catalina de Aragón grows up surrounded by queens, rebels, and explorers. She is her mother’s last daughter, the final jewel of a dynasty built on conquest and faith, and the one child Isabella of Castile cannot bear to lose. But destiny has already claimed Catalina. Promised to Prince Arthur of England since childhood, she is raised to bind kingdoms, soothe old wounds, and carry the hopes of an empire across the sea. Yet, Spain fractures under rebellion, grief, and the ruthless zeal of its own rulers. From the burning streets of Granada to the storm‑lashed Bay of Biscay, Catalina and her sisters must navigate a treacherous path shaped by ambition, betrayal, and the dangerous love of men who fear the power of queens. She learns to read cyphers, to read hearts, and to stand unbroken even as her childhood is stripped from her piece by piece. And when she finally sails for England armed with her mother’s lessons, her father’s steel, and the ghosts of the Alhambra at her back, Catalina steps into her fate not as a girl, but as a force. A princess. A survivor. A daughter of Aragon. Infidel is the story of a young woman raised for greatness and destined to reshape the fate of nations. This is Catalina, as she has never been seen before. She is fierce, vulnerable, and unforgettable. A sweeping, intimate portrait of sisterhood, survival, and the making of a dynasty, Infidel reveals the hidden lives of a woman whose courage shaped the Tudor world. Any Triggers: Grief, mild peril, the Spanish Inquisition, enslaved people, death in childbirth and miscarriage. https://books2read.com/u/4AZDEJ  Read with #KindleUnlimited Meet the author I’ve always been a writer, but it was only when illness forced me to stop everything that I finally had the time to write a novel. After decades of misdiagnosis, I learned I was born with a serious genetic condition, not rare, but profoundly misunderstood. The clues were there from birth, and suddenly, a lifetime of struggle made sense. Writing became my lifeline: a way to step beyond my pain, to shape my experience into a story, and to find meaning where there had once been only endurance. I have a lifelong love of children, Counselling, and Psychotherapy Theory and history. Instagram Facebook Bluesky Pinterest Amazon Goodreads X https://nicolaharrisauthor.com/ Follow the Infidel by Nicola Harris blog tour with Yarde Book Promotions Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming Nicola Harris to the blog with her new novel, Infidel #InfidelTheDaughtersOfAragon #NicolaHarris #CatherineOfAragon #HistoricalFiction #TudorHistory #BookTour #BlogTour #YardeBookPromotions biographical historical fiction · Blog Tour · Yarde Book Reviews I’m reviewing Harbour of Thieves by Richard Cullen, a brand new 19th century tale of smugglers and North Yorkshire #historicalfiction #bookreview Blog Tour · Boldwood Books · book review · historical fiction · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m delighted to welcome Vicky Adin and her new book, Sarah’s Destiny, to the blog, #HistoricalFiction #VictorianWomen #workingclasswomen #enduringlove #Bristol #widows #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub  Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · historical fiction · New Release · writing I’m reviewing the new book in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Italian Mysteries, Murder in Rome by TA Williams #BookReview #BlogTour #CosyCrime #ContemporaryCrime Blog Tour · Boldwood Books · book review · Cozy Mystery · Crime Fiction · murder mystery · Mystery · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources

I'm reviewing Harbour of Thieves by Richard Cullen, a brand new 19th century tale of smugglers and North Yorkshire #historicalfiction #bookreview @boldwoodbooks @wordhog

I'm delighted to welcome Vicky Adin and her new book, Sarah's Destiny, to the blog, #HistoricalFiction #VictorianWomen #workingclasswomen #enduringlove #Bristol #widows #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @cathiedunn @thecoffeepotbookclub.com

I'm reviewing the new book in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Italian Mysteries, Murder in Rome by TA Williams #BookReview #BlogTour #CosyCrime #ContemporaryCrime

I’m welcoming Maryka Biaggio and her new book, Margery and Me, to the blog #MargeryandMe #historicalfiction #realpeople #TheCoffeePotBookClub #BlogTour Here’s the blurb In the 1920s, Margery Crandon captivated both Boston society and psychic researchers with her astonishing seances. At her gatherings, her deceased brother Walter regularly appeared, entertaining the circle with his witty and cheeky remarks. Margery’s abilities earned her the admiration of luminaries, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and William Butler Yeats. But one man stood in opposition: Harry Houdini, the legendary magician, who was determined to expose her as a fraud. Margery and Me tells the true story of the medium who mystified scientists, challenged skeptics, and sparked a sensation across America and Europe. As Houdini and Margery clashed in a battle of wits and wills, the question remained: Could the master illusionist unmask her, or would her extraordinary powers be enough to convert even the most resolute of doubters? Buy Link https://books2read.com/u/4Xy5re Meet the author Maryka Biaggio is a psychology professor-turned-novelist who brings forgotten lives back into the light. Specializing in historical fiction inspired by real people, she crafts emotionally resonant narratives anchored in careful research.  Her debut novel, Parlor Games (Doubleday, 2013), launched a distinguished career that includes Gun Girl and the Tall Guy and Margery and Me. Her work has earned numerous accolades, including the Willamette Writers Award, Oregon Writers Colony Award, Historical Novel Society Review Editors’ Choice, La Belle Lettre Award, and a Publishers Weekly pick.  Biaggio is celebrated for illuminating overlooked historical figures with psychological depth and narrative grace. Facebook Pinterest TikTok Amazon Goodreads https://marykabiaggio.com https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maryka-biaggio Follow the Margery and Me by Maryka Biaggo blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming Maryka Biaggio and her new book, Margery and Me, to the blog #MargeryandMe #historicalfiction #realpeople #TheCoffeePotBookClub #BlogTour historical fiction I’m welcoming John Anthony Miller and his new book, Another Soul Saved, to the blog, #BlogTour #HistoricalFiction #WWIIFiction #HolocaustFiction #WomenInHistory #YardeBookPromotions historical fiction · Women In History · Yarde Book Reviews I’m delighted to welcome Deborah Swift and her new book, The Enemy’s Wife, to the blog #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub #TheEnemysWife #HistoricalFiction #WW2 #Shanghai Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · historical fiction · New Release · Womens Fiction I’m welcoming JP Reedman and Bride of the Devil to the blog #medieval #HistoricalFiction #Norman #WomenInHistory #BiographicalFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub historical fiction

I’m welcoming John Anthony Miller and his new book, Another Soul Saved, to the blog Research required to write the novel Another Soul Saved An author’s goal in writing a novel is to create an imaginary world with make-believe characters that keep the reader immersed in the story. When writing historical fiction, the story is usually grounded in fact—actual places, events, or historical accounts. To keep the reader fully engaged, the author needs to mimic the every-day life of people who lived during that time. Details lend credibility to the narrative, and details require research. Another Soul Saved is my nineteenth published novel, and I typically approach each one from the same perspective. Usually, I start by choosing a location and time period, or a world event that drives the plot. Once I have the basic concept underway, I start the research. I begin with the names of the characters. Another Soul Saved is set in Vienna, Austria, in the early days of WWII. Assuming the characters are around thirty years old, and the book takes place in 1941, I searched online for popular Austrian baby names in 1910 – the year around when the characters would have been born. I use a legal pad and make three columns: female names, male names, and surnames. Then I match them based on my image of the character. I actually spend a lot of time on names because I want them to flow, especially for the main characters. Next, I researched the city of Vienna, where the book takes place. I have been to Austria, but not the neighbourhood where the book is set, so I used Google Earth—it has a dropdown feature where you can actually “walk the streets.” It helps me describe buildings and use actual street names. Since some of the book takes place in St. Stephen’s Cathedral, I had to find the floor plans, including those of burial crypts in the basements, which are used in the novel to hide escaping Jews. To create the right atmosphere, I had to understand the city of Vienna as it existed in 1941. Ninety-nine percent of the residents supported the policies of Adolf Hitler, but my novel uses the voice of the one percent who didn’t—those risking their lives to save others, knowing that friends, neighbors, and even family members could betray them. I had to create the underlying tension so the reader felt the same fear that the main characters lived with. I read books about the Austrian Resistance movement and the nation’s policies and treatment of the Jewish population, so I understood what their lives were like.  Another Soul Saved tells the story of Monika Graf, a wealthy woman who risks everything to rescue Jewish children, with no recognition or reward, betraying both her country and her husband. Unable to have children of her own, she impulsively rescues two Jewish children from the Nazis, which starts a whole underground movement. To realistically portray the process, I had to research real-life events. How did Jewish children escape the Nazi regime in Austria? A limited number were permitted to emigrate. What process was followed to get them out of the country? Many more children posed as Catholics, sheltered by the church in orphanages, convents, and seminaries. How was this accomplished? Other children were hidden on farms where it was easy to blend in with the farmer’s family, with much less exposure to soldiers or citizens who supported them. Topics specific to the novel that I had to research included train travel, a nearby concentration camp, the workings of St. Stephen’s Cathedral—how many priests and what duties were they assigned, food rationing, the Gestapo presence in Vienna—headquarters and processes, and a timeline for the Jews in Vienna. And lastly, I conducted research common to any historical novel: clothing worn during the time period, women’s hairstyles, local foods, and popular automobiles.  My goal as an author is to blend the different levels of research into a world the reader doesn’t want to leave. Here’s the blurb Vienna, 1941 Monika Graf, the wife of a wealthy Austrian military commander, steals two Jewish girls from the Nazis—a crime often punishable by death. With soldiers in rapid pursuit, a homeless Jew named Janik, a mysterious man who lurks in the shadows, helps her escape. Unable to have children of her own, she finds a new purpose in life—rescuing Jewish children from the horrendous Nazi regime. She asks the Swiss for help, trading military secrets she gleans from her husband for the lives of Jewish children. With Janik’s continued support, she also enlists Father Christoff, a priest at St. Stephen’s Cathedral coping with unexpected emotions and doubting his commitment to God. Monika quickly forms bonds that can’t be broken, feelings exposed she never knew existed.  Relentlessly pursued by Gestapo Captain Gustav Kramer, Monika combats continuing risk to her clandestine operation. When her husband, a rabid Nazi, returns from the battlefield severely wounded, she gets caught in a cage that she can’t crawl out of. Wrought with danger, riddled with romance, Another Soul Saved shows humanity at both its best and worst in a classic struggle of good versus evil. Any Triggers: Holocaust storyline; Nazi characters https://books2read.com/u/49YQy8 This book is available on #KindleUnlimited Meet the author John Anthony Miller writes all things historical—thrillers, mysteries, and romance. He sets his novels in exotic locations spanning all eras of space and time, with complex characters forced to face inner conflicts—fighting demons both real and imagined. He’s published twenty novels and ghostwritten several others, including Another Soul Saved. He lives in southern New Jersey. Instagram Facebook Amazon Goodreads X https://www.bookbub.com/authors/john-anthony-miller https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/jamjam57/ Follow the Another Soul Saved by John Anthony Miller blog tour with Yarde Book Promotions Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming John Anthony Miller and his new book, Another Soul Saved, to the blog, #BlogTour #HistoricalFiction #WWIIFiction #HolocaustFiction #WomenInHistory #YardeBookPromotions historical fiction · Women In History · Yarde Book Reviews I’m delighted to welcome Deborah Swift and her new book, The Enemy’s Wife, to the blog #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub #TheEnemysWife #HistoricalFiction #WW2 #Shanghai Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · historical fiction · New Release · Womens Fiction I’m welcoming JP Reedman and Bride of the Devil to the blog #medieval #HistoricalFiction #Norman #WomenInHistory #BiographicalFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub historical fiction I’m delighted to share my review for Adam Lofthouse’s Tribune and the Sword #historicalfiction #bookreview #RomanEra ancient rome · book review · fiction · historical fiction · New Release

I'm delighted to welcome Deborah Swift and her new book, The Enemy's Wife, to the blog #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub #TheEnemysWife #HistoricalFiction #WW2 #Shanghai @swiftstory @cathiedunn @deborahswiftauthor @thecoffeepotbookclub

I’m welcoming JP Reedman and Bride of the Devil to the blog #medieval #HistoricalFiction #Norman #WomenInHistory Here’s the blurb She is a great heiress; he is the wickedest man in Normandy. Known to men far and wide as ‘The Devil,’ Robert de Belleme terrorises France alongside his equally fearsome mother, Mabel the Poisoner. But even a Devil needs an heir, and Mabel chooses the wealthy heiress Agnes of Ponthieu to be her son’s bride. The marriage is unhappy, though the longed-for son and heir is eventually born…but when Robert is away on one of his military campaigns, Agnes flees back to her father’s castle. She is not safe; her young son William is not safe. The Devil will seek to claim his own. Buy Link mybook.to/nNxi This series is available to read on #KindleUnlimited. Meet the author J.P. Reedman was born in Canada but has lived in the U.K. for over 30 years.  Interests include folklore and anthropology, prehistoric archaeology (neolithic / bronze age Europe; ritual, burial & material culture), as well as The Wars of the Roses and the rest of the medieval era. Novels include the popular I, Richard Plantagenet series about Richard III, The Falcon and the Sun (featuring other members of the House of York), and Medieval Babes, an ongoing series about lesser-known medieval queens and noblewomen. Facebook Instagram X Threads Bluesky Pinterest TikTok Amazon Goodreads https://stone-lord.blogspot.com/ https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-p-reedman Follow the Bride of the Devil by JP Reedman blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming JP Reedman and Bride of the Devil to the blog #medieval #HistoricalFiction #Norman #WomenInHistory #BiographicalFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub historical fiction I’m delighted to share my review for Adam Lofthouse’s Tribune and the Sword #historicalfiction #bookreview #RomanEra ancient rome · book review · fiction · historical fiction · New Release I’m sharing my review for Sacrilege by Keith Moray, a brand new historical mystery set in 1361 #bookreview #blogtour #newrelease Blog Tour · Boldwood Books · book review · Crime Fiction · historical fiction · murder mystery · Mystery · New Release I’m sharing my review for Operation Berlin by Michael Ridpath #blogtour #bookreview historical fiction · Historical Mystery · Rachel’s Random Resources

I'm delighted to share my review for Adam Lofthouse's Tribune and the Sword, #historicalfiction #bookreview #RomanEra #boldwoodbloggers @BoldwoodBooks @AdamPLofthouse @rararesources

I'm sharing my review for Sacrilege by Keith Moray, a brand new historical mystery set in 1361 #bookreview #blogtour #newrelease #boldwoodbloggers @BoldwoodBooks @KeithMorayTales @rararesources #Sacrilege

I’m sharing my review for Operation Berlin by Michael Ridpath #blogtour #bookreview Here’s the blurb In a city rebuilding from war, truth can be the most dangerous weapon of all. Berlin, 1930. Historian Archie Laverick, scarred mentally and physically by the Great War, travels to Berlin to research a famed Prussian general. His quiet study is shattered when he crosses paths with Esme Carmichael, a spirited young American intent on making her name as a foreign correspondent. When a shooting at a Saxon castle leaves a young Jewish woman accused of murder, Archie and Esme are drawn into a perilous hunt for the truth. Their investigation cuts through the glittering façades and lingering scars of a nation still reeling from war – where resentment simmers, political alliances shift, and the first shadows of a new conflict fall across Europe. Amid whispers of blackmail and betrayal, the pair must navigate intrigue and danger to unmask a killer hiding in plain sight. A tense, atmospheric mystery set in a world between wars – perfect for fans of Philip Kerr’s Berlin Trilogy, Robert Harris’s Fatherland, and Alan Furst’s spy novels. Purchase Link https://mybook.to/operationberlinsocial My Review Operation Berlin wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but if anything, that’s a good thing. I was expecting a somewhat taut thriller, but instead was pleasantly surprised to read something with more of a cosy crime feel, though deeply steeped in the era’s events. Archie and Esme are entertaining characters, both with their own backstories, and while the storyline engages with the social mores of the time, it is far from shocking in this day and age. I also enjoyed the addition of Moses and hope he might appear in future books. I very much enjoyed Archie’s quest to track down information on the general he’s researching, as it meant I was educated on more than just 1930s Berlin.  Overall, a very pleasant surprise. I imagine I will try more of Michael’s books in the future. Meet the author Michael Ridpath is the bestselling author of over 20 crime novels and thrillers. His first novel, after a career in finance, was Free to Trade, a No 2 bestseller about the murky world of bond trading which was translated into over thirty languages. He is currently writing the Foreign Correspondent series of murder mysteries set in the capitals of Europe in the 1930s. He splits his time between London and Massachusetts. Facebook Instagram Newsletter Sign Up Bookbub profile: @MichaelRidpath Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m sharing my review for Operation Berlin by Michael Ridpath #blogtour #bookreview historical fiction · Historical Mystery · Rachel’s Random Resources It’s always fun to help reveal a new book cover. Introducing Love Always Lindisfarne by Kimberely Adams historical fiction Today, I’m delighted to welcome NL Holmes and her new book, A Taste of Honey to the blog, with an excerpt #AncientHistoricalFiction #AncientEgyptianMystery #CozyHistorical #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · historical fiction · New Release Storm of Mercia is now available. This is also known as ‘the one on the ship.’ #histficbook #newrelease #authorinspiration Boldwood Books · historical fiction · M J Porter · New Release

It’s always fun to help reveal a new book cover. Introducing Love Always Lindisfarne by Kimberely Adams Here’s the blurb Return to Northumberland where happy ever afters await… Take a magical trip to stunning Northumberland via the pages of this feel-good romantic comedy by award winning writer Kimberley Adams. Full of warmth and joy, it will leave you with a wide smile and a yearning to visit this iconic location in person. When the almost unbelievable truth about Kittiwake Penaluna’s heritage comes to light, the residents are shocked, but in true island fashion they rally together to protect their fledgling chick as she faces life-changing revelations. Meanwhile, the island mourns the loss of its beloved village butcher, and the closure of the shop on Main Street leaves a hole at the heart of the community. Then, when other businesses unexpectedly close, rumours begin to circulate about who might be behind the unsettling changes. As familiar faces depart, new ones arrive, but not everything is as it seems. And when a despised figure from the past returns, old tensions resurface and the island is thrown into further turmoil. Amid the chaos, Ellie and Zen finally begin preparing for their long-awaited wedding, but as always on the island, nothing goes quite according to plan. With difficult decisions to make and obstacles to overcome, they soon discover that they can weather any storm, because love always endures on Lindisfarne… Pre-order Links https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GSN2GHNQ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GSN2GHNQ Publication Date: 21st May 2026 Meet the author Kim was born in Corbridge in Northumberland and still lives in this gorgeous corner of the world. Passionate about the area, Kim tends to set her work in the northeast, and why not considering the wealth of stunning scenery and the warm-hearted locals, both of which constantly give her ideas for future writing endeavours. Kim’s debut Love Lindisfarne was released October 2023 and from its first cover release on social media gained momentum, taking Kim totally by surprise. Kim had never envisaged writing more than one book, but here we now are at number four, three Lindisfarne book and a Christmas novella called the Christmas Angel of the North which is about a nana and her granddaughter and set in Newcastle. Kim finds most of her inspiration mooching around cafes across the Northeast where she ‘overhears’ some of the funniest and warmest things that are stored away for future use (anonymously of course!) If you see her, buy her some cake, then she promises never to write about you – unless you want her to of course! Kim is very proud of her ratings on Amazon and if you want to read reviews for her previous books just pop on and you will be able to see just why Kim gets quite emotional over some of the lovely things that have been said about the books! If you do enjoy the books, please try and leave a rating or review, you don’t even have to have bought the book from Amazon, but each rating helps towards getting the system to recognise Kim and her books. X Facebook Facebook Instagram Amazon Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. It’s always fun to help reveal a new book cover. Introducing Love Always Lindisfarne by Kimberely Adams historical fiction Today, I’m delighted to welcome NL Holmes and her new book, A Taste of Honey to the blog, with an excerpt #AncientHistoricalFiction #AncientEgyptianMystery #CozyHistorical #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · historical fiction · New Release Storm of Mercia is now available. This is also known as ‘the one on the ship.’ #histficbook #newrelease #authorinspiration Boldwood Books · historical fiction · M J Porter · New Release Storm of Mercia is now available. Let’s talk about Wynflæd #histficbook #newrelease #characterinspiration Boldwood Books · historical fiction · M J Porter · New Release

Today, I'm delighted to welcome NL Holmes and her new book, A Taste of Honey to the blog, with an excerpt #AncientHistoricalFiction #AncientEgyptianMystery #CozyHistorical #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

Storm of Mercia is now available. This is also known as 'the one on the ship.' #histficbook #newrelease #authorinspiration

Storm of Mercia is now available. Let's talk about Wynflæd #histficbook #newrelease #characterinspiration

I’ve been working on this for a while I’m very excited to share with readers that I have FINALLY finished (for now) compiling all my short stories, blog posts, articles and some deleted and alternative scenes from my books set in Mercia. I call the eight series combined The Tales of Mercia, and now you can enjoy all these little extras too, and all in one place (see the list below). Now, some of these stories have been shared before (in Coelwulf’s Company, and as newsletter subscriber exclusives, and newsletter subscribers have also received an earlier version of the ebook before I’d quite compiled everything). The blog posts should also have appeared here, on the blog, but I thought it was high time they were more readily accessible to readers (and to me). (I did intend to include a character name list as well, but it is a HUGE task, so that’s not yet completed.) Although some of these stories are only currently available on Amazon or in print/audio copy, I’ve decided to share this collection on Kobo, Apple and maybe some other platforms too, as well as Amazon. This is so readers of those stories available everywhere can also enjoy the short stories. Check out the details and find the purchase link (or click the image above). Mercia: A Companion Guide to the Tales of Mercia brings together, for the first time, the short stories, alternative scenes, deleted scenes, and blog posts written about the eight series by MJ Porter set in the ancient Saxon kingdom of Mercia, (The Dark Age Chronicles, The Gods and Kings Trilogy, The House of Mercia, The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles, The Mercian Ninth Century, The Sundered Kingdom, The Lady of Mercia’s Daughter and the Earls of Mercia Series.) Many of these have been published elsewhere, but never in one collection. The companion guide also includes pieces detailing the inspiration behind the many series and characters, as well as the history of the stories. Includes: Short Story: Transitions Short Story: Elen (from the Dark Age Chronicles) Short Story: A Father’s Son (from after the events of the Gods and Kings Trilogy) Short Story: from the original Son of Mercia draft Short Story: Cenfrith (Icel’s Uncle) (The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles) Short Story: Wynflæd (The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles) Short Story: A Meeting of Equals (the inspiration for The Last King) Short Story: Ealdorman Coenwulf (from before The Last King) Short Story: Lovers (from before The Last King) Short Story: Icel – AD864 (originally in Coelwulf’s Company) Short Story: Coelwulf – AD864 (originally in Coelwulf’s Company) Short Story: Edmund – AD864 (originally in Coelwulf’s Company) Short Story: Pybba – AD865 (originally in Coelwulf’s Company) Short Story: Rudolf – AD871 (originally in Coelwulf’s Company) Short Story: Gardulf – originally in The Last Alliance Short Story: To Be A King (the Earls of Mercia series) Short Story: The Prisoner (from after the Earls of Mercia Series) Deleted Scene from Storm of Mercia (The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles) Deleted Scene from The Last Shield (The Mercian Ninth Century) Deleted Scene from The Eagle Will Rise (The Sundered Kingdom) An Alternative Scene from A Conspiracy of Kings (The Lady of Mercia’s Daughter Duology) Purchase Link https://books2read.com/Mercia If you want to stay up to date with new short stories, join my monthly newsletter. Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. Introducing Mercia: A Companion Guide to the Tales of Mercia M J Porter · Mercia · writing It’s happy release day to Storm of Mercia. Return to the world of young Icel in the ninth book in the Eagle of Mercia Series. #histficbook #newrelease #HadPossessionOfThePlaceOfSlaughter Boldwood Books · historical fiction · M J Porter · New Release I’m welcoming AB Michaels to the blog with an excerpt from her new release, The Twisted Road #historicalfiction MurderMystery #HistoricalThriller #TheCoffeePotBookClub #BlogTour American History · Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club I’m delighted to share my review for Murder at Big Ben by Michelle Salter, the second book in a new historical mystery series #historicalmystery #cosycrime #highlyrecommended Blog Tour · Boldwood Books · historical fiction · murder mystery · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources · writing

It's happy release day to Storm of Mercia. Return to the world of young Icel in the ninth book in the Eagle of Mercia Series. #histficbook #newrelease

I’m welcoming AB Michaels to the blog with an excerpt from her new release, The Twisted Road #historicalfiction #AmericanHistoricalFiction #NewRelease #BlogTour I’m sharing an excerpt from chapter 1 ‘Bloody Tuesday’ Nineteen years old, with the long, skinny limbs of a colt, Jimmy Walsh crouched behind a lamppost and shivered in the early morning fog. He dropped the brick he’d been clutching and hesitated before picking it up again. “This ain’t right,” he said, just loud enough for his nearest comrade in arms to hear. “It’s like waitin’ for Beelzebub to unleash his hounds of hell.” Several yards away, the wooden barn that housed the city’s electric trolley cars remained shuttered, but the sounds inside, muted through the mist, told him the show was about to begin.  Toke Griffin, a rock in one meaty hand, took a drag of his cheroot with the other. The smoke mixed with the fog, obscuring his leathered face. Two decades older than Jimmy, he was a union man from way back. This strike was nothing new. “Yeah, well them mutts are takin’ our jobs and we got to stop ’em any way we can.” He tossed the rock a few times and caught it. “They’re scabs and rotten to the core.  We got to let them know it.” The gas-powered streetlight above Jimmy hissed, letting off sparks and a sulfurous belch. Toke barked in appreciation. “Even the damn lamp’s on our side.” “Shut the hell up!” Another hiss—this one from a fellow striker, positioned behind one of the barbed wire barriers the scabs had set up to protect the cars. “You’ll give us away.” Toke continued to grouse but lowered his voice.  “Hell, you think they don’t know we’re out here? They’re chompin’ at the bit same as us.” He tossed his rock again. “But we got right on our side, just like old Davey and Goliath. You wait and see.” Jimmy tried to swallow but couldn’t get passed his Adam’s apple. Lord, he wished he had some water or somethin’ else to calm the jitters taking over his body. Even his lucky red flannel shirt was no help. Why didn’t he keep the grub his mother had given him as he’d left that morning? She’d been up before him, knowing he had to go and not even trying to talk him out of it. “You keep your head down,” she warned as she handed him the bag with bread and cheese and a slice of apple cake in it. She’d even put in a mason jar full of cider. “Sure, sure, Ma,” he’d told her, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine.” Giving her a peck on the cheek, he’d headed out, but once around the corner, he’d ditched the bag, thinking it would look squirrelly bringing a lunch sack to a riot. What a damn fool. It shouldn’t have come to this. It’d been over a year since the earthquake and fire had torn up the city, and the roads were still a tangled, busted-up mess. It was tricky driving the streetcars, and there were fewer drivers to boot. All the union wanted was an eight hour day and three bucks a shift. But United Railroads kept bickering with the city over repairs and used that excuse to refuse the union’s demands. What else could the carmen do but strike? Then the company brought in the Farleymen to drive the cars—four hundred of them! It stunk to high heaven and Toke had the right of it: they had to stop the scabs from taking their jobs. The crowd outside the barricade was growing. Jimmy saw groups of Poles and Italians and Irish, even Chinese. They weren’t members of his union, but they were workingmen all the same, showing their support. That was labor for you, sticking together to get the job done. But there were also women and kids pouring out onto the street, like it was a parade or something! Thank God Ma had stayed home; he hoped his cousin was smart enough to keep her distance, too. This kind of ruckus was no place for females. But damn if there weren’t plenty of ladies mixed in with everybody else, a lot of them young and fired up, itchin’ for a fight just like the men. He’d never admit it, but deep down, part of him admired their courage. Like Toke said, they were sticking up for what was right. He was chewing on those thoughts when the big wooden doors on the barn began to slide open with a screech and the streetcars lumbered out, each driven by a scab, and each protected by several men with clubs and a guard with a rifle. The clock in the tower above the car barn soon started chiming the hour, but it was nearly drowned out by all the people screaming insults as they surged through an opening where the cars were supposed to leave the yard.  The strikers rushed by Jimmy, shoving him out of the way and already throwing whatever they’d been carrying—rocks and bricks and bottles—toward the scabs. Some strikers on the roofs pushed iron girders they must have got from construction sites; the beams hit the cars with a sickening clang. Jimmy started to throw his brick, but stopped when he got a look at the second car and who was guarding it. Damnation, it was Emmett Barnes! That sonofabitch used to be a union man—not to mention Jimmy’s best friend—and now he was a hired gun for the Farleymen! He watched Emmett shoot his rifle into the air a few times, and his shots were answered by rooftop union men protecting the strikers on the ground. He couldn’t see Emmett’s face too well, but he bet his ex-friend wasn’t happy, especially since his shots hadn’t stopped the crowd from swarming around his car. Jimmy wasn’t part of that crowd; he couldn’t make himself move—like he was paralyzed or something—as he watched it all unfold. A brick sailed through the air and hit Emmett in the face; he dropped down, and Jimmy couldn’t see him anymore. He glanced to his left and saw a man taking photographs of everybody. “Quit takin’ pictures!” Jimmy yelled at him. “Get out of the way—you’re gonna get hurt!”  More and more people began pushing Jimmy from behind, determined to stop the cars from running.  He turned back to Emmett’s car and saw … and saw the rifle pointed toward the crowd from another angle. No, pointed right at him.  Emmett? It couldn’t be. He wouldn’t do that, would he? He wouldn’t—  Jimmy Walsh started to put his head down like his ma had told him, but he wasn’t fast enough. He heard the crack of the rifle and felt the thump of the bullet hitting his skull. Then he felt nothing at all. Here’s the blurb 1907  Rising from the devastation of a massive earthquake and fire, San Francisco is once again on the move. But a strike by streetcar drivers threatens to halt the Golden City in its tracks. Protests turn to violence and violence leads to death. Soon a young guard is convicted of willfully killing a protester and the public is out for blood.  Jonathan Perris, an immigrant attorney from England, has opened a law firm with an eye toward righting wrongs, and the guard’s conviction may fall into that category.  But the talented barrister soon finds his newfound career shaken by a tragic event: the gruesome murder of the beautiful and mysterious Lena Mendelssohn—a woman he’s been squiring around town. It’s difficult to run a law firm when you’ve been arrested for murder. Purchase Link https://books2read.com/u/479n6R Meet the author A native of California, A.B. Michaels holds masters’degrees in history (UCLA) and broadcasting (San Francisco State University).  After working for many years as a promotional writer and editor, she turned to writing the kind of page-turning fiction she loves to read.  She writes historical fiction (“The Golden City” series), historical mystery (the “Barrister Perris” series) and contemporary romantic suspense (“Sinner’s Grove Suspense.”). All three series are character-linked and all are stand-alone reads. Michaels lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband and elderly wiener dog, Teddy, who cannot see or hear, but sniffs his way from one comfortable spot to another.  In addition to writing and dog-snuggling, Michaels is an avid reader, traveller, quilter and bocce player, as well as a mediocre but enthusiastic golfer. Facebook Pinterest Amazon Goodreads X https://www.historiumpress.com/a-b-michaels https://www.bookbub.com/profile/a-b-michaels Follow The Twisted Road by AB Michaels blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club If you want to stay up to date with news from author MJ Porter, join my monthly newsletter. Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming AB Michaels to the blog with an excerpt from her new release, The Twisted Road #historicalfiction MurderMystery #HistoricalThriller #TheCoffeePotBookClub #BlogTour American History · Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club I’m delighted to share my review for Murder at Big Ben by Michelle Salter, the second book in a new historical mystery series #historicalmystery #cosycrime #highlyrecommended Blog Tour · Boldwood Books · historical fiction · murder mystery · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources · writing I’m welcoming The Queen’s Maid: Anne Boleyn in France by Rozsa Gaston to the blog #AnneBoleyn #AnneBoleynChronicles #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalSaga #TudorFiction #FrenchHistory #WomenInHistory #WomensHistoryMonth #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · Elizabethan · historical fiction · New Release I’m reviewing Collateral Damage by Sam Cogley #thriller #bookreview #blogtour #CollateralDamage Action and adventure · Blog Tour · Boldwood Books · book review

I'm delighted to share my review for Murder at Big Ben by Michelle Salter, the second book in a new historical mystery series #historicalmystery #cosycrime #highlyrecommended #historicalmystery #cosycrime #highlyrecommended #BoldwoodBloggers @BoldwoodBooks