MJ Porter

I’m sharing my review for The Old Girls’ Island Getaway by Kate Galley, the third book featuring Dorothy and Gina #blogtour #newrelease #comedy I'm delighted to be sharing my review for The Old Girls' Island Getaway by Kate Galley #blogtour #newrelease #comedy

I'm sharing my review for The Old Girls' Island Getaway by Kate Galley, the third book featuring Dorothy and Gina #blogtour #newrelease #comedy#boldwoodbloggers #TheOldGirlsIslandGetaway @KateGalley1 @rararesources @theboldbookclub @BoldwoodBooks

I’m spotlighting Both Sides of the Pond, My Family’s War: 1933-1946 by Barbara Kent Lawrence Here’s the blurb In January of 1939 when Barbara Greene, a beautiful young British actress, met Joe Kennedy, Jr., son of the American Ambassador, she could not have expected that their relationship would lead to her emigrating to the United States and learning to pilot a plane. Neither could her brother, Kent, have foreseen his bitter retreat from Dunkirk when he left England in January 1940 to fight in France, or his subsequent service on the frontlines in Cornwall, North Africa, Sicily, and Burma.  In this intensively researched war story of the author’s family, we also hear the stories of other ordinary people who survived extraordinary circumstances. Richly illustrated with photographs and documents, “Both Sides of the Pond, My Family’s War: 1933 – 1946” is a captivating book. Praise for Both Sides of the Pond: “Author Barbara Kent Lawrence weaves a rich tapestry of the lives of her British mother and uncle from 1933 to 1946, before, during, and just after World War II. … War stories are very personal. This is such a story, and it offers insight into how two young people navigated difficult years that altered the trajectories of the lives they thought they would live. It is a worthy read, written beautifully. Don’t miss it.“ ~ Patricia Walkow, Military Writers Society of America “I loved this book and couldn’t put it down. History and the complexity of human relationships unfold with uncommon grace.“ ~ Barbara Lazear Ascher, winner, most recently, of Pushcart’s Editors Book Award for Ghosting: A Widow’s Voyage Out. Purchase Link Amazon UK Paperback Buy Link:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Both-Sides-Pond-Familys-1933-1946/dp/B0FMF2NTQZ/ Amazon US Paperback Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Both-Sides-Pond-Familys-1933-1946/dp/B0FMF2NTQZ/ Meet the author Dr. Lawrence is the author of many articles and nine books, including an award-winning dissertation about the influence of culture on aspirations in Maine. Her new book, Both Sides of the Pond, My Family’s War: 1933 – 1945, is available in book stores and on amazon.com. A former professor, she has taught courses in anthropology and sociology, research, and writing non-fiction and memoir. Lawrence grew up in New York City and Washington D.C., then earned a BA in anthropology from Bennington College, an MA in sociology from New York University, and an Ed.D. in Administration, Policy and Planning from Boston University.  In addition to teaching, Lawrence has worked for the Department of Social Services and the Housing Development Administration in New York, directed a small museum in Maine, co-run a brokerage and construction company, consulted for the Rural School and Community Trust and KnowledgeWorks, and started four non-profit organizations supporting the environment and students. When not working she loves to garden, knit, and go for walks, pastimes she learned from her British mother. She lives in Maine and is working on the third novel in her Islands series.  Facebook Instagram Amazon Goodreads https://linktr.ee/barbarakentlawrenceauthor https://barbaralawrence.com/  Follow the Both Sides of the Pond blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club Posts Stay up to date with the latest from our blog. I’m spotlighting Both Sides of the Pond, My Family’s War: 1933-1946 by Barbara Kent Lawrence #BothSidesOfThePond #HistoricalFiction #WorldWar2History #MyFamilysWar #maineauthor #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub  American History · Army Nurses · biographical historical fiction · Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · Family History · historical fiction I’m welcoming Cliff Lovette and his new novel, Circus Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure to the blog with a post about my favourite topic – research #CircusBimBom #CliffLovette #historicalfiction #romance #ColdWarfiction #blogtour #YardeBookPromotions  Blog Tour · The Cold War · Yarde Book Reviews Today, I’m delighted to be reviewing Love Lost in Time by Cathie Dunn, a dual timeline novel #LoveLostInTime #CathieDunn #DualTimeline #WomenAcrossTime#BlogTour #YardeBookPromotions Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · historical fiction · Yarde Book Reviews I’m welcoming Hidden Truth by CD Steele to the blog with an excerpt and a fab competition to enter #blogtour #Mystery #NewRelease Blog Tour · Crime Fiction · murder mystery · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources

I'm spotlighting Both Sides of the Pond, My Family’s War: 1933-1946 by Barbara Kent Lawrence #BothSidesOfThePond #HistoricalFiction #WorldWar2History #MyFamilysWar #maineauthor #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @cathiedunn @barbarakentlawrenceauthor @thecoffeepotbookclub

I’m welcoming Cliff Lovette and his new novel, Circus Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure to the blog with a post about my favourite topic – research THE RESEARCH NEVER ENDS Circus Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure Bim Bom Books by Cliff Lovette In 1991, I was a young attorney at an entertainment law firm in Atlanta. In walks this long-haired road manager named Bobby Liberman. He’d just finished a tour and started telling me about his previous gig: road manager for a privately owned Soviet circus that had arrived in America in 1990—a hundred and twenty performers, crew, and families from the crumbling Soviet empire. I was hooked. More than three decades later, I’m still researching. Following the Trail The Circus Bim Bom saga barely made a ripple in national news—just a few newspaper articles and some local TV coverage—before the story vanished into thechaos of 1990. It was a year when the rubble of the Berlin Wall was still being cleared, Saddam invaded Kuwait, and the Soviet Union began its final unraveling. With so much history unfolding simultaneously, a Soviet circus touring America was easy to overlook. Yet fragments survived: newspaper clippings in library archives, a circus program printed in both Russian and English, photographs from a July Fourth picnic at Lake Lanier where Soviet performers celebrated America’s birthday with Georgia Rotarians. The challenge was finding these fragments—and the people who could provide them with meaning. The Hunt for Living Memory In 2010, I recruited a team of Emory Law students to help me organize the chaos. They compiled a fifty-four-page research packet that included contact lists for circus performers, American promoters, attorneys, and journalists who had covered the story. They created quote databases highlighting the most revealing moments fromdozens of newspaper articles, spanning publications from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution to The Washington Post to The Los Angeles Times. They transcribedinterviews that captured voices I might otherwise have lost to time. But documents only tell part of any story. I needed voices—living witnesses whocould fill in what the paper trail left out. I tracked down the Nashville promoter who had worked with the tour. I found theRoswell Rotarian who had hosted that Fourth of July party, and I listened as he described, with tears in his eyes, how a towering Russian strongman had put an arm around his shoulder during the fireworks and said, “Happy Birthday, USA.” That moment stayed with me. Here was an American patriot who’d opened his home to Soviet performers—strangers from the other side of the Iron Curtain—and three decades later, he still choked up remembering it. Over the years, I interviewed more than a dozen people connected to the tour. Some welcomed the chance to share their memories, while others were initially reluctant, surprised that anyone still cared about events from so long ago. Each conversation unlocked new details, contradictions, and mysteries, reminding me why this story matters. The Bigger Picture Personal testimonies provided the human story, but I needed context—the geopolitical forces shaping what these performers experienced while their empire teetered back home. What was happening in Moscow while they performed in American arenas? What pressures weighed on Soviet officials? What were American audiences thinking as they watched these artists from behind the Iron Curtain? I studied declassified State Department documents about the Washington Summit negotiations between President Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev—the high-level diplomacy that formed the backdrop for this circus tour. I traced connections between promoters on both coasts and dug through newspaper archives from Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York. Every answer generated new questions. Every document pointed to another document I hadn’t yet found. Why the Research Never Ends M.J. Porter writes that we must “question everything and not just accept it… look at the why, the how, and everything in between, including the chance survival of the records we do have.” That philosophy resonates deeply with me. Historical research isn’t about finding definitive answers; it’s about following threads wherever they lead, questioning assumptions even when the answers seem obvious, and accepting that some gaps can never be filled. The fragments that survive do so by chance—a newspaper clipping saved in a scrapbook, a photograph tucked in a drawer, a memory that someone chose to share before it was too late. What matters is honoring those fragments: the transcribed interviews, the faded newspaper clippings, the photographs of Soviet acrobats at a Georgia lake on the Fourth of July. Those fragments became Circus Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure—a novel that weaves fact and imagination to bring this forgotten story back to life. The book took shape over years of drafts, each revision incorporating something new I had learned, some detail I had finally tracked down, or some connection I had made. But even now, with the book complete, I continue to find new details—a name I hadn’t encountered, a connection I hadn’t made, a question I hadn’t thought to ask. The research never ends. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Here’s the blurb Soviet circus performers arrived in America hoping to build cultural bridges. Instead, they became unwitting pawns in a Cold War game of international intrigue. When the first privately owned Soviet circus arrived in 1990 in America as the Soviet Union disintegrated, its elite performers expected to build cultural bridges through spectacular shows. Instead, this prestigious troupe faced a perilous journey through Cold War America. Circus director Yuri had to navigate treacherous waters where American mobsters, Soviet agents, and political forces circled like predators. Young aerialist Anton dreamed of becoming a clown against his family’s wishes, while forbidden romances and unexpected connections bloomed between Soviet performers and Americans who saw past the ideological divide. As high-stakes conspiracies threatened to tear the circus family apart, they had to choose between the authoritarian chains of home and the uncertain promise of freedom. As the Ringmaster reminds us, “The best Soviet stories are like vodka—they burn with suffering, intoxicate with conflict, keep you stewing in reflection, and yearning for your heart’s desire.” This genre-bending tale explores whether human connection can transcend ideology—and whether storytelling can bridge the divides that separate us. Purchase Link https://books2read.com/u/3Gj0B https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G4FPKNPR https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G4FPKNPR Join the Bim Bom Book Club – https://bimbombookclub.com/ Members receive: ✨ Discounts on Gifts and Merch ✨ Exclusive glimpses into the self-publishing journey ✨ Previews of historical curiosities about Soviet circus life that didn’t make it into the book ✨ Exclusive “Rabbit Hole” bonus stories and other literary surprises ✨ A front-row seat to the book’s development and launch ✨ Sign up for Free YouTube Link to Book Club: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fafpTaJLD84 What Makes This Novel Different Circus Bim Bom offers an innovative multimedia reading experience. The novel includes 45+ YouTube links to period music, historical speeches, and cultural moments embedded throughout—readers can listen to the actual songs characters dance to as they waltz, and watch Reagan’s Brandenburg Gate speech as it’s referenced in the text. The companion website (www.bimbombookclub.com) extends the story beyond the page: Character Avatars: 25+ talking video introductions where characters speak directly to readers Re-Imagined Circus Posters Book Club Experience: Interactive forums, live chat, and community discussions Historians Room (under construction): A space for Cold War history buffs to fact-check the novel, explore primary sources, and debate historical accuracy Meet the author Father, storyteller, and dog lover living in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with London curled at his feet. Cliff Lovette is an entertainment lawyer who learned about the real Circus Bim Bom in 1991 when the circus’s American road manager became a client at his Atlanta law firm. Circus Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure is the first book in his debut duology Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Amazon Goodreads https://bimbombookclub.com/ linktr.ee/TheRingmaster606 Follow the blog tour for Circus Bim Bom run by Yarde Book Reviews Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming Cliff Lovette and his new novel, Circus Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure to the blog with a post about my favourite topic – research #CircusBimBom #CliffLovette #historicalfiction #romance #ColdWarfiction #blogtour #YardeBookPromotions  Blog Tour · The Cold War · Yarde Book Reviews Today, I’m delighted to be reviewing Love Lost in Time by Cathie Dunn, a dual timeline novel #LoveLostInTime #CathieDunn #DualTimeline #WomenAcrossTime#BlogTour #YardeBookPromotions Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · historical fiction · Yarde Book Reviews I’m welcoming Hidden Truth by CD Steele to the blog with an excerpt and a fab competition to enter #blogtour #Mystery #NewRelease Blog Tour · Crime Fiction · murder mystery · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m welcoming Dragon Kin’s Blood by Jo Gatenby to the blog #fantasy #bookreview #blogtour historical fiction

I'm welcoming Cliff Lovette and his new novel, Circus Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure to the blog with a post about my favourite topic - research #CircusBimBom #CliffLovette #historicalfiction #romance #ColdWarfiction #blogtour #YardeBookPromotions @bimbombookclub @yardereviews @maryanneyarde

I’m welcoming Cliff Lovette and his new novel, Ciric Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure to the blog with a post about my favourite topic – research THE RESEARCH NEVER ENDS Circus Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure Bim Bom Books by Cliff Lovette In 1991, I was a young attorney at an entertainment law firm in Atlanta. In walks this long-haired road manager named Bobby Liberman. He’d just finished a tour and started telling me about his previous gig: road manager for a privately owned Soviet circus that had arrived in America in 1990—a hundred and twenty performers, crew, and families from the crumbling Soviet empire. I was hooked. More than three decades later, I’m still researching. Following the Trail The Circus Bim Bom saga barely made a ripple in national news—just a few newspaper articles and some local TV coverage—before the story vanished into thechaos of 1990. It was a year when the rubble of the Berlin Wall was still being cleared, Saddam invaded Kuwait, and the Soviet Union began its final unraveling. With so much history unfolding simultaneously, a Soviet circus touring America was easy to overlook. Yet fragments survived: newspaper clippings in library archives, a circus program printed in both Russian and English, photographs from a July Fourth picnic at Lake Lanier where Soviet performers celebrated America’s birthday with Georgia Rotarians. The challenge was finding these fragments—and the people who could provide them with meaning. The Hunt for Living Memory In 2010, I recruited a team of Emory Law students to help me organize the chaos. They compiled a fifty-four-page research packet that included contact lists for circus performers, American promoters, attorneys, and journalists who had covered the story. They created quote databases highlighting the most revealing moments fromdozens of newspaper articles, spanning publications from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution to The Washington Post to The Los Angeles Times. They transcribedinterviews that captured voices I might otherwise have lost to time. But documents only tell part of any story. I needed voices—living witnesses whocould fill in what the paper trail left out. I tracked down the Nashville promoter who had worked with the tour. I found theRoswell Rotarian who had hosted that Fourth of July party, and I listened as he described, with tears in his eyes, how a towering Russian strongman had put an arm around his shoulder during the fireworks and said, “Happy Birthday, USA.” That moment stayed with me. Here was an American patriot who’d opened his home to Soviet performers—strangers from the other side of the Iron Curtain—and three decades later, he still choked up remembering it. Over the years, I interviewed more than a dozen people connected to the tour. Some welcomed the chance to share their memories, while others were initially reluctant, surprised that anyone still cared about events from so long ago. Each conversation unlocked new details, contradictions, and mysteries, reminding me why this story matters. The Bigger Picture Personal testimonies provided the human story, but I needed context—the geopolitical forces shaping what these performers experienced while their empire teetered back home. What was happening in Moscow while they performed in American arenas? What pressures weighed on Soviet officials? What were American audiences thinking as they watched these artists from behind the Iron Curtain? I studied declassified State Department documents about the Washington Summit negotiations between President Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev—the high-level diplomacy that formed the backdrop for this circus tour. I traced connections between promoters on both coasts and dug through newspaper archives from Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York. Every answer generated new questions. Every document pointed to another document I hadn’t yet found. Why the Research Never Ends M.J. Porter writes that we must “question everything and not just accept it… look at the why, the how, and everything in between, including the chance survival of the records we do have.” That philosophy resonates deeply with me. Historical research isn’t about finding definitive answers; it’s about following threads wherever they lead, questioning assumptions even when the answers seem obvious, and accepting that some gaps can never be filled. The fragments that survive do so by chance—a newspaper clipping saved in a scrapbook, a photograph tucked in a drawer, a memory that someone chose to share before it was too late. What matters is honoring those fragments: the transcribed interviews, the faded newspaper clippings, the photographs of Soviet acrobats at a Georgia lake on the Fourth of July. Those fragments became Circus Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure—a novel that weaves fact and imagination to bring this forgotten story back to life. The book took shape over years of drafts, each revision incorporating something new I had learned, some detail I had finally tracked down, or some connection I had made. But even now, with the book complete, I continue to find new details—a name I hadn’t encountered, a connection I hadn’t made, a question I hadn’t thought to ask. The research never ends. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Here’s the blurb Soviet circus performers arrived in America hoping to build cultural bridges. Instead, they became unwitting pawns in a Cold War game of international intrigue. When the first privately owned Soviet circus arrived in 1990 in America as the Soviet Union disintegrated, its elite performers expected to build cultural bridges through spectacular shows. Instead, this prestigious troupe faced a perilous journey through Cold War America. Circus director Yuri had to navigate treacherous waters where American mobsters, Soviet agents, and political forces circled like predators. Young aerialist Anton dreamed of becoming a clown against his family’s wishes, while forbidden romances and unexpected connections bloomed between Soviet performers and Americans who saw past the ideological divide. As high-stakes conspiracies threatened to tear the circus family apart, they had to choose between the authoritarian chains of home and the uncertain promise of freedom. As the Ringmaster reminds us, “The best Soviet stories are like vodka—they burn with suffering, intoxicate with conflict, keep you stewing in reflection, and yearning for your heart’s desire.” This genre-bending tale explores whether human connection can transcend ideology—and whether storytelling can bridge the divides that separate us. Purchase Link https://books2read.com/u/3Gj0B https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G4FPKNPR https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G4FPKNPR Join the Bim Bom Book Club – https://bimbombookclub.com/ Members receive: ✨ Discounts on Gifts and Merch ✨ Exclusive glimpses into the self-publishing journey ✨ Previews of historical curiosities about Soviet circus life that didn’t make it into the book ✨ Exclusive “Rabbit Hole” bonus stories and other literary surprises ✨ A front-row seat to the book’s development and launch ✨ Sign up for Free YouTube Link to Book Club: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fafpTaJLD84 What Makes This Novel Different Circus Bim Bom offers an innovative multimedia reading experience. The novel includes 45+ YouTube links to period music, historical speeches, and cultural moments embedded throughout—readers can listen to the actual songs characters dance to as they waltz, and watch Reagan’s Brandenburg Gate speech as it’s referenced in the text. The companion website (www.bimbombookclub.com) extends the story beyond the page: Character Avatars: 25+ talking video introductions where characters speak directly to readers Re-Imagined Circus Posters Book Club Experience: Interactive forums, live chat, and community discussions Historians Room (under construction): A space for Cold War history buffs to fact-check the novel, explore primary sources, and debate historical accuracy Meet the author Father, storyteller, and dog lover living in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with London curled at his feet. Cliff Lovette is an entertainment lawyer who learned about the real Circus Bim Bom in 1991 when the circus’s American road manager became a client at his Atlanta law firm. Circus Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure is the first book in his debut duology Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Amazon Goodreads https://bimbombookclub.com/ linktr.ee/TheRingmaster606 Follow the blog tour for Circus Bim Bom run by Yarde Book Reviews Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming Cliff Lovette and his new novel, Ciric Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure to the blog with a post about my favourite topic – research #CircusBimBom #CliffLovette #historicalfiction #romance #ColdWarfiction #blogtour #YardeBookPromotions  Blog Tour · The Cold War · Yarde Book Reviews Today, I’m delighted to be reviewing Love Lost in Time by Cathie Dunn, a dual timeline novel #LoveLostInTime #CathieDunn #DualTimeline #WomenAcrossTime#BlogTour #YardeBookPromotions Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · historical fiction · Yarde Book Reviews I’m welcoming Hidden Truth by CD Steele to the blog with an excerpt and a fab competition to enter #blogtour #Mystery #NewRelease Blog Tour · Crime Fiction · murder mystery · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m welcoming Dragon Kin’s Blood by Jo Gatenby to the blog #fantasy #bookreview #blogtour historical fiction

I'm welcoming Cliff Lovette and his new novel, Ciric Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure to the blog with a post about my favourite topic - research #CircusBimBom #CliffLovette #historicalfiction #romance #ColdWarfiction #blogtour #YardeBookPromotions @bimbombookclub @yardereviews @maryanneyarde

@cathiedunn.bsky.social @maryanneyarde.bsky.social

I'll get it right this time:)

Today, I’m delighted to be reviewing Love Lost in Time by Cathie Dunn, a dual timeline novel #LoveLostInTime #CathieDunn #DualTimeline #WomenAcrossTime#BlogTour #YardeBookPromotions Today, I'm delighted to be reviewing Love Lost in Time by Cathie Dunn, a dual timeline novel #LoveLostInTime #CathieDunn #DualTimeline #WomenAcrossTime#BlogTour #YardeBookPromotions

Today, I'm delighted to be reviewing Love Lost in Time by Cathie Dunn, a dual timeline novel @cathiedunn @maryanneyarde
@cathiedunnwrites @yardereviews @cathiedunn.bsky.social @maryanneyarde.bsky.social

I’m welcoming Hidden Truth by CD Steele to the blog This extract is from chapter 9. It is an exchange between Joe Wilde and a man named Colin Nelson. Joe is currently investigating the disappearance of Julie Turnbull and Colin Nelson had been stalking Julie for a period of time. Just as Joe was about to pull up he saw a man walk out of his front gate and start walking in the direction of the town centre. Joe parked his car as quickly as he could, got out, then started walking at a fast pace so he could catch up with the man. When he was within earshot he called out to catch his attention.             ‘Mr Nelson.’             The man turned around with a curious look on his face.             ‘Sorry to bother you Mr Nelson, I just wanted to speak to you about Julie Turnbull if that’s OK.’             He looked at Joe suspiciously.             ‘Wh-who are you? An-and what d-do you want?’             Colin Nelson spoke with a slight stutter. He was at least six feet tall and had a long thin face and his receding hairline made it look more elongated. The hair on top of his head or what was left of it was brushed forward, but it was so thin on top it almost looked see-through.             ‘My name is Joe Wilde and I have been hired by Julie’s mother to investigate her daughter’s disappearance.’             ‘That had n-nothing to do with me; the po-police questioned me at the time.’             ‘I am not suggesting you did have anything to do with her disappearance, I would just like to talk to you briefly about her. Maybe we could talk while we are walking, where are you headed?’             ‘I-I am going to the Po-Post Office.’             Joe had to fight to suppress a smile.             ‘That’s where Julie used to work wasn’t it — you used to go in there quite often didn’t you?’             ‘Yes.’             ‘Sometimes it was for no other reason than just to see Julie.’             ‘I-I told you I-I had nothing to do with her disappearance, I-I w-would never have done anything to hurt her, she was my friend.’             ‘You wanted to be more than just friends though, didn’t you?’             ‘Yes, I wa-was in love with her and I-I thought she felt the same about m-me.’             ‘You knew she was married and even when she made it clear that she did not feel the same way about you, you continued to pester her in the Post Office. Then when you were banned from there you proceeded to stalk her.’             ‘I just had to keep seeing her, ju-just being ne-near her, she made me happy.’             ‘You do realise that your behavior really unsettled her, made her feel uncomfortable and a little scared.’             ‘I-I would never have hurt her and I didn’t want to sc-scare her.’              ‘But she didn’t know that, following someone around is not normal behavior, can you not see that now?’             ‘Ye-yes I-I suppose, but I had stopped following her well before sh-she went missing.’             ‘Only because her husband and his mate threatened to beat you up if you didn’t stop. They just threatened you didn’t they or did they take it further than that?’             ‘No, they ju-just thre-threatened me that time, they didn’t beat up.’             ‘What do you mean that time, are you saying they paid you another visit at a later date and beat you up that time?’             ‘Yes, well th-the husband didn’t, hi-his mate did.’             ‘So his mate came to see you on his own and beat you up, when was this?             ‘It was only about t-two or three we-weeks after they both confronted me.’             ‘Where did this altercation take place?’             ‘It was at the local pa-park, I-I often go there to feed the ducks — h-he must have followed me there. At one point I-I went to the toilet block and he ju-jumped me in there. H-he punched me to the ground then st-started kicking me, it felt like it went on for a-ages but it was probably only a couple of minutes.’             ‘Did he say anything whilst he was doing it or afterwards?’             ‘Just that I-I sh-should stay away from Ju-Julie if I knew what’s good for me.’             ‘Did you go to the police about this?’             ‘No.’             ‘Why not?’             ‘I just wanted t-to forget the wh-whole thing, try to forget about Julie and keep my head down, I-I don’t like confrontation. If he had ever done it again I might have gone to the p-po-police.’             ‘Did he ever accuse you of being behind her disappearance after she went missing?’             ‘No, I never saw him again.’             By now they had reached the Post Office.             ‘Will y-you wa-want to speak with me more a-a-after I come back out?’             ‘No that’s OK, if I need to speak with you again Mr Nelson I will get back in contact.’ Here’s the blurb Private Investigator Joe Wilde is investigating the murder of Philippa Redmond a former Labour MP. She had been found dead in her sauna over the Christmas holidays six weeks ago. The majority of her family had been staying with her at the time, but the police didn’t regard any of them as suspects. Evidence suggested an intruder had got into her home. Joe also takes on a cold case of a missing woman named Julie Turnbull. She had disappeared six years ago without a trace. Meanwhile Joe’s good friend DI Whatmore is investigating the horrific murder of a woman who was burnt alive in her own home. His investigation crosses over with Joe’s missing person investigation. As they conduct their own investigations there are more killings.  DI Whatmore and Joe must join forces to track down a serial killer and solve a puzzling mystery, but doing so puts them and others in grave danger.  Purchase Links UK Paperback link – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hidden-Truth-Wilde-Investigation-Book/dp/B0GDKW3HZG US Paperback Link  – https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Truth-Wilde-Investigation-Book/dp/B0GDKW3HZG UK ebook link – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hidden-Truth-Wilde-Investigation-Book-ebook/dp/B0GDHY9NP6 US ebook link – https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Truth-Wilde-Investigation-Book-ebook/dp/B0GDHY9NP6 Meet the author C.D Steele works as an Executive Officer in the Civil Service. He has a degree in Recreation Management and lives in County Down, Northern Ireland. This is his third novel and is the next book in the Joe Wilde Series after False Truth and Dark Truth. Amazon Giveaway to Win 3 x copies of False Truth (book 1 in the Joe Wilde series) and 1 x copy of Dark Truth (book 2). (Open to UK Only) Win 3 x copies of False Truth and 1 x copy of Dark Truth. (Open to UK Only) https://gleam.io/KfGfH/win-3-x-copies-of-false-truth-and-1-x-copy-of-dark-truth-open-to-uk-only *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 welcoming Hidden Truth by CD Steele to the blog with an excerpt and a fab competition to enter #blogtour #Mystery #NewRelease Blog Tour · Crime Fiction · murder mystery · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m welcoming Dragon Kin’s Blood by Jo Gatenby to the blog #fantasy #bookreview #blogtour historical fiction I’m welcoming Eleanor Birney and her new historical mystery, Behind the Green Baize Door, to the blog with a post about about the history behind the novel, #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalMystery #UpmarketFiction #LiteraryMystery #GildedAge #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub American History · Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · Crime Fiction · Gilded Age · murder mystery · Mystery · New Release I’m delighted to welcome a returning Helen Golden to the blog with her new book, A Dowager is Done-in #bookreview #historicalmystery #blogtour #avidreader Blog Tour · book review · Cozy Mystery · murder mystery · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources

I'm welcoming Hidden Truth by CD Steele to the blog with an excerpt and a fab competition to enter #blogtour #Mystery #NewRelease

I’m welcoming Dragon Kin’s Blood by Jo Gatenby to the blog Here’s the blurb Who do you trust when you can’t go home? After centuries of hiding themselves and their shifting abilities from outsiders, the Dragon Kin decide to send a delegation of “dragon riders” to a nearby Lowlander territory. Eager to see the world, young Lauran quickly volunteers. But not all Lowlanders can be trusted. As the visit comes to an end, Lauran finds herself trapped in her draconic form—and hunted by an evil warlock. Desperate to protect herself and her people, she flees along the Dragon Spine Mountains, away from friends and foes alike. Meanwhile, the last place Jenny wants to be during her summer break from university is on a family vacation with her mother’s new husband and his young son, Davy. Hoping for some peace and quiet, she explores a nearby cave—only to stumble into a portal to the Kingdom of Galahar, a land of magic and mythological creatures. As Jenny searches for Davy, who follows her through the portal, and Lauran struggles for freedom, they come together with the help of Nath, an apprentice shaman of the Anishinabe people. Between Jenny’s technology and Nath’s magic, can they help Lauran escape the warlock’s relentless pursuit before he gets his hands on the Dragon Kin’s blood? Purchase Links https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dragon-Kins-Blood-Kingdom-Galahar-ebook/dp/B0FXJB6PGG/ https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Kins-Blood-Kingdom-Galahar-ebook/dp/B0FXJB6PGG/ My Review Dragon Kin’s Blood is an enchanting fantasy novel featuring a varied cast of characters and multiple points of view, bringing together a story of outsiders stumbling into a world they didn’t even know existed. And one where problems are already being faced by the dragon kin and the other people they encounter. It is, perhaps, a little predictable, but of course, the skill there is to keep readers reading when the ending is potentially never in doubt, and the author does this very well. It’s been a long time since I read any new fantasy featuring dragons, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story and hope other readers will too. It’s not the fastest read, pace-wise, but it certainly sucks you into the world of Galahar and is a fun, satisfying read. Meet the author Thanks to her great-grandmother, Jo Gatenby is a status Algonquin, of the Pikwakanagan First Nation, in Canada. The mountain people in this, her first novel are heavily influenced by native beliefs, and the magic words used are Algonquin language based. Jo writes whatever the voices shouting in her head tell her to. As a result, she has had over two dozen stories and flash fiction published in on-line magazines. Links to many of these can be found on her website: http://www.jo-gatenby-books.com. She has also self-published five children’s books, which can also be found on her website. Facebook Instagram Home Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming Dragon Kin’s Blood by Jo Gatenby to the blog #fantasy #bookreview #blogtour historical fiction I’m welcoming Eleanor Birney and her new historical mystery, Behind the Green Baize Door, to the blog with a post about about the history behind the novel, #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalMystery #UpmarketFiction #LiteraryMystery #GildedAge #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub American History · Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · Crime Fiction · Gilded Age · murder mystery · Mystery · New Release I’m delighted to welcome a returning Helen Golden to the blog with her new book, A Dowager is Done-in #bookreview #historicalmystery #blogtour #avidreader Blog Tour · book review · Cozy Mystery · murder mystery · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m delighted to welcome back Colin Garrow to the blog with a historical crime novel set in Edinburgh #blogtour #histfic #bookreview #mystery Blog Tour · Crime Fiction · historical fiction · murder mystery · Mystery · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources

I'm welcoming Dragon Kin’s Blood by Jo Gatenby to the blog #fantasy #bookreview #blogtour @rararesources @jo_gatenby

I’m welcoming Eleanor Birney and her new historical mystery, Behind the Green Baize Door, to the blog with a post about about the history behind the novel An 1828 Murder Case and the Questions It Left Behind A guest post by Eleanor Birney, author of The Green Baize Door I found the case that inspired The Green Baize Door nearly fifteen years ago. It involved a man accused of murdering an elderly housekeeper. His defense was an unusual one. He admitted that he was a bad man (a liar and a thief), but insisted he was not that sort of bad man (a murderer). That distinction fascinated me, and it still does. We prefer our stories cleaner than that. Perfectly innocent victims. Completely bad villains. It is more comfortable that way. If a person does something bad enough, it’s easier to believe that any good we thought we saw in them was a lie — a product of their deception — than to imagine that someone might be both good and bad in different measures. Our preference for neat categories comes up fairly often in my line of work (I’m an attorney). So to see a man in 1828 engaging directly with that moral complexity — and using it as the basis of his defense — was both surprising and intriguing. And then there was the strangeness of the crime itself: what kind of thief breaks into an otherwise empty mansion, turns the place over, kills an elderly housekeeper then steals from her, leaving behind all the wealth above stairs? As far as I could determine, no one was ever convicted of the crime. The accused was acquitted, and his speech was so eloquent that the trial was included in collections of “notable cases” for decades after. The mystery was unresolved. I knew I wanted to write about the case, but I did not know enough about early nineteenth-century England to do it justice. So I moved the murder to my side of the pond. I chose Philadelphia for a number of reasons. The East coast had more polish than the West at that time, which provided more room for the upstairs/downstairs intrigue at the heart of the story. And the social upheaval at the end of the Victorian era perfectly suited the social and moral tension of the original case. By 1900, Industrialization had drawn families off farms and into cities. Factory work was replacing inherited trades. Immigration was reshaping neighborhoods and exposing long-standing communities to new languages, religions, and political ideas. And all the while, electricity, steel, and railroads were remaking the physical landscape as quickly as fortunes were being made and lost. America’s class system was never quite the same as Britain’s, which rested primarily on lineage, but it borrowed heavily from it. Wealth conferred status, and respectability implied virtue. An ideology that contrasted sharply with the men who were celebrated everywhere for clawing their way up to the top, seldom through virtuous dealings. The old belief that privilege reflected moral superiority had not yet disappeared, but it was under heavy siege. 1900 is also only a few years after the landmark Supreme Court decision Plessy v. Ferguson, one of the most disturbing cases in US history. In it, the highest court in the land gave constitutional sanction to racial segregation and reduced identity, and all the benefits and burdens then attendant to it, to fractions and legal classifications. My main character, Marie Chevalier, lives inside that system. Though her grandmother is “Colored Creole”, Marie appears “white” and receives the benefit of such. Doors open that would otherwise remain closed. And though her life is hard, the edges are softened. But nothing about that life is simple. Calling herself “colored” would feel dishonest — and disrespectful to those who bear the full weight of racial prejudice. Yet passing as white implies a shame she does not feel, and, worst of all, creates distance from the grandmother she loves and admires. What she gains in access, she risks losing in inheritance: pride, history, connection. The 1828 case asked whether a man who was not innocent could also not be guilty. The social upheaval of the Gilded Age challenged the presumption that wealth implied virtue. And Plessy asked whether identity could be reduced to a single drop of blood. Each, in its own way, reflects the human instinct to force complex lives into simple, fixed categories. That is the uneasy historical ground on which The Green Baize Door stands. The murder at its center is a mystery, yes. But the deeper question is the one that first drew me in: what do we do with people who do not fit the roles society would assign to them? Perhaps that is why the case stayed with me. Not because the crime was shocking, though it was. Or even because the defense was eloquent, though it certainly was. But because it revealed something uncomfortably familiar: how quickly we allow a single fact to define a life. One failure becomes character. Socio-economic status assigns identity. And an arbitrary label can dictate how much respect a person deserves. We do this instinctively. We reduce. We simplify. We decide. And in so doing, we flatten the contradictions that make people interesting — that make life interesting. In The Green Baize Door, that instinct does more than shape reputations. It hides a killer. The Green Baize Door by Eleanor Birney is published by Parlor & Dock Press and is available now. For more information, visit eleanorbirney.com. Here’s the blurb An atmospheric historical mystery where every character has their own agenda, and their own truth. In the fashionable mansions on Chestnut Hill, a simple green baize door separates the masters’ world from the servants’. That door is thrown wide when an elderly housekeeper is found brutally murdered on the first day of the new century. Marie Chevalier, the housekeeper’s poor but ambitious granddaughter, and James Lett, the mansion owner’s kind but indolent son, suspect the killer is connected to one of their families—but which one? From drawing rooms to alleyways, their separate investigations lead them through the sometimes lavish, sometimes brutal, landscape of turn-of-the-century New England. When long-buried secrets begin to unravel the fragile threads that hold both households together, Marie and James must find a way to bridge the gulf between them—if only to prove that the murderer belongs not to their own world, but to that strange and foreign land on the other side of the green baize door. Inspired by real-life events, The Green Baize Door is a richly layered historical mystery that explores themes of class identity, family loyalty, and the sometimes blurry line between virtue and vice. Purchase Link https://books2read.com/u/mBWALv https://books2read.com/u/mqRkOd Meet the author Eleanor Birney writes historical mysteries about class, moral ambiguity, and people who aren’t satisfied with life on their side of the green baize door. She received a BA in History from UC Berkeley, and works as a legal research attorney, a day job that feeds her love of precision, research, and puzzles. Growing up in foster care gave her a lifelong fascination with the way society steers people into assigned places—and how some of those people refuse to stay in them. She lives in Northern California with her family. The Green Baize Door is her debut novel. www.eleanorbirney.com X Facebook Instagram Bluesky Amazon Goodreads https://www.bookbub.com/authors/eleanor-birney Follow The Green Baize Door Blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming Eleanor Birney and her new historical mystery, Behind the Green Baize Door, to the blog with a post about about the history behind the novel, #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalMystery #UpmarketFiction #LiteraryMystery #GildedAge #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub American History · Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · Crime Fiction · Gilded Age · murder mystery · Mystery · New Release I’m delighted to welcome a returning Helen Golden to the blog with her new book, A Dowager is Done-in #bookreview #historicalmystery #blogtour #avidreader Blog Tour · book review · Cozy Mystery · murder mystery · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m delighted to welcome back Colin Garrow to the blog with a historical crime novel set in Edinburgh #blogtour #histfic #bookreview #mystery Blog Tour · Crime Fiction · historical fiction · murder mystery · Mystery · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources I’m welcoming An American Slave in Barbary – The Odyssey of Winston Prescott Jones by Larry Kelley to the blog #HistoricalFiction #BarbaryCoast #SlaveTrade #AmericanRevolution #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub American History · Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · historical fiction · New Release

I'm welcoming Eleanor Birney and her new historical mystery, Behind the Green Baize Door, to the blog with a post about about the history behind the novel #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalMystery #UpmarketFiction #LiteraryMystery 
 @EleanorBirney @cathiedunn @eleanor.birney.author @thecoffeepotbookclub

I’m delighted to welcome a returning Helen Golden to the blog with her new book, A Dowager is Done-in #bookreview #historicalmystery #blogtour #avidreader I'm delighted to welcome a returning Helen Golden to the blog with her new book, A Husband is Hushed Up #bookreview #historicalmystery #blogtour #avidreader @rararesources @rachelsrandomresources @helengoldenauthor

I’m delighted to welcome a returning Helen Golden to the blog with her new book, A Dowager is Done-in #bookreview #historicalmystery #blogtour #avidreader

I'm delighted to welcome a returning Helen Golden to the blog with her new book, A Husband is Hushed Up #bookreview #historicalmystery…

I’m delighted to welcome back Colin Garrow to the blog with a historical crime novel set in Edinburgh #blogtour #histfic #bookreview #mystery I'm delighted to welcome back Colin Garrow to the blog with a historical crime novel set in Edinburgh #blogtour #histfic #bookreview #mystery

I'm delighted to welcome back Colin Garrow to the blog with a historical crime novel set in Edinburgh #blogtour #histfic #bookreview #mystery @rararesources @rachelsrandomresources @colingarrowthewriter

I’m welcoming An American Slave in Barbary – The Odyssey of Winston Prescott Jones by Larry Kelley to the blog Here’s an excerpt from An American Slave in Barbary Now, as the sun lowered in its westward descent toward the Atlantic, my thirst and my need to know if my brother might have survived left me no choice.  I walked out the dunes, across the flat beach, down onto damp sand that descended at a steep angle into the surf.  Without worrying if anyone could see me, I made my way toward Sale. I reasoned that unless, by an unlikely twist of fate, I was found by some friendly villager who wished to take me in and hide me, I would turn myself over to the mercies of the Moroccan authorities of Sale and or their agents, in exchange for a cup of water. As I reached the portion of the beach near the outskirts of the city, two natives in a horse-drawn cart rode toward me near the waterline. The cart held an unarmed man driving and, next to him, a man armed with a scimitar, pistol, and ammunition belts strapped across his torso.  The cart stopped abruptly in front of me.  The armed man leaped out of the cart and ran toward me with his sword drawn, pointing at me. “Infidel, don’t move! Come here,” he yelled at me in Arabic as he motioned that I move toward the back of his cart.   As he led me there, I saw in the rear bed two of my shipmates and close friends, Moore and Etheredge. “Jones!” they cried in unison. As I climbed into the back of the cart, they reached out their hands to mine with tears welling up in their eyes.   My new jailor was remarkably a man I recognized as one who boarded our ship when we were captured in the Mediterranean and was among the pirates who sailed it off into the storm.  As he ran a chain through the ring in my ankle iron, which I still wore from our original capture, I said, “Lads, do you know if my brother, Robbie, made it ashore?” Their looks told me what I feared had to be true.  They shook their heads while looking down at the floor of the cart. Here’s the blurb An American Slave in Barbary: The Odyssey of Winston Prescott Jones is the story of a first-generation American student whose commercial ship is captured in the summer of 1801 by Moslem pirates. He spends the next sixteen years as a captive in Algiers. He rises to become a confidant to the Dey of Algiers, who is desperate to know what made the American shopkeepers and farmers believe they could defeat the British war machine, and how they intended to rule themselves.   In the genre created by Homer, it is a tale of suffering, sin, and redemption, and a young man’s epic journey to regain his freedom.   Purchase Link https://geni.us/cgYHz Meet the author Larry Kelley’s life was changed by 9/11. He desperately wanted to find out who these people were who attacked us, what ordinary citizens could do to join the battle, and how those plotting to kill us in future attacks could be defeated.   Kelley has written scores of columns on the dangers of Western complacency. In his tenure as a political commentary writer, he has made a significant impact. His feature articles have appeared in the Piedmont Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, Human Events, and Townhall Magazine. Two of his articles were featured on the cover of Townhall Magazine.   His first book, Lessons from Fallen Civilizations, is the result of ten years of research. And received critical praise as a saga that begins on the plain of Marathon in 490 BC and whose main character is Western Civilization. https://www.larrykelley.com Facebook Amazon X Goodreads Follow the An American Slave in Barbary by Larry Kelley blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming An American Slave in Barbary – The Odyssey of Winston Prescott Jones by Larry Kelley to the blog #HistoricalFiction #BarbaryCoast #SlaveTrade #AmericanRevolution #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub American History · Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · historical fiction · New Release I’m welcoming Rebecca Langston-George to the blog, with her new book, One Fine Voice  #OneFineVoice #HistoricalFiction #MiddleGrade #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub American History · Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · historical fiction · New Release Today I’m reviewing Kelly Oliver’s fabulous new Golden-Age crime mystery, The Case of the Christie Curse #newrelease #cosycrime #blogtour Blog Tour · Boldwood Books · book review · historical fiction · murder mystery · New Release · writing I’m delighted to welcome The Silent Resistance by Anna Normann to the blog, with a fascinating extract #BlogTour #NewReleaseBook #WW2 historical fiction · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources · WW2

I'm welcoming An American Slave in Barbary – The Odyssey of Winston Prescott Jones by Larry Kelley to the blog #HistoricalFiction #BarbaryCoast #SlaveTrade #AmericanRevolution #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub
@KelleyComment @cathiedunn
@thecoffeepotbookclub

I’m welcoming Rebecca Langston-George to the blog, with her new book, One Fine Voice Here’s an excerpt Chapter 2 The pianist hit a wrong note in the chorus, causing Mama to wince, just as the church’s back doors wheezed open. A girl with a big blue hair bow in the next pew turned to look at me. Our eyes locked. Then she turned toward the doors behind us. I followed her gaze. That’s when I first saw them. White robed men wearing pointed hoods paraded up the center aisle. They marched together in pairs until they reached the altar where my daddy had just kneeled; then half went left and half went right, forming a line across the front of the church. Their faces were masked save for the cut-out eye holes. Those sunken, shadowed holes all stared right at me, it seemed, pulling my eyes toward them, locking me in their dark gaze, paralyzing me with their murky eyes.  I tried to sing. I knew every song in the hymnal by heart. But just like the white masks staring at me I didn’t have a working mouth. I tried to read the words in the hymnal, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from those blank stares. The one thing in my body that worked was my memory. It jabbed a stick in a deep muddy pool of my mind that usually only bubbled up in my nightmares.  Four years ago, a winter’s day. A crust of ice crunched underfoot as I walked with my uncle to his barn. A lamb had gotten loose and had frozen to death near the fence. Its white wool stiff with sparkling ice crystals. A black crow was perched atop its head, a dark berry dangling from its beak. The crow flew away, and I saw that the lamb’s eyes had been picked out. Its cold, empty eye sockets stared through me, and I screamed.    I felt that same urge to scream right then and run clear down the street away from our new church. I even turned my head toward the back door, but something stopped me. The girl—the one with the big blue bow—she was singing, –like she probably did every Sunday. I blinked. I turned my head the other way. Daddy sang along in his strong tenor. Blink. Reverend Dewhurst held his hymnal high and sang toward the ceiling. The pianist plunked on. Mama was the only other one that looked confused. Everyone around us was acting as if nothing unusual was happening, like masked robed men marching into church was perfectly normal. Was this normal for Grayson, Indiana? Here’s the blurb All her life, Esther Hopkins has been told she has a mighty fine voice.  Still, she can’t believe her luck when just days after moving to town she’s invited to sing a solo at the 1923 Independence Day picnic. But the group sponsoring the picnic is not the benevolent fraternal order they claim to be. Worse, they’ve recruited her father, the town’s freshly ordained Baptist minister, to become their chaplain.  When they target the immigrant family of her new best friend, Esther must risk her father’s anger, the KKK’s revenge, and her family’s safety to follow her conscience, salvage her friendship, and find the strength to speak truth to power even if it costs all she holds dear. Triggers: xenophobia, racism Purchase Link https://geni.us/BYaF8Z Meet the author Rebecca Langston-George is the author of nineteen books for young readers including the globally popular For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai’s Story. Though she’s long been known for nonfiction, One Fine Voice is her first middle grade historical fiction.  A retired teacher credentialed in both single subject language arts for upper grades and multiple subjects for younger grades, Rebecca is a popular school presenter for all ages, encouraging students to investigate and tap into their personal interests when writing.  She serves on the board of The California Reading Association and is the Co-Regional Advisor for SCBWI Central-Coastal California, helping other writers achieve their dreams. She splits her time between California’s scenic coast and its agricultural heartland, writing (and mostly rewriting) at one mile per hour on a treadmill desk. Read more at Rebecca Langston-George | Children’s Book Author. Facebook X Instagram Bluesky Amazon Goodreads www.rebeccalangston-george.com https://www.historiumpress.com/rebecca-langston-george www.bookbub.com/authors/rebecca-langston-george Follow the One Fine Voice by Rebecca Langston-George blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming Rebecca Langston-George to the blog, with her new book, One Fine Voice  #OneFineVoice #HistoricalFiction #MiddleGrade #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub American History · Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · historical fiction · New Release Today I’m reviewing Kelly Oliver’s fabulous new Golden-Age crime mystery, The Case of the Christie Curse #newrelease #cosycrime #blogtour Blog Tour · Boldwood Books · book review · historical fiction · murder mystery · New Release · writing I’m delighted to welcome The Silent Resistance by Anna Normann to the blog, with a fascinating extract #BlogTour #NewReleaseBook #WW2 historical fiction · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources · WW2 I’m reviewing The Secrets of Morgarten by LS Mangos #historicalfiction #bookreview #blogtour #fourteenthcentury historical fiction

I'm welcoming Rebecca Langston-George to the blog, with her new book, One Fine Voice @RebeGeorge @cathiedunn
@rebeccalangstongeorge @thecoffeepotbookclub  #OneFineVoice #HistoricalFiction #MiddleGrade #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

Today I’m reviewing Kelly Oliver’s fabulous new Golden-Age crime mystery, The Case of the Christie Curse #newrelease #cosycrime #blogtour Today I'm reviewing Kelly Oliver's fabulous new Golden-Age crime mystery, The Case of the Christie Curse #newrelease #cosycrime #blogtour #boldwoodbloggers @BoldwoodBooks #TheCaseofTheChristieCurse @KellyOliverBook @rararesources @theboldbookclub

Today I'm reviewing Kelly Oliver's fabulous new Golden-Age crime mystery, The Case of the Christie Curse #newrelease #cosycrime #blogtour #boldwoodbloggers @BoldwoodBooks #TheCaseofTheChristieCurse @KellyOliverBook @rararesources @theboldbookclub

I’m delighted to welcome The Silent Resistance by Anna Normann to the blog, with a fascinating extract Here’s an extract from The Silent Resistance For centuries, the people living along the coast of Norway, made their living from fishing or shipping. The women were used to their men being away for long periods of time, and managed as best the could. There were letters, telegrams, some ways to stay in touch. During the war, the fleet stayed away, and the families had to survive on their own. Sometimes a letter or message came through, and sometimes the news was life shattering.  Extract  ‘I’m Lars’ wife,’ she muttered. And soon, maybe even this year, the war will be over, and Kerber will be gone for good. And … and Lars will come home, and life will be as if the war never happened.              Anni stared at the Christmas tree. She knew she should take down all the decorations, and use the tree for firewood, but she didn’t have the heart to do it yet.               She wrapped the knitted rug around herself, and felt warm and contended. Soon, she fell asleep on the sofa.              When someone hammered on the door, she almost fell on the floor. Confused, she hesitated to go to the door. Could it be soldiers? Perhaps Kerber had decided to show his true self, and had sent them to arrest her.              She realised Ingrid would wake up if she didn’t put a stop to it. She pulled the rug tighter around the shoulders, and hurried out of the lounge.              When she came out in the hallway, she closed the door behind her, and put on her coat. She knew it would be freezing out there.              She opened the door and the cold wind woke her up. There wasn’t anyone on the doorstep. There were no signs of the dreaded soldiers.              What the hell is going on? she thought.               Anni looked around again, and caught sight of Martin in the shadows.              ‘What are you doing here?’ she said, walking over to him. ‘What if Kerber had been in the house?’             Martin shook his head. ‘I know he’s not, Anni. He’s gone to Bergen. They said so at Hagland.’             Anni shook her head. ‘You have to be quick, Martin. He’s coming back tonight, and he could be here any moment.’             Martin looked concerned. ‘This couldn’t wait,’ he said.              ‘What’s the emergency?’ Anni sighed. ‘It’s Guri, isn’t it? She did something foolish. Is she okay? Should I go to the farm?’             ‘No, no, nothing is wrong with Guri. This is something else,’ he said, looking more and more uncomfortable.  ‘I have a letter for you. I thought you would want it as soon as possible.’ Martin didn’t meet her eyes. Something was off.              Anni felt a sharp pain in her stomach. ‘It’s Lars, isn’t it? Is he dead? Did a torpedo sink his ship?’             ‘No, as far as I know, he’s fine, but Anni, I’m sorry.’ Martin looked took a deep breath. ‘I’m so sorry.’             ‘Stop saying that.’ Anni touched his arm. ‘What’s going on? Is Lars sick, is that it?’             Martin handed her a thin envelope. ‘Read the letter, Anni. Please.’             Anni looked at the envelope, scared to open it. It had been such a long time since they last had heard from Lars. She didn’t want to read it. Judging from Martin’s face, it was bad news. If Lars wasn’t sick or dead, then what?              ‘Did you read it, Martin?’ Anni’s mind was racing with horrible scenarios.              ‘No.’ Martin looked horrified at the thought. ‘I would never do that.’             ‘But you know what it’s about? Because why else would you apologize to me?’             Martin nodded. ‘You’re right. I do know.’              Anni opened the letter. She could see from the date that it was written over a year ago. ‘Damn,’ she said. ‘This isn’t a response to my letter. He hasn’t received the photos of Ingrid.’             ‘I don’t know how this letter found its way to Shetland.  You know how it is,’ Martin said.              Anni nodded, not looking up from the letter. Lars’ handwriting was so familiar, it made her want to cry. Guri will be delighted when she sees this, she thought and started reading.              Dear Anni, I hope this letter finds you well.              The rest of the letter made no sense.  Here’s the blurb Occupied Norway, 1944. Anni endures the war alone, aiding the resistance while longing for news of her sailor husband. Her daughter, Ingrid, is her joy, and Anni is determined to keep her safe. But when a German official is billeted at their home, danger escalates, and Anni faces an agonising dilemma. London, 1952. Ingrid has been trying to understand her mother’s mysterious disappearance at the war’s end. Clinging to Anni’s promise that she would always come back for her, Ingrid sets out to discover what happened all those years ago. Purchase Link http://tinyurl.com/2n6sr5b6 Meet the authors Anna Normann is the pseudonym of authors Anan Singh and Natalie Normann, and it all happened because of a bet. Sometime in the nineteen eighties, while watching a movie with a so-so plot, they started arguing about improving the plot and how they could write a better story than that mess. And then Anan’s wife said ‘I bet you can’t’ … Since then, they have published seven books together in Norwegian, exploring different genres. Their first novel, set in WW2, won a competition in 1995 for ‘Norway’s best entertainment novel’. https://linktr.ee/NatalieNormann Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m delighted to welcome The Silent Resistance by Anna Normann to the blog, with a fascinating extract #BlogTour #NewReleaseBook #WW2 historical fiction · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources · WW2 I’m reviewing The Secrets of Morgarten by LS Mangos #historicalfiction #bookreview #blogtour #fourteenthcentury historical fiction I’m delighted to welcome Clare Flynn and Under a Southern Sky to the blog #NewReleaseBook #BookCompetition #HistoricalFictionBook Blog Tour · historical fiction · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources · WW2 I’m welcoming Susan D Levitte to the blog with an excerpt from her new book, The Secrets in the Woods, 1871Fire #PeshtigoFire #WIHistory #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub  Blog Tour · historical fiction · New Release

I'm delighted to welcome The Silent Resistance by Anna Normann to the blog, with a fascinating extract #BlogTour #NewReleaseBook #WW2 @rachelsrandomresources @rararesources

Here’s the blurb A young nation in peril. A web of deception. A triangle of forbidden love. The year is 1315. The fledgling nation of Switzerland – the Helvetic Confederation – is under threat from the Habsburgs. In France, the Knights Templar have been disbanded and declared heretics by the king. Magda, a beautiful weaver living near the alpine village of Morgarten, befriends Walter, a messenger who is the son of the legendary Wilhelm Tell. Walter and Magda’s budding romance is threatened by the arrival of Sébastien, a French fugitive. What secrets is this foreigner hiding? Can Walter solve the mystery of a murder and a stolen religious artefact before a mighty battle with the Habsburgs ensues? And who will be the victors in their turbulent triangle of love? https://amzn.to/46Gxr2G My Review The Secrets of Morgarten is a historical fiction/romance novel set in the early 1300s, following three main characters through about a year of their lives. The characters of Magda, Wilhelm and Sebastian all offer different, if not strictly, opposing, viewpoints of events as they unfold. It is a story of conflict and love against a backdrop of intrigue and approaching war, and the narrative moves quickly between the twin storylines, so that the conflict occurs between the characters as well as in the wider world. It is a slower-paced novel, rich in detail and complex political machinations that builds towards its conclusion (the theft not occuring until quite late in the book) which thrusts our three main characters into the midst of the unevitable conflict where decisions must be made that will have far-reaching consequences. It’s an intriguing novel, depicting events I’ve not previously read about before. Meet the author Louise Mangos grew up in the UK but has spent more than half her life in Switzerland. Her debut psychological suspense Strangers on a Bridge was a finalist in the Exeter Novel Prize and long listed for the Bath Novel Award. She has published four further psychological suspense novels – The Art of Deception, The Beaten Track, Four Fatal Flaws and The Girl in the Doorway. She lives in the foothills of the Alps, a stone’s throw from the site of the Battle of Morgarten, with her Kiwi husband and two sons. When she’s not writing you can find her on the cross-country ski trails or wild swimming in the lake by her home, depending on the season. Louise also writes short fiction which has won prizes and been published in more than twenty print anthologies. She holds a Masters in Crime Writing from the University of East Anglia. Find her on Twitter, Instagram or BlueSky @LouiseMangos and Facebook @LouiseMangosBooks Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m reviewing The Secrets of Morgarten by LS Mangos #historicalfiction #bookreview #blogtour #fourteenthcentury historical fiction I’m delighted to welcome Clare Flynn and Under a Southern Sky to the blog #NewReleaseBook #BookCompetition #HistoricalFictionBook Blog Tour · historical fiction · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources · WW2 I’m welcoming Susan D Levitte to the blog with an excerpt from her new book, The Secrets in the Woods, 1871Fire #PeshtigoFire #WIHistory #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub  Blog Tour · historical fiction · New Release 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 Blog Tour · Boldwood Books · fiction · historical fiction · M J Porter · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources

I'm reviewing the Secrets of Morgarten by LS Mangos #historicalfiction #bookreview #blogtour #fourteenthcentury #TheSecretsOfMorgarten @louisemangos @RandomTTours @randomthingstours

I’m delighted to welcome Clare Flynn and Under a Southern Sky to the blog Here’s the blurb After a German fighter sinks her husband’s ship in the icy Atlantic, grief-stricken Hannah Kidd flees the rubble and ration queues of wartime Liverpool for a new life on the other side of the world. In sun-soaked Sydney, she discovers more than just refuge from nightly bombing raids—she finds unexpected family connections, meaningful work, and the handsome Eddie Greenbank. As Hannah explores the golden beaches of Sydney’s eastern shores, the misty valleys of the Blue Mountains, and the rolling scenery of the Hunter Valley, she begins to believe that happiness isn’t lost forever. But even in Australia, the war’s long shadow threatens everything she’s begun to rebuild. Hannah must decide: will she let grief define her, or will she fight for the future she never thought she’d have? A sweeping story of resilience and renewal set against the dramatic backdrop of wartime Australia, Under a Southern Sky explores how far we must sometimes travel—both in miles and in spirit—to find our way home. Purchase Link  https://books2read.com/u/47oMPq Meet the author Clare Flynn is the award-winning author of nineteen historical novels. She is the 2020 Selfies Adult Fiction prize winner for The Pearl of Penang and the 2022 Indie Champion for the Romantic Novelists Association. Clare is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a member of the Historical Writers’ Association and the Romantic Novelists Association. She lives in Eastbourne on the south coast of England. Facebook X Instagram Giveaway to Win a a signed paperback of The Star of Ceylon (Open to UK Only) https://gleam.io/0uZWS/win-a-a-signed-paperback-of-the-star-of-ceylon-open-to-uk-only *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. Check out Clare’s last visit to the blog here. Posts Stay up to date with the latest from our blog. I’m delighted to welcome Clare Flynn and Under a Southern Sky to the blog #NewReleaseBook #BookCompetition #HistoricalFictionBook Blog Tour · historical fiction · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources · WW2 I’m welcoming Susan D Levitte to the blog with an excerpt from her new book, The Secrets in the Woods, 1871Fire #PeshtigoFire #WIHistory #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub  Blog Tour · historical fiction · New Release 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 Blog Tour · Boldwood Books · fiction · historical fiction · M J Porter · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources The Danish King’s Enemy has a fab, new cover historical fiction

I'm delighted to welcome Clare Flynn and Under a Southern Sky to the blog #NewReleaseBook #BookCompetition #HistoricalFictionBook @rararesources @authorclareflynn @clarefly @rachelsrandomresources

I’m welcoming Susan D Levitte to the blog with an excerpt from her new book, The Secrets in the Woods Here’s a snippet The assignment was going to mark the anniversary of a tragic period in the region’s history. The Peshtigo Fire, or the Great Fire as those on this side of the bay often referred to it, killed at least fifteen hundred white people and countless American Indians in a few hours.  Because it had happened sixty years ago, there were not many people left to tell their stories. Many of those still alive had just been small children at the time, with memories dimmed and shaded by stories they had heard in hushed tones during their lives. When Edna Mae was told she would be interviewing a woman who had been fifteen when the fire happened… Here’s the blurb On October 8, 1871, fire turned night into a living hell.  While Chicago’s blaze claimed the headlines, a fiercer and more devastating inferno swept across Wisconsin’s Green Bay peninsula-obliterating farms, forests, and families in its path. Here, among immigrant settlers carving new lives from the wilderness, survival came down to split-second choices: to run, to hide, to fight the flames. Mothers shielded children with their bodies, fathers vanished into smoke, and neighbors faced the firestorm with nothing but faith and will. Inspired by forgotten accounts and newspaper fragments, Secrets in the Woods brings to life the untold human drama of one of America’s most harrowing nights-a story of resilience, loss, and the fragile hope that rises from the ashes. Triggers: Corporal punishment, spousal abuse, deaths by natural disaster, death in childbirth. Purchase Link books2read.com/u/4AB0oA Meet the author Susan was born and raised as the fifth generation to live on the family land in Northeast North Dakota (nearly Canada). She moved to Wisconsin in 1997, living in Door and Manitowoc County and now resides in the pastoral Kewaunee County. Married to Quentin, they share their home with Olive and Penny, their silly Labrador retrievers, and Gil, their ever-lazy cat. As a devoted reader of historical fiction and nonfiction, she brings her passion for history and desire to educate readers into her work. With twenty-five years of experience in global advertising and marketing, she holds a master’s degree in communications and currently contributes her expertise to the Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport. Facebook Instagram Pinterest Amazon Goodreads Website: https://1871fireproject.com/ Author’s Page at Historium Press: https://www.historiumpress.com/susan-levitte Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/2510908841 Follow the Secret in the Woods blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m welcoming Susan D Levitte to the blog with an excerpt from her new book, The Secrets in the Woods, 1871Fire #PeshtigoFire #WIHistory #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub  Blog Tour · historical fiction · New Release 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 Blog Tour · Boldwood Books · fiction · historical fiction · M J Porter · New Release · Rachel’s Random Resources The Danish King’s Enemy has a fab, new cover historical fiction I’m delighted to welcome A.M.Swink and her new book, Gradarius, to the blog with a fab excerpt #romanequestrian #romanequestrianseries #gradarius #ancienthistoricalfiction #romanfiction #equestrianfiction #boudicca Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · historical fiction · New Release · Roman Fiction · Romance

I'm welcoming Susan D Levitte to the blog with an excerpt from her new book, The Secrets in the Woods, 1871Fire #PeshtigoFire #WIHistory #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @cathiedunn
@ads2art @thecoffeepotbookclub

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 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

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

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 The background to the House of Mercia – AKA what happens after the Gods and Kings trilogy If you’ve been with me for a while, you’ll know I’ve written about Mercia in many of the centuries of its existence. Until now, I haven’t ventured into the eighth century and many of you might not have read the Gods and Kings Trilogy (there is still time to get it read before House of Mercia hits the shelves), and even if you have, there’s a century between the final events of Warrior King (655) and the beginning of 757, the first book in The House of Mercia series. So, I thought it was time to add some flavour to this century. The Gods and Kings trilogy follows a collection of mighty warrior kings in Saxon England from the 620s to the 650s, as the ‘larger’ Saxon kingdoms were forming – (Northumbria from Bernicia and Deira) (Mercia from the heartland of Mercia centred around the area of the Tomsæte (yep, they get a mention in the Dark Age Chronicles) to include the kingdoms of the Hwicce, the Magonsæte, Lindsey and Elmet). Of these, it’s the brother kings Eowa and Penda that most concern us, as they were both kings of Mercia, claiming descent through Pybba (and it’s this genealogy that leads us back to Wærmund (from the Dark Age Chronicles), and even mentions an Icel (do you see what I did there?) Whatever the exact relationship between the two brothers (as explored in the Gods and Kings trilogy), they ruled one after another, Eowa falling at the battle of Maserfeld in 642, against the Northumbrians and Penda outliving him to rule until his death in 655. (There’s also another shadowy brother, possibly sharing a father but not a mother, Cuthwalh, who is important. He was never a king of Mercia, but his existence (if he existed) is very relevant to events in the eighth and indeed, ninth century.) Eowa had children when he died. Penda also had children. As the brother who ruled second, the kingdom of Mercia was bequeathed to Penda’s children, first Pæda (his son, who didn’t rule for very long), then Wulfhere (Penda’s son 658-675), Æthelred (Penda’s son, who abdicated in 704 and died in 716), Ceonred (Wulfhere’s son, who ruled from 704-709 and abdicated to travel to Rome), Ceolred (Æthelred’s son, from 709-716) and then Coelwald, who briefly succeeds and is assumed to be another son of Æthelred, until the line passes to that descended from Eowa, through his son or daughter (I think in the Gods and Kings trilogy I’ve made Alweo a daughter), Alweo, in the figure of Æthelbald, while Offa’s line descended through the other brother, Osmod. (Looking at this, I can’t help thinking that a little less religious fervour might have been to the advantage of the ruling line of Mercia – but of course, this was the time of conversion – Wulfhere is said to have been the first Christian king of Mercia (although Pæda also converted, but sadly, met a sticky end). The relationship between Mercia and Northumbria at the time was, I think ‘messy.’  So, that all seems quite complicated. At this time, Mercia was very often in conflict with the kingdom of Northumbria, and indeed, a number of assassinations occur. Pæda is killed by his wife (a Northumbrian). A daughter of Penda also marries one of Oswiu’s sons, Alhfrith. The Northumbrian king, Oswiu (the cheek of it), then briefly rules Mercia, until he’s driven from Mercia by Wulfhere (Penda’s son), who then becomes king. Wulfhere endeavoured to defeat the Northumbrians, then being ruled by Ecgfrith (half-brother of Alhfrith), the son of Oswiu, but failed, whereas Wulfhere’s brother, Æthelred, was later successful. These two battles fascinate me, and if you’ve read my short story, A Father’s Son, which you can download here and join my mailing list) it’s the very beginning of a project where I hoped to tell the story of these two battles, the one where Northumbria is triumphant, the other where Mercia sets the record straight, but I’ve never quite found the time.  This succinct account then brings us to Æthelbald, an old man by the time The House of Mercia takes place, but one who evidently ruled well throughout his 41 years – quite an astonishing feat at the time. It’s believed he lived for some time in exile before becoming king, perhaps in the kingdom of the East Angles, when her king, Ælfwald, ruled. It seems evident, therefore, that there was some discord in Mercia at the time between the potential ruling houses. While Eowa’s son hadn’t endeavoured to claim the kingship of Mercia (I think he died, but maybe that was what I had happen in the Gods and Kings trilogy), his descendants were more ambitious. So, this brings us to the events of 757, the first book in the House of Mercia series. What comes next will form the narrative. The Repton Stone at Derby Museum, believed to be a depiction of King Æthelbald riding a horse (please note, the museum was being renovated when I visited. It’s not usually displayed like this). Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. The Danish King’s Enemy has a fab, new cover historical fiction I’m delighted to welcome A.M.Swink and her new book, Gradarius, to the blog with a fab excerpt #romanequestrian #romanequestrianseries #gradarius #ancienthistoricalfiction #romanfiction #equestrianfiction #boudicca Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · historical fiction · New Release · Roman Fiction · Romance I’m sharing my review for A Body in the Banjo by Elaine Spires, a historical mystery set in Dagenham #blogtour #bookreview book review · Cozy Mystery · Crime Fiction · historical fiction · murder mystery · Mystery I’m delighted to welcome Lady Harriet (Harriet Taggart) and Dr. Peter Stephenson and their book, The Witch of Godstow Abbey, to the blog #TheWitchOfGodstowAbbey #HistoricalMystery #MurderMystery #theladyandthedoc #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · Historical Mystery · murder mystery

Introducing 757, the first book in the brand new series, The House of Mercia #fiction #nonfiction #Mercia

It might well be the second historical fiction novel I ever wrote, but I thought it could do with a little update to match The Earl of Mercia’s Father. Huge thanks to my cover designer at 100 Covers. The new cover also means I’ve expanded the available formats. The book is now available in ebook, trade paperback (6×9), large print/hardcover combined, and the smaller, more usual-sized UK paperback (5.06 x 7.81), available via IngramSpark (use the link below). This version should also be distributed to a wider range of print retailers. And, of course, you can order a signed copy from me, too, via my online store. The Danish King's Enemy: England: The Second Vikin …. Porter, MJ Buy Now Visit the Earls of Mercia Series page Posts Stay up to date with the latest from our blog. The Danish King’s Enemy has a fab, new cover historical fiction I’m delighted to welcome A.M.Swink and her new book, Gradarius, to the blog with a fab excerpt #romanequestrian #romanequestrianseries #gradarius #ancienthistoricalfiction #romanfiction #equestrianfiction #boudicca Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · historical fiction · New Release · Roman Fiction · Romance I’m sharing my review for A Body in the Banjo by Elaine Spires, a historical mystery set in Dagenham #blogtour #bookreview book review · Cozy Mystery · Crime Fiction · historical fiction · murder mystery · Mystery 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 Boldwood Books · historical fiction · M J Porter · New Release

The Danish King's Enemy has a fab, new cover

I’m delighted to welcome A.M.Swink and her new book, Gradarius, to the blog with a fab excerpt #romanequestrian #romanequestrianseries #gradarius #ancienthistoricalfiction #romanfiction #equestrianfiction #boudicca I'm delighted to welcome A.M.Swink and her new book, Gradarius, to the blog with a fab excerpt #romanequestrian #romanequestrianseries #gradarius #ancienthistoricalfiction #romanfiction #equestrianfiction #boudicca

I'm delighted to welcome A.M.Swink and her new book, Gradarius, to the blog with a fab excerpt #romanequestrian #romanequestrianseries #gradarius #ancienthistoricalfiction #romanfiction #equestrianfiction #boudicca
@cathiedunn
@am_swink @thecoffeepotbookclub

I’m sharing my review for A Body in the Banjo by Elaine Spires, a historical mystery set in Dagenham Here’s the blurb It’s November 1958 and Dagenham is excitedly awaiting Bonfire Night. Cissie Partridge isn’t too keen on fireworks but she generously donates to the local children doing Penny for the guy. Cissie is content with her lot. She loves her husband Harold. She shops, she cooks, she reads at every opportunity and she volunteers at the Dockland Settlement. Observant and sharp, she gets on with all her neighbours. Then, one morning, she finds a body… Purchase Links https://www.amazon.co.uk/Body-Banjo-Cissie-Partridge-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0G1KZ52TK https://www.amazon.com/Body-Banjo-Cissie-Partridge-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0G1KZ52TK My Review A Body in the Banjo is an historical mystery set in 1958, just before Bonfire Night. It is a story of a small community and one woman in particualar, Cissie, who doesn’t so much laud anything over her neighbours, but is, perhaps, a little bit of a busy body, although not so much as one who spends all her time watching her neighbours. No, instead Cissie listens to their comings and goings through the open bedroom window each night. This is a story very much following the minutae of Cissie’s day to day existence as a 1950s housewife, and while some of it feels a little repetitive, the finale does build to a fine mystery which makes absolute sense of all the noise’s Cissie hears on the fateful night. A really solid mystery, with a normal woman as the main character, although there are also others who take the narrative from time to time. I’m sure fans of historical mysteries will enjoy the story. Meet the author Elaine Spires is a novelist, playwright and actress. Extensive travelling and a background in education and tourism perfected Elaine’s keen eye for the quirky characteristics of people, captivating the humorous observations she now affectionately shares with the readers of her novels.  Elaine also writes plays and her short film Only the Lonely was made by Dan Films and won the Groucho Club Best Short Film Award 2019 and two Silver Awards at WOFFF 2019. Instagram X Facebook Posts Stay up to date with the latest from the blog. I’m sharing my review for A Body in the Banjo by Elaine Spires, a historical mystery set in Dagenham #blogtour #bookreview book review · Cozy Mystery · Crime Fiction · historical fiction · murder mystery · Mystery 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 Boldwood Books · historical fiction · M J Porter · New Release I’m delighted to welcome Lady Harriet (Harriet Taggart) and Dr. Peter Stephenson and their book, The Witch of Godstow Abbey, to the blog #TheWitchOfGodstowAbbey #HistoricalMystery #MurderMystery #theladyandthedoc #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · Historical Mystery · murder mystery I’m delighted to share and excerpt and a competition to celebrate the release of Under Vixens Mere by Kit Fielding #blogtour #newrelease Blog Tour · Rachel’s Random Resources

I'm sharing my review for A Body in the Banjo by Elaine Spires, a historical mystery set in Dagenham #blogtour #bookreview @rararsources @rachelsrandomresources @ElaineSpiresAuthor

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 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

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

I’m delighted to welcome Harriet Taggart and Peter Stephenson and their book, The Witch of Godstow Abbey, Murders in the Abbey Series, to the blog with an excerpt. Excerpt From Chapter 1 – Bones of the Innocent The autumn sun was starting to set, signaling that it was time to leave the garden, perform their ablutions and go to the chapel for Vespers. But before they could move, Isabel’s voice rang out from the far side of the garden, screaming again and again, “Sister, Sister, come quickly!” “What on earth is it, child? Are you injured?” Isabel was breathless. “No, Sister, no. But you must come. Hurry!” And the screaming broke out once more, raw with terror. Agnes walked rapidly around to the other side, where Isabel was on her hands and knees, a garden claw waving wildly in her hand. There on the ground in front of Isabel, half buried in the soft, freshly-turned earth, were three tiny bodies. Pale and shaking, Isabel could scarcely speak. She tried to catch her breath, but to no avail. “These are b… b… babies, sister. Wh.. wh… who would kill newborn infants like this? Here’s the Blurb A widowed academic investigating strange historical practices gets drawn back in time and into the year 1299 in Oxford. Join a cast of compelling characters-nuns, novices and outsiders-as they battle the forces of darkness. Enter their struggle against evil, clandestine organizations. Join their life-threatening fight to protect each other, be willing to die for each other, and occasionally fall in love. Will heroic love and righteous pursuit of justice triumph? Will the horror-inducing villain be found out and overthrown? Or will the courageous troop of those fighting for what is good be overpowered and taken captive? Set in Oxford, England, in the year 1299, a struggle takes place between the sisters of the local convent and a strange, terrifying local evil society. They discover a secret organization of men who perform unspeakable deeds. The lives of several sisters are in danger. Join Mother Alice, Sister Agnes and Isabel, along with Lady Beatrix and Lady Harriet, as they confront and do battle with an evil, secret society intent on attacking them, taking over the convent and sacrificing a young woman. If you love stories that keep you turning pages while imparting fascinating accounts of the past, this latest mystery in the “Murders in the Abbey” series will tingle your spine. Praise for The Witch of Godstow Abbey: ‘Richly atmospheric and quietly gripping, “The Witch of Godstow Abbey” is a worthy addition to your bookshelf.’ ~ Yarde Book Promotion, 5* Editorial Review Buy Link Universal Link: Meet the Authors Lady Harriet holds the legal title “Lady of the Manor,” as defined under English law, and traces her ancestry to Charlemagne’s royal line. A lifelong reader and devoted genealogist for nearly fifty years, Harriet has always had a passion for stories, whether they are buried in the past or found in the pages of a good book. She is the co-author of We Are Manx, a self-published family saga that explores her Manx heritage and the history of the Isle of Man in rich detail. She’s also a photographer who prefers being behind the lens, a word lover addicted to word games, and a fan of wooden jigsaw puzzles. She has traveled extensively, with a deep appreciation for history, diverse cultures, and the unexpected joys that can be found away from home. Her career spanned volunteerism, real estate, and systems administration, but now she happily devotes her time to more creative pursuits. As she puts it: “I’m old enough for Medicare, but not quite old enough to get a birthday card from King Charles—were I a Brit.” The Witch of Godstow Abbey, written in partnership with Dr. Peter Stephenson, marks her first (but certainly not last) foray into historical fiction. With photography, she creates books of images; with storytelling, she creates images made of words. Dr. Peter Stephenson has written or contributed to over twenty books, all but one of which are non-fiction technical books. He has published over 1,000 papers in technical journals, technical trade journals, and peer-reviewed legal journals. One of his peer-reviewed papers has over 15,400 downloads.  In addition to writing, Dr. Stephenson has been playing blues and Americana music for 70 years. It is through that performing, and after earning a PhD from Oxford Brookes University, that he was given the appellation “Doc” by the owner of one of his performance venues. Having visited Oxford several times and being employed by a UK company in nearby Malvern, it was only natural that he would set his tales in Oxfordshire. His academic experience in Oxford town sealed the deal and resulted in his first historical novel, The Whispering Dead of Rewley Abbey—Book 1 in the “Murders in the Abbey” series—which reached the Amazon Kindle bestseller list and won a Pencraft award for literary excellence in the winter of 2025. He now writes with his collaborator and writing partner, Lady Harriet. Dr. Stephenson lives with two Savannah cats on a pond in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Starting a “new” career at the age of 80, Doc reckons that he has only about the next 20 years to finish the series and retire – again – perhaps this time to Oxford. Connect with the Authors Link Link Link Facebook Instagram Amazon Amazon Goodreads Follow The Witch of Godstow Abbey blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club

I'm delighted to welcome Lady Harriet (Harriet Taggart) and Dr. Peter Stephenson and their book, The Witch of Godstow Abbey, to the blog #TheWitchOfGodstowAbbey #HistoricalMystery #MurderMystery #theladyandthedoc #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @theladyandthedoc @thecoffeepotbookclub @cathiedunn

Here’s the excerpt Context: ‘You’ is Brodie, a mysterious Scotsman who has not been to Vixens Mere for fifteen years, and is invited to join a party in the Shed, which belongs to Big Ed and Milly, two long-standing residents of Vixens Mere, a community of people who live on houseboats. Summer Walker.  You. You give instructions to Mick, ‘Behave yourself. No barking while I’m gone.’ The dog pretends not to hear. Now you don’t really want to go to this meet-up. You’re a loner. Private. Not the mixing type. You’ve kept your own company for so many years now it’s second nature to sit on the sidelines. You’ll go for a couple of beers, some minor conversation, and then quietly slip away. But it doesn’t quite work out that way. You see her immediately. Can’t help but look. Karen Jones. She’s sitting with a thin upright man – got to be her husband – who’s warming his bones by the wood burner. When he stands she takes his arm, and guides him outside to the toilet (Or as Big Ed calls it, the Thunderbox.) Then she guides him back. Glances again in your direction, Glances across fifteen years of time, briefly raises her hand in recognition of your presence. Gives you a strange sad smile.  You’ve been talking to Big Ed and Milly, and he’s asking what you’ve done with your life ‘thus far,’ and he laughs at his own expression. Milly reckons you’ve still a long way to go and you answer with the usual parries, the usual non-disclosure. Then Big Ed is drawing you over towards Karen Jones and the man who’s a constant at her side. Big Ed says to Karen, ‘You remember Brodie? Stayed here a long time ago.’  And then she’s in front of you and her hand is gently warm in yours and you’re seeing into and beyond a woman creeping towards middle age. You’re seeing a girl of twenty-five, eyes brimming with tears, who’s saying a goodbye that neither of you want but cannot avoid. Tonight that young woman, hiding behind her older self, is looking intently into your face and she’s saying, almost in disbelief, ‘But you haven’t changed at all, Brodie. You look just the same.’  You’re thinking that she may be older but she’s still as lovely, though it’s not words you can utter aloud. Then Big Ed is introducing, ‘Harry Jones, Karen’s husband’ and this tall thin man, whose eyes are out of focus, fumbles for your outstretched hand, latches onto it, says, ‘Pleased to meet you, Brodie,’ and he says it with such genuine honesty you feel a shadow of guilt flit over you.  Here’s the blurb If poor Harry Jones hadn’t lowered himself into the water one freezing winter’s night, a long-buried secret would never have come to the surface. If … Big Ed and Milly had been able to have children, Karen hadn’t longed for love and romance, Lorrie hadn’t finally ditched Petra, Dinah hadn’t found out the truth about Barry, Jed hadn’t dealt drugs and got Anna pregnant, Carl Thomson hadn’t come looking for him, and Moses hadn’t heard the commotion … then there would be no story of Vixens Mere to tell. Purchase Link https://amzn.to/4hMNDDR Meet the author Kit Fielding plans and writes his novels in a motorhome at various locations around the country.  The feeling of impermanence is natural to him due to his mother’s traveller roots and a childhood succession of tied-cottages accommodation in different parts of England.  Kit Fielding says that there was always a curiosity about what was waiting, or was lurking, just around the corner. This legacy has stayed with him to the present day and it feeds into his work. Instagram Facebook Giveaway to Win 3 x Stacks of 5 Inkspot Publishing books (UK Only)  Win 3 x Stacks of 5 Inkspot Publishing books (UK Only) https://gleam.io/7fwwo/win-3-x-stacks-of-5-inkspot-publishing-books-uk-only *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 delighted to share and excerpt and a competition to celebrate the release of Under Vixens Mere by Kit Fielding #blogtour #newrelease Blog Tour · Rachel’s Random Resources Today, I’m excited to share my review for Murder on the Cricket Green, the fourth book in Catherine Coles delightful 1940s cozy crime series #blogtour #MarthaMillerMystery Blog Tour · Boldwood Books · book review · historical fiction · murder mystery · New Release · writing I’m reviewing the new book in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Italian Mysteries, Murder at the Duomo 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 delighted to welcome Brodie Curtis and his book, Showboat Soubrette, to the blog #HistoricalFiction #AmericanHistoricalFiction #HistoricalAdventure #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub Action and adventure · American History · Blog Tour · Coffee Pot Book Club · historical fiction

I'm delighted to share and excerpt and a competition to celebrate the release of Under Vixens Mere by Kit Fielding #blogtour #newrelease @rararesources @rachelsrandomresources

Today, I’m excited to share my review for Murder on the Cricket Green, the fourth book in Catherine Coles delightful 1940s cozy crime series #blogtour #MarthaMillerMystery Today, I'm excited to share my review for Murder on the Cricket Green, the fourth book in Catherine Coles delightful 1940s cozy crime series #blogtour #MarthaMillerMystery

Today, I'm excited to share my review for Murder on the Cricket Green, the fourth book in Catherine Coles delightful 1940s cozy crime series #blogtour #MarthaMillerMystery #MurderOnTheCricketGreen #boldwoodbloggers @BoldwoodBooks @catherinecoles @rararesources @theboldbookclub @rachelsrandomresource

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

I'm reviewing the new book in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Italian Mysteries, Murder at the Duomo by TA Williams #BookReview #BlogTour #CosyCrime #ContemporaryCrime #MurderAtTheDuomo @boldwoodbloggers @BoldwoodBooks @theboldbookclub @TAWilliamsBooks @rararesources

Have you discovered my blog yet? I've given it a little refresh to make it easier to read.

Go check it out for book reviews, blog tours and lots of historical information about my settings, books and characters.

www.mjporterauthor.blog

#VisitMyBlog #AuthorInspiration #AuthorResearch

A book cover surrounded by the following aspects in matching Victorian lettering - spooky / Vicious Baronet / Spiritualist Scammers/ Hidden Crimes / older grumpy sapphics / snarky dock-lass/ twisty mystery / Lady in Danger/Queer Found Family The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder by Stephen Cox A striking book cover with the title and author name dominating. A rich dark blue background, and a touch of mist. The text appears in gold in a gold rectangular frame, the font is old fashioned implying C19th century. The frame has three rondels or cameos each containing a picture. Top right is a golden bee brooch with the body and one wing streaked with red blood. Middle left is foxgloves, spires of small bell flowers in pink, white and purple. Bottom right is a dark brown medicine bottle, with a pale label. The word LAUDANUM is just visible. There are pink highlights on some of the letters. Taken together it is bold, mysterious, and Victorian.

"The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder...
exactly the kind of reading pleasure I was hoping for. ... I loved how confidently he blended humour, mystery and a wonderfully crooked sense of morality. It knows precisely what it wants to be and delivers it with charm."
#books #reading #murder #LGBT