Tag Archives: The Coffee Pot Book Club

BOOK TOUR: Annie’s Day by Apple Gidley

Posted on by
 
 

Annie’s Day

 
by Apple Gidley
 
 
 
 
Publication Date: November 18th, 2025
Publisher: Vine Leaves Press
Pages: 300
Genre: Historical Fiction / Women’s Fiction

 

 

War took everything.

Love never had a chance.

Until now.

 

As an Australian Army nurse, Annie endures the brutalities of World War II in Singapore and New Guinea. Later, seeking a change, she accepts a job with a British diplomatic family in Berlin, only to find herself caught up in the upheaval of the Blockade. Through it all, and despite the support of friends, the death of a man she barely knew leaves a wound that refuses to heal, threatening her to a life without love.

 

Years later, Annie is still haunted by what she’d lost—and what might have been. Her days are quiet, but her memories are loud. When a dying man’s fear forces her to confront her own doubts, she forms an unexpected friendship that rekindles something she thought she’d lost: hope.

 

Annie’s Day is a powerful story of love, war, and the quiet courage to start again—even when it seems far too late.

 

 

Praise for Annie’s Day:
 
“Moving and enlightening…“

~ Deborah Swift, bestselling author
 
“This is a story of courage and love, and it lingers long after you turn the last page.“

~ Caroline James, author, 5* Goodreads review

 

“I love the lyrical writing of this author. The descriptive prose and humor made this book a joy to read.“

~ Louise, reviewer, 5* Goodreads review

 

 

Buy Links:

 

Universal Buy Link

 
Publisher’s Buy Link
 

Guest Post – How It Started

In the aftermath of a death, and in the busyness that surrounds the packing up of a loved one’s possessions, there is little time to do more than skim the official papers and photo albums of a life now over.

That’s how it was with my mother’s life in a box. I knew she had served with the Australian Army Nursing Service. I knew she had been in Singapore when it fell to the Japanese in 1942, then had been posted to New Guinea. I knew she had been in Berlin after the war. But that was all. Not much. No detail.

The Australian War Memorial Archives sent me Mum’s army records, and her timeline gave me the blueprint for Annie’s Day. The rest is pure fiction, interspersed with real characters. People like Matron Drummond of the AANS, or Bill Tunner, aka Tonnage Tunner, instrumental in coordinating the Berlin Airlift, to whom I have given words, hopefully in the manner in which they spoke.

My desk became surrounded by maps, piled high with troop movements, maritime registers, tropical nursing manuals, types of aircraft, newspaper cuttings, letters, books and photos. Maybe only a line or two of interest extracted from each, but information that nonetheless gives authenticity to the novel.

Then there are the people who are kind enough to spend time talking to me, giving insights on religion, on war, on history. Personal glimpses into different cultures and customs that hopefully takes the reader to each place, giving a human element to sometimes inhuman times.

It’s those seemingly small details that give the story heart.

The photo is one of Mum, taken in early 1944 in New Guinea. That fob watch pinned to her uniform—the smallest detail—became part of Annie’s Day!

 
Apple Gidley
 
 
Anglo-Australian, Apple Gidley’s nomadic life has helped imbue her writing with rich, diverse cultures and experiences. Annie’s Day is her seventh book.
 
Gidley currently lives in Cambridgeshire, England with her husband, and rescue cat, Bella, aka assistant editor.
 

Author Links:

Website • Facebook • Bluesky • Twitter / X • Instagram
Amazon Author Page • Goodreads
 
 
 
 

BOOK TOUR: The Traitor’s Son by Wendy Johnson

Posted on by
 
 

The Traitor’s Son

 
by Wendy Johnson
 
 
 
Publication Date: April 14th, 2024
Publisher: Made Global
Pages: 422
Genre: Medieval Historical Fiction

 

 

Caught between a king and a kingmaker, young Richard Plantagenet knows he’ll have to choose…

 

1461: Richard Duke of York, King by Right, has been branded a traitor and slain by his Lancastrian foes. For his eight-year-old son—Richard Plantagenet—England has become a dangerous place.

 

As the boy grapples with grief and uncertainty, his elder brother, Edward, defeats the enemy and claims the throne. Dazzled by his glorious sibling, young Richard soon discovers that imperfections lurk beneath his brother’s majestic façade. Enter Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick—cousin, tutor, luminary—whose life has given him everything but that which he truly craves: a son. A filial bond forms between man and boy as they fill the void in each other’s lives. Yet, when treachery tears their world asunder, Richard faces an agonizing dilemma: pledge allegiance to Edward—his blood brother and anointed king—or to Warwick, the father figure who has shaped his life and affections.

 

Painfully trapped between duty and devotion, Richard faces a grim reality: whatever he decides will mean a fight to the death.

 

In “The Traitor’s Son“, Wendy Johnson weaves a tapestry of loyalty, love, and sacrifice against the backdrop of England’s turbulent history. Through the eyes of a young Richard III, readers are transported into a world where every choice is fraught with peril, and the bonds of kinship are tested to their limits.

 

Perfect for fans of Hilary Mantel, Annie Garthwaite and Sharon K. Penman.

 

 

Praise for The Traitor’s Son:
 
“Exquisitely written. An evocative and thoughtful retelling of the early life of Richard III.“

~ Philippa Langley, MBE

 

“Wonderfully woven story of a young Richard III. Woven with a sure knowledge of the history and a realistic telling of a story about a young boy finding his way through tragedy and triumph, uncertainty and a legacy he cannot escape.
Brilliant debut which promises more and more.“

~ Cris, Amazon 5* Review

 

“Sometimes the perfect use of the written word takes my breath away. Not very often but this book is it. A wonderful story written so beautifully that I shall not forget it for a long time. Everything to my mind is perfect. The language, the story, the pacing. Just wonderful.”

~ Amazon Reviewer, 5* Review

 

 

Buy Link:

 

Universal Buy Link

 
This title is available to read with #KindleUnlimited.
 

Excerpt:

April 1471: Dawn on Easter Day, Barnet Heath. Eighteen-year-old Richard of Gloucester, brother of Edward IV, takes confession and prepares for his first taste of battle.

They wake, those who have dared sleep, to a grey and muffled world. Overnight, heavy mist has fallen, and the air of early dawn is like a breath of winter. Beneath his coif, Richard’s hair sticks to his skull like goose grease, his cheeks sore and clammy. Worse is the effect of the sodden grass; wet and slimy under his arming shoes, as he drags himself to his feet. Not only does York give battle in the holiest seasons, he reflects, but we’re cursed each time with the most malevolent of weather.

Chaplains pick their way through the waking men, balancing the Host on patens. After brief confession, each man receives the Eucharist, bowing his head in receipt of a blessing. To Richard alone, the king sends one of his royal chaplains, Richard Martin; chasuble creased and grubby from travel. Kneeling on the damp earth, Richard’s heart begins to pound.

Confiteor Deo omnipotenti…

This may be his last confession—but trifling sins, long confessed, are as nothing to the festering desire for vengeance that has lodged in him since childhood, and for which he can never truly feel contrite. It has always felt that to forgive would be to forget; to disregard the pain inflicted upon his family; to reduce the atrocities of Ludlow, the tragedy of Sandal, to things banal and mundane, as if they had travelled beyond those scarred landscapes to pleasanter realms without a backward glance. But none of them have, and none of them shall, until the enemy is crushed.

Martin elevates the Host, voice flat, hurried and detached.

The wafer cleaving to Richard’s palate gradually dissolves. Crossing himself, he wipes moisture from his cheeks and rises in a cacophony of clanking steel.

Martin signals a final blessing, then vanishes, piecemeal, into the growing mist. Richard feels alone, disjointed, severed from the world. In his sudden desolation, he’s beset by a need to draw his people close. These boys, these men, are his friends. And not merely his friends, they’re those with whom he may be sharing his ultimate morning on earth. He recalls the priest with a sudden yell.

‘Father, minister to my squires also. And shrive them.’

‘If it please Your Grace, the king bade me minister to you expressly—’

‘Minister to my squires and shrive them.’

Before Martin can object, he calls the squires forward, bids them kneel at his feet.

 
Wendy Johnson
 
 
Wendy Johnson has a lifelong passion for medieval history, its people, and for bringing their incredible stories to life. Her specific areas of interest are the fifteenth century, the Wars of the Roses, and Richard III in particular. She enjoys narratives which immerse the reader in the past, and tries faithfully to recreate the later Middle Ages within in her own writing. She has contributed to a number of historical anthologies and was a runner up in the Woman and Home Short Story Competition 2008.
 
Wendy is also a founder member of Philippa Langley’s Looking for Richard Project, which located the king’s lost grave in 2012. She co-authored Finding Richard III: the Official Account of Research by the Retrieval and Reburial Project in 2014, and in 2019 received the Richard III Society’s Robert Hamblin Award.  
 
THE TRAITOR’S SON, volume one in a Richard III trilogy, is Wendy’s debut novel and she is currently working on the sequel.
 

Author Links:

Author’s Page on Publisher Website • Facebook • BookBub
Amazon Author Page • Goodreads
 
 

BOOK TOUR: The Finding by Jane Hunt

Posted on by

Book Title: The Finding
Author: Jane Hunt
Publication Date:  January 7th, 2025
Publisher:  Historium Press
Pages:  85
Genre:  Historical Fiction

This poignant novella is a tale of forbidden love, resilience, and the human cost of war.

In the quiet fields of Wiltshire during World War II, Eveline, a sheltered young woman, stumbles upon a life-altering discovery: a German Luftwaffe pilot, Fritz, has crash-landed near her home. Against the backdrop of war and suspicion, her family takes the injured man in, nursing him back to health. Beneath his reserved demeanor and burned body, Eveline senses a mystery—and something stirs an unfamiliar longing within her.

As Eveline’s infatuation deepens, she faces a storm of challenges: her overbearing mother’s rigid rules, a zealous preacher’s warnings, and the scrutiny of the town’s gossips. Despite Fritz’s attempts to keep her at arm’s length Eveline’s heart defies reason, falling for the man branded as her enemy.

But Fritz harbors secrets that could shatter Eveline’s fragile world. When the truths of war and the weight of loyalty collide, Eveline must confront the reality of loving someone forbidden.

Will their bond endure the hostility of a nation at war? Or will the scars of betrayal and loss prove impossible to heal?

Buy Link:
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/3JAedg


Born in Reading UK, Jane grew up with a love of reading. She remembers taking Enid Blyton books to bed and reading them under the covers when she should have been asleep! Her love of the written word extended into the classroom where the teachers commented on her vivid imagination and length of stories—probably accompanied with a few sights when they realized the amount of time the reading would take!

On leaving school Jane spent a brief spell at college before finding employment as a Dental Nurse where she spent many happy years meeting lots of wonderful people and mixing lots of fillings. After meeting her husband, she later went on to have three children and found work as a Teaching Assistant.

Alongside a busy life, she completed a comprehensive writing course, which saw her having non-fiction work published in newspapers and magazines. But the desire to do something ‘creative’ burned ever brightly. Having recently undertaken a lot of research into her family tree, a desire to find out what life was really like for her ancestors took hold, and she developed a fascination with World War II. Heeding the advice of her late parents to ‘put pen to paper’, she decided to get a story that had been buzzing in her head for quit some time written.

The result of her endeavour was a very ‘raw’ manuscript: The Finding. With some professional help—thank you, Dee, the story evolved into a book—something she still can’t quite believe!

Author Links:
Publisher’s Author Page: https://www.historiumpress.com/jane-hunt
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jane-Hunt/author/B0DRJ7KNHK 

BOOK TOUR: The King’s Intelligencer by Elizabeth St. John

Posted on by

Book Title: The King’s Intelligencer
Sub Title: Discovering the Missing Princes in the Tower
Author: Elizabeth St.John
Publication Date: 15th October, 2024
Publisher: Falcon Historical
Pages: 494
Genre: Historical Fiction

London, 1674: When children’s bones are unexpectedly unearthed in the Tower of London, England’s most haunting mystery—the fate of the missing princes—is reignited.

Franny Apsley, trusted confidante to Charles II’s beloved niece and heir, Lady Mary Stuart, is caught up in the court’s excitement surrounding the find. Yet, as a dark family secret comes to light, Franny realises the truth behind the missing princes is far more complex—and dangerous—than anyone suspects. Recruited by her formidable cousin Nan Wilmot,  Dowager Countess of Rochester, to discover the truth behind the bones, Franny is thrust into the shadowy world of intelligencers. But her quest is complicated by an attraction to the charismatic court artist Nicholas Jameson, a recent arrival from Paris who harbours secrets of his own.

Pursued by Nicholas, Franny searches for evidence hidden in secret family letters and paintings, and uncovers a startling diplomatic plot involving Lady Mary, which causes Franny to question her own judgment, threatens the throne, and sets England on a course for war. With only her courage and the guidance of an enigmatic spy within the royal household, Franny must decide how far she will go to expose the truth—and whether that truth will lead to England’s salvation or her own heartbreak.

In a glittering and debauched society where love is treacherous and loyalty masked, Franny must navigate a world where a woman’s voice is often silenced and confront the ultimate question: What is she willing to risk for the sake of her country, her happiness, and her family’s safety?

A captivating historical novel of conspiracy, passion, and courage, The King’s Intelligencer is one woman’s quest for a truth that could change the fate of a nation. A companion to the critically acclaimed best-selling novels The Godmother’s Secret and The Lydiard Chronicles, The King’s Intelligencer weaves together beloved characters and actual events to bring a suspenseful mystery to life.

Buy Links:

This title is available to read on #Kindle Unlimited.

Universal Buy Link: https://geni.us/KingsIntelligencer

Guest Post:

A Time of Conflict and Secrets

The inspiration for The King’s Intelligencer arose from my research for The Godmother’s Secret, centred on the missing princes in the Tower of London. During this time, I visited Westminster Abbey, particularly the Chapel of the Innocents, where Sir Christopher Wren’s marble urn, commissioned by Charles II in 1674, supposedly contains the bones of Edward V and Richard, Duke of York. The princes, according to the inscription, were murdered by their “perfidious uncle Richard the Usurper” and buried secretly in the Tower for 191 years. Standing near the urn, close to where my character Franny Apsley’s parents, Sir Allen and Frances Apsley, are buried, I began to question this narrative.

Helen Maurer’s paper Bones in the Tower: A Discussion of Time, Place and Circumstance raises doubts about the authenticity of these remains, as does Annette Carson’s article The Bones in the Urn. What if these bones weren’t the princes’ at all, but rather a politically convenient find for Charles II, helping to secure his throne during a period of intense religious and political tension?

The 17th century was marked by deep divides between Protestants and Catholics. While Charles II outwardly practiced Protestantism, he secretly favoured Catholicism and even converted on his deathbed. His brother, James II, was openly Catholic, which led to his brief reign before being overthrown by his Protestant daughter, Mary, and her husband, William of Orange.

In this climate of political and religious conflict, espionage thrived. “Intelligencers” gathered information through subtle means, often operating unofficially. Franny Apsley, the protagonist of The King’s Intelligencer, navigates this secretive world. In real life, Franny’s family was deeply involved in espionage, including her parents, Allen and Frances Apsley, and her cousin Nan Wilmot, Countess of Rochester. Nan was known for deceiving Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War, and supplying arms to Charles II, while after the Restoration, Franny’s brother, Peter Apsley, worked as an intelligencer for Charles II and James II, receiving substantial payments for his covert activities.

Wanting to not only write about family history, but place it in the context of the wider national landscape, I incorporated into the novel another fascinating discovery – King Charles II’s Secret Treaty of Dover. In this treaty, Charles secretly agreed to declare himself a Catholic in exchange for financial support from King Louis XIV of France. Although I fictionalized elements of another treaty between James and the French King, it was well-known at the time that Charles and James were deeply involved in secret negotiations with France, many of which were hidden from the public for over a century.

This companion to The Godmother’s Secret and The Lydiard Chronicles blends historical fact with fiction, following Franny Apsley as she embarks on a dangerous quest for truth, unveiling hidden secrets that could reshape the past.

About the Author:

Elizabeth St.John’s critically acclaimed historical fiction novels tell the stories of her ancestors: extraordinary women whose intriguing kinship with England’s kings and queens brings an intimately unique perspective to Medieval, Tudor, and Stuart times.

Inspired by family archives and residences from Lydiard Park to the Tower of London, Elizabeth spends much of her time exploring ancestral portraits, diaries, and lost gardens. And encountering the occasional ghost. But that’s another story.

Living between California, England, and the past, Elizabeth is the International Ambassador for The Friends of Lydiard Park, an English charity dedicated to conserving and enhancing this beautiful centuries-old country house and park. As a curator for The Lydiard Archives, she is constantly looking for an undiscovered treasure to inspire her next novel.

Elizabeth’s works include The Lydiard Chronicles, a trilogy set in 17th-century England during the Civil War, and The Godmother’s Secret, which unravels the medieval mystery of the missing princes in the Tower of London. Her latest release, The King’s Intelligencer, follows Franny Apsley’s perilous quest to uncover the truth behind the sudden discovery of the princes’ bones. In Charles II’s court of intrigue and deceit, Franny must decide what she’ll risk—for England’s salvation, her family’s safety, and her own happiness.

Author Links:

Website:         https://www.elizabethjstjohn.com/

Twitter:           https://x.com/ElizStJohn    

Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethJStJohn/

LinkedIn:        https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethjstjohn/

Instagram:       https://www.instagram.com/elizabethjstjohn/

Threads:          https://www.threads.net/@elizabethjstjohn

Bluesky:          https://bsky.app/profile/elizabethstjohn.bsky.social

Book Bub:       https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elizabeth-st-john

Amazon Author Page:     https://geni.us/AmazonElizabethStJohn

Goodreads:      https://geni.us/GoodreadsElizStJohn

BOOK TOUR: Conquist by Dirk Strasser

Posted on by

Book Title: Conquist
Author: Dirk Strasser
Publication Date: September 1st, 2024
Publisher: Roundfire Books
Pages: 360
Genre: Historical Fantasy

Capitán Cristóbal de Varga’s drive for glory and gold in 1538 Peru leads him and his army of conquistadors into a New World that refuses to be conquered. He is a man torn by life-long obsessions and knows this is his last campaign.

What he doesn’t know is that his Incan allies led by the princess Sarpay have their own furtive plans to make sure he never finds the golden city of Vilcabamba. He also doesn’t know that Héctor Valiente, the freed African slave he appointed as his lieutenant, has found a portal that will lead them all into a world that will challenge his deepest beliefs. And what he can’t possibly know is that this world will trap him in a war between two eternal enemies, leading him to question everything he has devoted his life to – his command, his Incan princess, his honor, his God.

In the end, he faces the ultimate dilemma: how is it possible to battle your own obsessions . . . to conquer yourself?

Buy Links:

Universal Amazon Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/4AM52K

Publisher’s Conquist page: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/roundfire-books/our-books/conquist-novel

Excerpt:

Huarcay had no sense of being watched when he made his way through the darkness. Why would he? He had done this many times since the company left Machu Picchu. The wind had abated and had left a biting chill behind. After entering a small tent on the northern edge of the encampment, he carefully tied the entrance and lit a candle.

He placed a jug of corn beer and a plate of roasted guinea pig at the feet of a dark figure propped up on a low wooden bench. “I’ve brought you fresh chicha, Grandfather, and the cuy has been cooked in the earth oven until it’s soft and sweet.”

The dark figure seemed to nod in response as it contemplated Huarcay with bottomless eyes.

“We’ve finally had the news we have been waiting for, Grandfather,” said Huarcay. “The chaski has been sighted and the bearded ones are preparing to follow.”

He reached down and started taking off the dark figure’s sandals. “But as usual, I’m too absorbed in my own concerns, Grandfather. How are you? Have the servants still been treating you well?”

He held one of the figure’s feet in his hands and started rubbing it. “You’re cold, Grandfather. I’ll ask the servants to bring you an extra blanket.”

The figure’s grimace was almost a smile.

“I’m at the crossroad now, Grandfather. There’s no path back from this decision. I need to know what I’m doing is right.”

He reached out for the figure’s desiccated hand and kissed it. “Whisper the words to me.”

Huarcay stood up and leaned forward, his cheek touching the mummy of his long-dead grandfather. He lowered his voice so that not even the wind could capture it. “Grandfather, give me your wisdom.”

The air around Huarcay froze and the words echoed inside his head.

You are worthy. Do what will make you great.

Huarcay smiled and kissed the mummy on the lips.

Author Bio:

Dirk Strasser’s epic fantasy trilogy The Books of Ascension—Zenith, Equinox and Eclipse—was published in German and English, and his short stories have been translated into several European languages. “The Doppelgänger Effect” appeared in the World Fantasy Award-winning anthology Dreaming Down Under. He is the co-editor of Australia’s premier science-fiction and fantasy magazine, Aurealis.

Dirk was born in Germany but has lived most of his life in Australia. He has written a series of best-selling school textbooks, trekked the Inca trail to Machu Picchu and studied Renaissance history. “Conquist” was first published as a short story in the anthology Dreaming Again (HarperCollins). The serialized version of Conquist was a finalist in the Aurealis Awards Best Fantasy Novel category. Dirk’s screenplay version of Conquist won the Wildsound Fantasy/Sci-Fi Festival Best Scene Reading Award and was a featured finalist in the Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival and the Creative World Awards.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.dirkstrasser.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DirkStrasser

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054955883297

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirk-strasser-1249a949/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/author/B00CWMHGHO

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203225407-conquist

Dirk’s blog: https://www.dirkstrasser.com/dirks-blog

BOOK TOUR: Amulet’s Rapture by Linnea Tanner

Posted on by

Book Title: Amulet’s Rapture

Series: (Curse of Clansmen and Kings Book 3)

Author Name: Linnea Tanner

Audiobook Narrator: Kristin James

“Amulet’s Rapture by Linnea Tanner is the story of the survival and transformation of Catrin. The plot is packed with action, politics, corruption, ambition, prophecies, and ancient magic. With a gripping plot, mindblowing storytelling, and unpredictable twists, Amulet’s Rapture by Linnea Tanner is going to be among my top three favorites of this year.” — Ankita Shukla for Readers’ Favorite

Blood stains her Celtic home and kingdom. The warrior Druid princess will do anything to retake her kingdom.

Although Catrin is the rightful heir to the Celtic throne in Britannia, she is lucky to be alive. After witnessing the slaughter of her family at the hands of her half-brother, who was aided by the Romans, she is enslaved by a Roman commander. He disguises her as a boy in the Roman Legion with the belief that she is an oracle of Apollo and can foretell his future. The sole bright spot in her miserable new life is her forbidden lover Marcellus, the great-grandson of the famed Roman General Mark Antony.

But Marcellus has been wounded and his memories of Catrin and their secret marriage were erased by a dark Druidess. Though Marcellus reunites with Catrin in Gaul and becomes her ally as she struggles to survive the brutality of her Roman master, he questions the legitimacy of their marriage and hesitates to help her escape and retake her kingdom. If their forbidden love and alliance are discovered, her dreams of returning to her Celtic home with Marcellus will be shattered.

Book Trailer on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjYCvgdKzQI

Buy Links:

Amulet’s Rapture isavailable to read on #KindleUnlimited.

*Amulet’s Rapture is free on Kindle on October 17th – 21st, 2024*

Universal Buy Link:  https://books2read.com/Amulets-Rapture-Book3

Universal Buy Links for Individual Books in Curse of Clansmen and Kings series:

Apollo’s Raven (Book 1): https://books2read.com/Apollos-Raven

Dagger’s Destiny (Book 2): https://books2read.com/Daggers-Destiny-Book2

Amulet’s Rapture (Book 3): https://books2read.com/Amulets-Rapture-Book3

Skull’s Vengeance (Book 4): https://books2read.com/Skulls-Vengeance-Book4

Series Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GVCZJ8M

Author Bio:

Award-winning author, Linnea Tanner, weaves Celtic tales of love, magical adventure, and political intrigue in Ancient Rome and Britannia. Since childhood, she has passionately read about ancient civilizations and mythology. She is particularly interested in the enigmatic Celts, who were reputed as fierce warriors and mystical Druids.

Linnea has extensively researched ancient and medieval history, mythology, and archaeology and has traveled to sites described within each of her books in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series. Books released in her series include Apollo’s Raven (Book 1), Dagger’s Destiny (Book 2), Amulet’s Rapture (Book 3), and Skull’s Vengeance (Book 4). She has also released the historical fiction short story Two Faces of Janus.

A Colorado native, Linnea attended the University of Colorado and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry. She lives in Fort Collins with her husband and has two children and six grandchildren.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.linneatanner.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/linneatanner

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linnea.tanner

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linnea-tanner-a021932b/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linneatanner/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@linneatanner

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/linneatanner/_created/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/linnea-tanner

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Linnea-Tanner/e/B01N6YEM04

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16474282.Linnea_Tanner

BOOK TOUR: The Witch of Breton Woods by Jennifer Ivy Walker

Posted on by

Book Title: The Witch of the Breton Woods

Author: Jennifer Ivy Walker

Publication Date:  July 10, 2024

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Pages: 163

Genre: historical romance/ romantic suspense

Traumatized by horrors witnessed during the Nazi invasion of France, a young woman retreats to the dense Breton woods where she becomes a member of the clandestine French Resistance. When she finds a critically injured American paratrooper whose plane was shot down, she shelters the wounded soldier in her secluded cottage, determined to heal him despite the enormous risk.


Ostracized by villagers who have labeled her a witch, she is betrayed by an informant who reports to the Butcher—the monstrous leader of the local paramilitary organization that collaborates with the Germans. As the enemy closes in, she must elude the Gestapo while helping the Resistance reunite the American with his regiment and join the Allied Forces in the Battle of Brittany.

Can true love triumph against all odds under the oppressive Third Reich?

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mdAzww

Author Interview:

Often writers started out as readers. Was there a particular book that inspired you to be an author?

Yes, Marion Zimmer Bradley’s novel, The Mists of Avalon. I discovered how much I LOVE Arthurian legend and the Forest of Brocéliande, birthplace of Merlin, the Lady of the Lake Viviane, and Lancelot, the First Knight of Camelot. Many of my novels take place in Brocéliande, and there are a couple subtle references to that enchanted forest in The Witch of the Breton Woods.

Do you tend to read the same genre you write?

Mostly, yes. I prefer reading medieval romance and historical fantasy, especially tales from Celtic or Nordic myths and legends.

Do you have a favorite time period to write about? If so, why?

I prefer to write medieval stories, for I have always loved tales of chivalrous knights and Arthurian legend, but unlike most of the novels I have read, my stories take place in France rather than England or Scotland.

How long have you been writing, and how long did it take before your first book was published?

Although I have wanted to be a writer since I was eleven years old, I didn’t start writing my first novel, The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven, until two years ago. That debut novel evolved into my award-winning trilogy of the same name.

Now, I am proud to say that I have had seven (soon to be eight) novels published through The Wild Rose Press. I have also just completed my ninth novel, Dragon of Denmark, and am halfway through my tenth —Wolf of the Nordic Seas–both of which are part of my new Viking historical romance fantasy series which takes place in 10th century Normandy. I hope to have my Valiant Vikings trilogy published in early 2025!

What is the scariest thing you face as a writer? How do you handle it?

The scariest thing for me as a writer is getting a 1 star review. I don’t think people realize when they leave such a low rating, how much that can kill a writer who is trying to attract potential readers. I handle it by having a good cry and going for a long beach walk. It’s really difficult to keep going after a hard knock like that.

If you could pick your top 3 favorite books of all time, what would they be?

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas, and Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.

Author Bio:

Jennifer Ivy Walker has an MA in French literature and is a former high school teacher and professor of French at a state college in Florida.  Her novels encompass a love for French language, literature, history, and culture, incorporating her lifelong study, summers abroad, and many trips to France.

The Witch of the Breton Woods is heart-pounding suspense set during WWII in Nazi-occupied France, where a young woman in the French Resistance shelters and heals a wounded American soldier, hiding him from the Gestapo and the monstrous Butcher who are relentlessly hunting him.

Author Links:

Website: https://jenniferivywalker.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bohemienneivy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferIvyWalker/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-ivy-walker-685b58248/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferivywalkerauthor/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/bohemienneivy/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-witch-of-the-breton-woods-by-jennifer-ivy-walker

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jennifer-Ivy-Walker/author/B0B91R2MJZ

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22671046.Jennifer_Ivy_Walker

BOOK TOUR: The Curse of Maiden Scars by Nicolette Croft

Posted on by

The Curse of Maiden Scars
Nicolette Croft
Coming in August 2024: Audiobook narrated by Liz May Brice

Sixteen-year-old Renna Covert toils away in the shadows of a Yorkshire workhouse, her days filled with the mundane task of shelling cotton and the dangerous duty of scouting for punters. One fateful night, she crosses paths with two sailors and finds herself thrust into the heart of a chilling encounter at the local asylum.

These harrowing experiences catalyze Renna’s journey, promising newfound opportunities and revealing long-buried family secrets. Yet, at every turn, powerful forces conspire to thwart her quest for truth, forcing her to abandon her scullery work and embark on a daring escape to Venice alongside her steadfast companions.

In the labyrinthine alleys of Venice, Renna’s fate takes yet another twist. She is ensnared by a cunning Madam who trains her as a Venetian courtesan. But beneath the veneer of luxury lies a world fraught with danger, where Renna must rely on her withs and resilience to navigate the treacherous waters of deceit and betrayal.

Set against the backdrop of Venice’s tumultuous Napoleonic invasion of 1797, this is a tale of a girl’s struggle for survival. It is a story of resilience, defiance in the face of adversity, and, ultimately, one young woman’s determination to reclaim her identity.

Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mgDEOq  

Excerpt:

My story must have begun before life as a stray waif, but I didn’t know the tale. The cotton house takes in children as little as three—the unwanted offspring of criminals, crazies, and the contagious. By sixteen, we were expected to make room for younger sprogs and pursue meaningful work. It was weeks until my sixteenth birthday, and I didn’t have a plan. Choices for a girl like me were limited, so Camilla told me. I had some learning and hoped I might find a maid’s position. Whatever I was to become, I didn’t want it to include lurking about the seedy, dank Yorkshire streets like a wet cur.

A cackle of laughter echoed from inside the Inn that stood open behind me. A woman’s mound of blond hair tied in red, pink, blue, and black ribbons appeared in the window’s waving candlelight. She tossed her head back and let out a bright, spirited laugh as a burly man with a beard kissed her neck. I envied their intimacy. I longed to know such love and care.

Deep shivers tightened my sodden dress over my back, and a cough rattled through me. I was prone to illness. My lungs had never been strong. And the wetness only made things worse. I stuffed my head between my knees and swooned in lightheadedness. I closed my eyes and wished myself someplace warm and safe, dreaming of a small bed in a quiet room free of mold, surrounded by soft blankets, the amber light of candles, and a stack of leather-bound books with stories waiting for me to discover. Such a wish was only a fantasy to me—nothing in my real life resembled it.

Boot heels sounded beside me, ripping me out of my daydream. I lifted my head too quickly, and my vision faded darkly. Panic grew from the depths of my belly. Had I missed the opportunity to signal the workhouse strumpets, giving them time to sell their comfort for a copper?

A passerby kicked me and shot, “street rat.” He poured ale over my head and rolled with laughter. There was always laughter. I’d have kicked his feet out from under him if I hadn’t felt weakened from illness. I was accustomed to this sort of abuse, having scouted for culls since the age of eight, and wasn’t afraid to fight back if needed.

About the Author:

Nicolette Croft can’t remember a time when she was not creating imaginary worlds inspired by her Hungarian and American ancestors. As a neuro-divergent learner, however, putting those stories to paper proved more challenging than imagining them. Because her determination would not allow her to settle, she pursued an English B.A. to improve her writing.

Young motherhood also brought unexpected challenges, which motivated her to pursue graduate work in twice-exceptional learners and education. She would later add an M.A. degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, specializing in neurodivergent people, trauma, and grief. Nicolette uses her natural gift of storytelling as an exploratory method for her clients.

The Curse of Maiden Scars is also an outgrowth of her personal journey and marks her first publication as a novelist, having previously published short fiction. When not at her counseling practice or researching historical facts for her latest story, Nicolette shares treasured time with family, friends, and her husband. Whether writing, cooking, traveling, or learning, the act of creation is always at the center of her colorful life.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.nicolettecroft.com

Twitter: https://x.com/croft_nicolette

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NicoletteCroftAuthor/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolette-croft-a6744929a/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolettecroft22/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@nicolettecroft22

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Nicole-Croft/author/B0052UF75G

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/178035999-nicolette-croft

BOOK TOUR: Stumbling Stones by Bonnie Suchman

Posted on by

Stumbling Stones
by Bonnie Suchman

Shortlisted for the Hawthorn Prize 2024

“Alice knew that Selma sometimes felt judged by their mother and didn’t always like it when Alice was praised and Selma was not. Alice glanced over at her sister, but Selma was smiling at Alice. In what Alice understood might be Selma’s last act of generosity towards her sister, Selma was going to let Alice bask in the glow of Emma’s pride toward her elder daughter. Then the three shared a hug, a hug that seemed to last forever.”

Alice Heppenheimer, born into a prosperous German Jewish family around the turn of the twentieth century, comes of age at a time of growing opportunities for women.

So, when she turns 21 years old, she convinces her strict family to allow her to attend art school, and then pursues a career in women’s fashion. Alice prospers in her career and settles into married life, but she could not anticipate a Nazi Germany, where simply being Jewish has become an existential threat. Stumbling Stones is a novel based on the true story of a woman driven to achieve at a time of persecution and hatred, and who is reluctant to leave the only home she has ever known.

But as strong and resilient as Alice is, she now faces the ultimate challenge – will she and her husband be able to escape Nazi Germany or have they waited too long to leave?

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/4ND1x8

Interview with Bonnie Suchman

How long have you been writing, and how long did it take before your first book was published?

As an attorney for more than 40 years, I have been writing my whole work life. Three years ago, I published a non-fiction book about my husband’s German Jewish family. I realized I was not done writing about Alice Heppenheimer, but decided to write Stumbling Stones as a novel to provide a fuller and richer story. I was fortunate to find a publisher, Black Rose Writing, to publish my first novel.

Do you have a routine you follow when you’re working on a book? A certain time of day when you write, or a snack you keep nearby?

I still have a full-time job, so I have to work around my work schedule. Sometimes I write before work, sometimes in the evening, and sometimes on the weekend. And my goldendoodle, Teddy, is almost always by my side as I write.

If you could pick your top 3 favorite books of all time, what would they be?

I don’t think I really have favorite books as much as I have favorite authors. Any time I see a new book by Kate Atkinson, Ian McEwan or Kazuo Ishiguro, I race to download it. All three are masters of their craft, and there is never a wasted word in any of their books. I would love to write like them, but, for now, I will have to settle for reading them.

What do you think is the most important thing to remember when following your dreams?

In following your dreams, I have two suggestions: be open to new opportunities and don’t be afraid to fail. Throughout my life, I have always been interested in trying new things, and have sometimes been surprised by the outcome.  Being a published author was never one of my dreams, but I am so grateful that I tried it and I am loving writing about the Heppenheimer family. And it is rare that I have regretted giving something a try. Even if I try something and it doesn’t work out, I have found that what I have learned from the experience has helped me on the next stops of my journey. Certainly, if I worried about failing as an author, Stumbling Stones would not have been published.

Does your family support your writing?

My husband supports every new thing I have tried. But he is especially supportive of my writing, and has read and provided helpful comments on everything I have written. Of course, it helps that he is also a lawyer and that I am writing about his family.

About the Author

Bonnie Suchman is an attorney who has been practicing law for forty years. Using her legal skills, she researched her husband’s family’s 250-year history in Germany, and published a non-fiction book about the family, Broken Promises: The Story of a Jewish Family in Germany. Bonnie found one member of the family, Alice Heppenheimer, particularly compelling. Stumbling Stones tells Alice’s story. Bonnie has two adult children and lives in Maryland with her husband, Bruce.

Author Links:

Website: www.bonniesuchman.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BonnieSuchman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556457672565

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonniesuchmanauthor/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/bonniesuchman/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/bonnie-suchman

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bonnie-Suchman/author/B09L3BDVRQ  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21796158.Bonnie_Suchman

SERIES TOUR: Chateau de Verzat series y Debra Borchert

Posted on by

BOOKS IN SERIES:
Her Own Legacy, Book 1 of Château de Verzat
Her Own Revolution, Book 2 of Château de Verzat

A Woman Fights for Her Legacy as the French Revolution Erupts

Determined to inherit her family’s vineyard, Countess Joliette de Verzat defies society’s rules, only to learn of her illegitimate half-brother, the rightful heir.

A Woman Forges a Treacherous Path to Save Hundreds from the Guillotine

If Geneviève Fouquier-Tinville had the same rights as a man, she wouldn’t have to dress like one. A suspenseful page-turner led by a renegade heroine whose compassion for innocent people leads to both loss and love.

Excerpt

Her Own Revolution, Paris, July 30, 1794

Geneviève attempts to escape arrest

At dawn, I brushed the white dust from my skirts and peeked out from the cellar. I ran through alleys to the back entrance of the Châtelet, crept up the servants’ steps, crossed the hall to the clerk chamber, and stopped to gather my wits. Please, God, help me find the papers I copied. If I could present them to the Tribunal, they would be forced to release Papa.

I edged myself around the doorway and stepped back to see the clerks already at work. Instead of copying, they were sorting documents into piles lining a table before the fireplace where Imberton stood, straight as a pike.

Armand held up a paper. “Roland?” He lifted another. “And Delignon?”

Imberton indicated two piles. Armand deposited the papers and returned to his desk where a stack of documents teetered. I wished Armand had already sailed for America.

Denis, holding folders, called out, “Widow Capet.” Imberton pointed at the tallest pile. Denis deposited the folders and hurried to my father’s office. Denis’s twins were four now, and his wife with child. I hoped he would be safe.

Imberton noticed me. His face reddened as he pointed and shouted, “Guards! Arrest her!

My heartbeat thundered.

“Guards!” Imberton shouted.

I ran for the servants’ stairs. My legs shook so hard, I careened off the walls as I clambered down the steps. Where could I go that was safe? The château, but I’d be stopped at the city barrier. I could no longer use my father’s name—the day I’d dreaded since the first time I used it as protection had arrived. The only way past the barriers was through the tunnels. My skin felt too tight, like it was suffocating me.

I stood panting at the side door. Once I opened it, I’d be exposed. But if I went through the side exit, I could make it to the square and blend in with the market people. I would have to walk past the morgue. The tunnel was dark, lit only by holes in the ceiling protected by metal grates embedded in the streets above, which I had stepped over a hundred times. I’d never traveled the passage, but I’d no better choice.

I wrapped my shawl around my face, took a deep breath, and ran. The moans from prisoners in the dungeon echoed along the stone passage. The air was thick with the stench of blood and death. I shoved open the wooden door, not caring who was on the other side. Stopping in the alley scattered with rags stained with blood, I wrapped my shawl around my shoulders and forced myself to walk calmly. I peered around the corner.

The square wasn’t much longer than the copying room. I inhaled, stood tall, and headed for the biggest knot in the crowd.

Rioters swarmed the arched entrance, raising pikes and screaming. Men and women wearing red caps charged across the square. A woman pounded the closed main doors. “Give me back my husband!”

I tottered and pressed my feet to the cobbles.

“Join your victims, you man-eater!” yelled a man, wielding a sword.

A rotund man, his beard and hair wiry and disheveled, bellowed, “Send Tinville to hell! Let him wallow in the blood he has shed!”

I fell back. They were screaming revenge against my father. I bent over, nauseated and dizzy. Clutching the building, I forced myself to stand straight.

A guard came out of the entryway and yelled, “He’s at la Conciergerie!”

The crowd of red-capped sans-culottes turned and flowed like a stream of blood across the square and over the bridge toward the prison. I could get Papa out, like LaGarde. I just needed men’s clothing, a place to hide, and a plan.

I forced myself to breathe calmly, descend the steps, and intermingle with the crowd, while trying to remember the tunnel entrance nearest the prison. The flower seller stood at the edge of the market. I headed straight for her and hoped I could make it without anyone recognizing me.

A powerful hand grabbed my arm, pulled me to the bulk of a man, his warmth penetrating my sleeve. I opened my mouth, but his other hand covered it. The square spun around me.

Buy Links:

*Her Own Legacy will be only 0.99 in the UK, CA and AU stores from March 5th – 15th, 2024!*

Universal Buy Links:  

Her Own Legacy: https://books2read.com/u/bWYod1

Her Own Revolution: https://books2read.com/u/m0aJVl

Series Buy Links:

US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B9KN1536

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0B9KN1536

Author Bio:

Debra’s the author of the Château de Verzat series that follows headstrong and independent women and the four-hundred loyal families who protect a Loire Valley château and vineyard, and its legacy of producing the finest wines in France during the French Revolution. Her Own Legacy published 2022, Her Own Revolution published 2023, and Her Own War will be published in 2024. A passionate cook, she also wrote a companion cookbook to the series: Soups of Château de Verzat, A Culinary Tribute to the French Revolution, 2023.

A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, she weaves her knowledge of textiles and clothing design throughout her historical fiction. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and standard poodle, named after a fine French Champagne.

Author Links:

Website: https://debraborchert.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/debraborchert

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DebraBorchertAuthor/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-borchert-10b8305/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debraborchertauthor/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/debraborchert/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/debra-borchert

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Debra-Borchert/author/B00CSW9MH0

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7787729.Debra_Borchert