Pam Lecky's Blog, page 12

Book Spotlight: The Forgotten Promise by Paula Greenlees

I have a wee treat for any WW2 fiction fans. It is great to see that Paula Greenlees’ latest is now available in eBook format. The paperback is due for release in December and is now up for pre-order.

The Forgotten Promise, set in Malaya, looks to be a real corker! Here’s some more detail to whet your appetite!

The Forgotten Promise

Malaya, 1920: Two girls make a promise in the shadows of the jungle. A promise that life won’t let them easily keep.

Malaya, 1941: Ella is running her late father’s tin mine in the Kledang hills, while Noor works as her cook. When the war that felt so far away suddenly arrives on their doorstep, Ella is torn apart from her family. Her daughter Grace is left in Noor’s care as Japanese soldiers seize the mine.

Ella is forced to make an impossible choice that takes her to England, thousands of miles from home. She is desperate to be reunited with her loved ones. But will the life she returns to be anything like the life she left behind?

Buy Link: https://t.co/QWsHZMxGAC

Paula Greenlees Paula Greenlees

Paula has lived in various places, including Singapore, where she was based for three years. It was while living in Singapore that the first seeds of her debut novel, Journey to Paradise developed. The crumbling buildings and the modern high-rises popping up almost overnight seemed to be a metaphor for the social diversity and change in Singapore at that time. However, as a young mother living there, she wondered what it must have been like as a post-war colonial wife living miles away from the familiarity of home. Despite the gloss and glamour of colonial living, women were frequently stuck in unhappy marriages, often unable to follow careers or have the independence to divorce if things went wrong – which they inevitably did. 

Her writing, although set against exotic backgrounds, is set on the cusp of change – the shift from colonial dominance to independence. She likes to dig into a variety of issues, and her main protagonist is, in many ways, a metaphor for the events surrounding her at that time. It isn’t always an easy journey, but in the end, success comes her way. 

As for Paula – she has always wanted to be a writer. As a little girl she used to spend hours writing stories and turning them into books, even using flour and water as paste to stick the pages together.  She spent hours writing poetry and plays as a teenager and has always written short stories in her spare time. It is this need to write and a love of reading that led her to take a degree in English and European Thought and Literature, and later a Masters Degree in Creative Writing.

As a writer, she feels it is important to have a wide range of interests – not only does it add flavour and layering to prose, but it allows time for ideas to mull and to percolate. People watching in cafés is one, long walks is another. And food! Good food is essential to her and she loves to cook using the best ingredients she can find.  As well as a love of travel, she enjoys photography, hill walking, and just generally being curious about life!

She has a grownup daughter and lives in Warwickshire with her husband and an extremely friendly Labrador.

If you’d like to know more about Paula and her work, please check out her links below:

www.paulagreenlees.com

https://www.facebook.com/WritingMatter

https://www.instagram.com/paulagreenlees/

Review: Her Secret War by Pam Lecky

Thanks so much to Forbookssake for this great review.

_ForBooksSake

Hey everyone!
Today, I am excited to be sharing my review ofHer Secret Warby Pam Lecky with you all.

Title:Her Secret War
Author:Pam Lecky
Release Date:14th October 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher:Avon Books
Page Count: 384
Buy It Here (affiliate links):Amazon UK,Waterstones,Book Depository

GoodReads Synopsis:

A moment that ruins her life

On 31st May 1941, Germany drops bombs on neutral Dublin and Sarah Gillespie loses her family and home that fateful night. Days later, the man she loves leaves Ireland to enlist in the RAF.

A decision that changes her life

With nothing to keep her in Ireland and a burning desire to help the war effort, Sarah seeks refuge with relatives in Hampshire, England. But before long, Sarah’s family history catches up with her.

A mission that couldcosther life

Sarah is asked to prove her loyalty…

View original post 660 more words

Book Spotlight and Author Interview: Keep Her Safe by Jen Faulkner

Today, I am delighted to have Jen Faulkner in the library for a chat. I was lucky enough to meet Jen for the first time at Harrogate Crime this year. Her visit to the festival coincided with the publication of her debut novel, Keep Her Safe. Already there are some great reviews up for this book and I’m looking forward to reading it soon.

Keep Her Safe by Jen Faulkner

A mother is gripped by fear as her daughter approaches adulthood, in this novel of attachments, anxieties, and buried secrets . . .

How far would you go to protect your daughter?
 
Catherine’s daughter is about to leave for university. Although she knows worrying about this is normal, she’s becoming increasingly anxious about Anya’s safety. And that anxiety is starting to take over her life . . .
 
She’s fallen back into a habit of going into Anya’s bedroom when she sleeps to watch her breathe, and is secretly tracking her daughter’s movements on an app.
 
Anya, struggling with her mum’s suffocating behaviour, hides her own anxieties about leaving home for fear of panicking her mother further.
 
But with Anya preparing to move out, who will check on her and keep her safe?
 
Do other people pose a threat or is her own mother the one she should be afraid of?

Link to buy Keep her Safe: https://geni.us/KeepHerSafeCover

Jen Faulkner: BioJen Faulkner

Jen Faulkner completed an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University in 2015, where she was shortlisted for the Janklow and Nesbitt Prize. Since then she has run creative writing sessions for a charity in Bristol and volunteered at Mothership Writers, a year-long programme of writing workshops for new mothers run by the novelist, Emylia Hall. She also teaches English Language to college students. When she’s not writing or teaching she enjoys karate. She is currently plotting and writing her next book, about how a shared traumatic event can affect two people in very different ways. Keep Her Safe is her debut novel. 

Which genre do you write in, Jen, and what draws you to it?

I find genre a tricky thing to pinpoint with my novels, but they are marketed as psychological suspense. I’m drawn to writing about real people and their lives. I find people and their behaviours infinitely fascinating and love writing about everyday lives… with added suspense of course.

Are you an avid reader? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?

I read all the time and always have done. I love losing myself in other worlds and read most genres, although I would say I’m not a huge science fiction fan. I mainly read in my genre, but the ‘crime’ umbrella is so huge that it spans many different types of books. I love character driven books, especially when you end up rooting for a character you don’t particularly like.

Are you a self-published/traditional or hybrid author?

I am published with a fantastic independent publisher called Bloodhound. They have been incredible and the whole experience from start to finish has been relaxed and I’ve felt very well supported. There are so many ways to get published these days and I think that can only be a good thing!

Who has been the biggest influence on your writing?

This is such an interesting question. And to be honest I don’t now how to answer succinctly. Everyone I’ve ever read, is probably the easiest way to sum it up. As a writer I am inspired and influenced all of the time, I think when you are a writer you do read books as a writer and that changes everything. I’m always learning. But it’s not just authors and poets who influence me; conversations with friends, disagreements, chance encounters, human behaviours, they all play a part in making my writing what it is.

What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?

I LOVE the first write of a new draft where the story is unfolding and even though I’ve planned it, new and exciting things emerge. I think for me, once I get going I do like the editing process and fixing issues and plot holes, but it’s definitely the part I find the hardest. Responding to (often brilliant) feedback takes time, and sometimes I find it overwhelming, even though I know I always do find a solution in the end. I find taking time to process feedback is important. I can have a mini strop that I haven’t nailed something and it needs yet more input, and then I go for a dog walk or chat to a friend, and then I knuckle down and work it out.

Editing is not as much fun as writing, but it is where the magic happens.

What was the best piece of writing advice you received when starting out?

I was lucky enough to be tutored by Fay Weldon when I did an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University. Her advice was to write less, think more. It’s brilliant advice because it makes me stop forcing myself to write when inspiration isn’t striking. I’ve learnt to wait for the right time and for the right words, which is huge because I am usually anything but patient. She also taught me to persist. There have been many times when rejections have come and I’ve questioned giving up, but she always said if I wanted to be published I had to persist. And she was right. If I hadn’t persisted I wouldn’t be published.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

Late afternoon has always been a productive time for me – it’s currently 4.50pm as I’m writing this – I get a lot of writing done in the hours between school pick up and dinnertime, when I’m not ferrying my children to after school activities, of course. Mornings are also good, but I’m not an early riser so won’t ever be part of the 5am writers club even though I wish I could be!

If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?

Good question! I’d still be writing, of course, but also I think I’d be a full-time teacher again. I tutor teenagers part-time and absolutely love it. The students are amazing. And so yes, if I couldn’t be an author then I’d be a full-time English teacher for sure.

If a movie was made of your book, who would you like to play the lead roles?

I love Suranne Jones and think she would be a great Catherine. She plays troubled women so very well. As for Anya, I’m not sure. I have such a firm image of her in my head that doesn’t fit with any actor I can think of, although I am sure the perfect person is out there somewhere. Now if only I could secure that film deal…

If you could travel back in time, what era would you go to? What draws you to this particular time?

Would it be weird to say my childhood? I’d love to go back and see if it’s really how I remember it and relive some of those times. Obviously I wouldn’t want to change anything as if I did I wouldn’t end up where I am now, and I like where I am now. But I’m a very nostalgic person and I’d love to relive it and be more present at the time. Either that, or I’d want to go back to the Victorian times. I once visited a National Trust house as a child and was convinced I’d been a servant there in a previous life. I find the kitchens in these buildings fascinating and love everything to do with the way of life and all the history of the families and people who’ve lived in them.

And finally; you have been chosen as a member of the crew on the first one-way flight to Mars – you are allowed to bring 5 books with you. What would they be?

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier, Three Women by Lisa Taddeo, The Island by Victoria Hislop and The Twelve Dancing Princesses by the Brothers Grimm.

Thanks so much, Jen, for dropping by. Wishing you all the best with your new release.If you would like to know more about Jen and her writing, please check out her links below:
 

Twitter: @jfaulknerwriter

Instagram: Jen Faulkner Writer

Facebook Page: Jen Faulkner Writer

Website: www.jenfaulkner.co.uk

The Du Lac Chronicles: The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour

Today, I am delighted to host Mary Anne Yarde on the book blog tour for The Du Lac Chronicles (Book 1).

You can check out the details of this tour on the tour schedule page: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/06/blog-tour-du-lac-chronicles-book-1-of.html

The Du Lac Chronicles (Book 1 of The Du Lac Chronicles) By Mary Anne Yarde

A generation after Arthur Pendragon ruled, Briton lies fragmented into warring kingdoms and principalities.

Eighteen-year-old Alden du Lac ruled the tiny kingdom of Cerniw. Now he half-hangs from a wooden pole, his back lashed into a mass of bloody welts exposed to the cold of a cruel winter night. He’s to be executed come daybreak—should he survive that long.

When Alden notices the shadowy figure approaching, he assumes death has come to end his pain. Instead, the daughter of his enemy, Cerdic of Wessex, frees and hides him, her motives unclear.

Annis has loved Alden since his ill-fated marriage to her Saxon cousin—a marriage that ended in blood and guilt—and she would give anything to protect him. Annis’s rescue of Alden traps them between a brutal Saxon king and Alden’s remaining allies. Meanwhile, unknown forces are carefully manipulating the ruins of Arthur’s legacy.

[Trigger warnings: Torture, Warfare]

Buy Links:

This novel is available on #KindleUnlimtiedUniversal Link (if you have it): https://books2read.com/u/b5lYy7Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Du-Lac-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B01CDK2MK0Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Du-Lac-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B01CDK2MK0Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Du-Lac-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B01CDK2MK0Author Bio: Mary Anne Yarde

Mary Anne Yarde is a multi-award winning and bestselling author of Historical Fiction, as well as an award-winning blogger. She studied History at Cardiff University and went on to study Equine Science at Warwickshire College.

Mary Anne Yarde

Mary Anne is a passionate advocate for quality Historical Fiction and founded The Coffee Pot Book Club in 2015 and became a professional Editorial Reviewer in 2016.

Mary Anne’s award-winning series, The Du Lac Chronicles, is set a generation after the fall of King Arthur. The Du Lac Chronicles takes you on a journey through Dark Age Britain and Brittany, where you will meet new friends and terrifying foes. Based on legends and historical fact, The Du Lac Chronicles is a series not to be missed

Born in Bath, England, Mary Anne grew up in the southwest of England, surrounded and influenced by centuries of history and mythology. Glastonbury—the fabled Isle of Avalon—was a mere fifteen-minute drive from her home, and tales of King Arthur and his knights were part of her childhood.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://authormaryanneyarde.blogspot.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/maryanneyardeBookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mary-anne-yardeAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Anne-Yarde/e/B01C1WFATAGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15018472.Mary_Anne_Yarde

On Bur Oak Ridge: Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour

Today I am delighted to host Jenny Knipfer on the blog tour for On Bur Oak Ridge, Book 3 of the Sheltering Trees Series. Please check out the short excerpt included in this post.

You can learn about the entire tour here: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/04/blog-tour-on-bur-oak-ridge-sheltering.html

On Bur Oak Ridge (Sheltering Trees: Book Three) By Jenny Knipfer

“The plot has its twists and turns to keep readers intrigued…to the very end. A great comfort read that will soothe the spirit with renewed hope and faith.” Readers’ Favorite five-star review

A HISTORICAL NOVEL OF FINDING HEALING AND A SECOND CHANCE AT LOVE

In the early 1900s, quiet and reserved Molly Lund finds refuge from her past at the Nelsons’ farm in Minnesota. In an attempt to turn a new page in her life, Molly works at making peace with her losses and coming to terms with the disfiguring burns on her face.

Samuel Woodson, the Nelsons’ hired hand, carries his own cares. Split from his family and bearing a burden of misplaced guilt for an act that haunts him, Samuel–seeing past Molly’s scars–draws her out of her self-protective shell.

Molly and Samuel form a friendship, but just as their hearts lead them deeper, an unexpected guest comes calling, demanding what’s his.

Will Molly and Samuel find a way to be together or will they be separated, due to impediments beyond their control? Can they trust in God’s plan and travel a path that heals the hurts of the past? 

Readers of historical fiction, Christian historical fiction, and Christian historical romance will delight in this beautifully wrought story of the healing power of love.

“A heart-warming story of healing from external and internal scars. Through some of life’s harder lessons the characters learn to trust, forgive, and find second chances out of the ashes of pain and loss.”

Anne Perreault, author of eighteen inspirational novels, including the Yellowstone series

[Trigger Warnings: Grief, trauma from burns, accidental death, time in an insane asylum]

Buy Links:

Available on #KindleUnlimitedUniversal Link: https://books2read.com/u/3JELBXAmazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bur-Oak-Ridge-Sheltering-Trees-ebook/dp/B0B2KXB19FAmazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Bur-Oak-Ridge-Sheltering-Trees-ebook/dp/B0B2KXB19FAmazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Bur-Oak-Ridge-Sheltering-Trees-ebook/dp/B0B2KXB19FAmazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Bur-Oak-Ridge-Sheltering-Trees-ebook/dp/B0B2KXB19FExcerpt from On Bur Oak Ridge

Samuel

I fear my heart will be forever tied to what I can ’ t have. The word “ home” once meant everything good to me: safety, warmth, love. Now, however, I have no home. It was ripped from me by the devious dealings of Mr. Alfred Skaggs. I wish I could put what that man did out of my mind. My conscience tells me I should write Mother, but hurt and anger still hold me back.

“ She made her bed; let her lie in it.”

The phrase rings in my mind like a warning bell whenever I think of her, but I know it ’ s not charitable or forgiving. It keeps the door shut to my empathy and, dare I say, my love for her.

But reason tells me we are not meant to live with permanently closed doors between us and our family. Perhaps we need each other, but I can ’ t make the first move. Not yet. I need more time to come to a place where I would be willing to set the past aside.

Maybe she doesn ’ t want to see me.

The thought comes from behind me, shocking me with its unexpected presence. But after all, I blame myself for separating her from her new husband. I think back to my outburst and the second worst day of my life.

“Still scribbling, I see,” a familiar voice says.

I look up from my writing, startled. Lincoln stands on the steps, peering at me like he’s caught me doing something naughty. I set my pen down and rise from the one armchair in the loft. I would invite Linc to join me, but there’s nowhere for him to sit, except my bed.

I offer a weak smile and nod. “Yes. I write most every day. It’s become a habit, I suppose.” I scratch the back of my neck. “Want anything in particular?”

I stand in the middle of the room, awkward and wondering.

He takes the last few steps. Soon his eyes are level with mine. “Can’t an old friend stop by for a visit?”

Shrugging, I snicker, “Shucks, I guess so.” I turn and gesture toward my vacated chair. “Want to sit a spell?”

Linc makes a big show of looking around. “I see I need to wrangle up another chair for this place. Doesn’t do to have nowhere for company to sit.” He walks closer and points toward my unmade bed. “Reckon that’s comfy enough for me. Sit yourself back down in your chair. I’ll plant myself on the bed.”

He moves to do so.

“Suit yourself,” I say, again wondering what it is he has come for.

Lincoln isn’t one for dropping in for social calls. And I’m still not sure how to navigate my role as the hired-help but also a friend. We sit and stare at each other for a few seconds then both start to speak at the same time.

I laugh. “You go ahead.”

“Well, I was just wondering how your mother’s doing.” Linc’s grinning face turns serious. “You know, with winter coming on and all. Has she written to you?”

A forked furrow lines the spot over the bridge of his long nose.

I brush the back of my hand over my forehead. “That’d be mighty hard for her to do since…she doesn’t know I’m here.”

I study the splintered wood of one of the boards beneath my feet in a kind of shame. It’s gray and weathered like I feel.

“Sam,” Linc says in a soft rebuke. He pauses, and I look up into his kind eyes. “You’re gonna have to go back sometime. She’s your ma.”

His last words are a plea. He’s right, but I don’t want to. I can’t face her yet.

“I know, but now’s not the time.” I breathe in through my nose and say firmly, “Don’t press me, Linc. Let me get over this in my own way and time. I appreciate you giving me work, a place to stay, and a table to eat at, but I ask you to respect my wishes. I asked you not to talk about this.”

Lincoln shakes his head and releases a hefty sigh. “Friends broach the hard subjects, Sam. Mabel and I care about you and can see you’re hurting. We want what’s best for you.” He narrows his eyes. “At least get away from the farm now and then. The only time you leave is when I send you to town. Come to church with us. Socialize a bit.”

He should know me better than that. I never was one for small talk. “I thank you kindly for concerning yourselves, but I’m managing just fine being here.”

“I figured that’s what you would say.” A sly grin hikes Linc’s lips up on his right side. It makes him look a little like a court jester. “Mabel wouldn’t stop pestering me until I asked.”

He shrugs, as if apologizing for following his wife’s wishes. The man is in love and would clearly agree to almost anything Mabel asked of him, I’m sure.

Linc regards me with one eye, while he tilts his head back a little. “Saw you conversing with Mrs. Lund the other day.” He waits, with an expectant look, like a hawk eyeing a mouse. “She’s been a mighty fine friend to Mabel and Mabel to her. Had a hard life, I hear. Maybe you two have something in common, but…” He leaves his statement open-ended, and before I can respond, he stands and brushes his hands together. “Bit chilly up here, isn’t it? You’d think your landlord would provide you with fuel for this drafty dump.”

He winks.

I laugh. “Ya, if only I could find him to ask for some.”

I stand as well. We grin at each other and share a chuckle. “But seriously, you better haul some wood up and stoke your fire. And maybe shove a few more rags in the cracks.” We walk toward the stairs.

“If Mabel has an extra quilt in the house, I wouldn’t mind if she borrowed me another.”

“I’m sure she’d be more than happy to. I’ll ask.” Linc tips his head toward me. “Well, goodnight.”

I nod and smile, glad for the distraction from my woes. “See you tomorrow.”

Linc leaves as quietly as he came. I should go back to my chair and finish my journal entry, but I tire of rehashing the whole sordid affair over again in my mind. Instead, I do as Linc suggested, and I go down the stairs, light a lantern, take up a barrow, and walk to the woodshed to restock my supply of firewood. While I walk, I think about Molly. I’d like to know her better. She interests me, and Linc may be right: We have something in common; we share some deep wounds.

Author Bio: Jenny Knipfer

Jenny lives in Wisconsin with her husband, Ken, and their pet Yorkie, Ruby. She is also a mom and loves being a grandma. She enjoys many creative pursuits but finds writing the most fulfilling.

Jenny Knipfer

Spending many years as a librarian in a local public library, Jenny recently switched to using her skills as a floral designer in a retail flower shop. She is now retired from work due to disability. Her education background stems from psychology, music, and cultural missions.

All of Jenny’s books have earned five-star reviews from Readers’ Favorite, a book review and award contest company. She holds membership in the: Midwest Independent Booksellers Association, Wisconsin Writers Association, Christian Indie Publishing Association, and Independent Book Publishers Association.

Jenny’s favorite place to relax is by the western shore of Lake Superior, where her novel series, By The Light of the Moon, is set.

She deems a cup of tea and a good book an essential part of every day. When not writing, Jenny can be found reading, tending to her many houseplants, or piecing quilt blocks at her sewing machine.

Her new historical fiction four-part series entitled, Sheltering Trees, is set in the area Jenny grew up in, where she currently lives, and places along Minnesota’s Northern Shore, where she loves to visit. She is currently writing a four-part novella series entitled: Botanical Seasons and a three-part fantasy series entitled: Retold Fairy Tales.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://jennyknipfer.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JennyKnipfer/Facebook: https://facebook.com/jennyknipfer.writer/Instagram: https://instagram.com/jennyknipferbrave/Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/JennyKnipfer/BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jenny-knipferAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jenny-Knipfer/e/B07QV9HPH4%253FGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19133392.Jenny_KnipferBook Trailer: https://youtu.be/LeAAhaLqekk

The Mallory Saga Series: Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour

Today I am delighted to host Paul Bennett on the blog tour for The Mallory Saga Series

Tour Schedule Page: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/06/blog-tour-mallory-saga-books-1-5-by.html

The Mallory Saga Series Blurb

Follow the Mallory family as they attempt to live a peaceful life on the PA frontier in 1756. They face tragedy and loss as they become embroiled in The French and Indian War – Clash of Empires. In Paths to Freedom, the colonies are heading to open revolt against King George III, and the Mallory’s are once again facing the spectre of war. Crucible of Rebellion continues the Mallory story through the early years of The Revolutionary War. Book 4, A Nation is Born completes the Revolution and The Mallory’s have played their part in the victory. In book 5, A Turbulent Beginning, the nascent nation finds it hard going to establish a peaceful existence. The Natives of this land resist the westward expansion of white settlers.

[Trigger Warnings: Violence and battle scenes, mild sexual content, and profanity.]

A Nation is Born (Book 4)

As the Revolutionary War shifts south, and west, so too, the Mallory’s find themselves right in the thick of it. On the banks of the Congaree River in South Carolina, and on the Wabash in the Northwest Territory, war is not the only problem they face. Revenge stirs among the embers of war, and the issue of slavery becomes an issue for the Mallory’s.

This series is available to read for free with #KindleUnlimited subscription.

Series in order:Clash of Empires: https://books2read.com/u/m2eDQoPaths to Freedom: https://books2read.com/u/47YyVECrucible of Rebellion: https://books2read.com/u/mg7xPzA Nation Is Born: https://books2read.com/u/bPgpNxA Turbulent Beginning: https://books2read.com/u/m2eDQdAuthor Bio: Paul Bennett Paul Bennett

Paul was born in Detroit when the Big Three ruled the automobile industry, and The Korean Conflict was in full swing. A lifelong interest in history and a love of reading eventually led him to Wayne State University where he majored in Ancient History, with a minor in Physical Anthropology. However, to make ends meet, those studies were left to the realm of dreams, and Paul found himself accidentally embarking on a 50 year career in computers. A career that he has recently retired from in order to spend more time with those dreams….7 grandchildren will help fill the time as well.

He now resides in the quaint New England town of Salem, Massachusetts with his wife Daryl, just a few minutes’ walk from the North River, and the site where the Revolution almost began.

The Mallory Saga is the culmination of Paul’s love of history, and his creative drive to write stories. With Nightwish and Bruce Cockburn coming through his headphones, and many cups of excellent coffee, Paul hopes to carry the Saga into the late 19th century, bringing American History to life through the eyes and actions of the Mallory family.

Social Media Links:Website: https://clashofempires.wordpress.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/hooverbkreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mallorysaga/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-bennett-49b4b626/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hooverpar/BookBub: https://partners.bookbub.com/my_booksAmazon Author Page: https://author.amazon.com/homeGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard?ref=nav_profile_authordash

Cragside: A 1930s Murder Mystery: Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour

Today, I am delighted to host MJ Porter on the Blog Tour for Cragside: A 1930s Murder Mystery. See below for an excerpt from the book.

Tour Schedule Page: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/04/blog-tour-cragside-1930s-murder-mystery.html

Cragside: A 1930s Murder Mystery By M J Porter

Lady Merryweather has had a shocking year. Apprehended for the murder of her husband the year before, and only recently released, she hopes a trip away from London will allow her to grieve. The isolated, but much loved, Cragside Estate in North Northumberland, home of her friends, Lord and Lady Bradbury, holds special memories for her.

But, no sooner has she arrived than the body of one of the guests is found on the estate, and suspicion immediately turns on her. Perhaps, there are no friendships to be found here, after all.

Released, due to a lack of evidence, Lady Ella returns to Cragside only to discover a second murder has taken place in her absence, and one she can’t possibly have committed.

Quickly realising that these new murders must be related to that of her beloved husband, Lady Merryweather sets out to solve the crime, once and for all. But there are many who don’t want her to succeed, and as the number of murder victims increases, the possibility that she might well be the next victim, can’t be ignored.

Journey to the 1930s Cragside Estate, to a period house-party where no one is truly safe, and the estate is just as deadly as the people.

[Trigger Warnings: Description of murder scenes and bodies]

Buy Links:Universal Link: books2read.com/CragsideAmazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cragside-1930s-murder-mystery-Porter-ebook/dp/B09R26PFW2/Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Cragside-1930s-murder-mystery-Porter-ebook/dp/B09R26PFW2/Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Cragside-1930s-murder-mystery-Porter-ebook/dp/B09R26PFW2/Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Audible-Cragside/dp/B09WGTRGQ1/Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cragside-m-j-porter/1141311981Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/cragside/m-j-porter/9781914332838Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/cragside-1Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/cragside/id1617307479Audio: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Cragside-Audiobook/B09WH16CH9

Cragside – Excerpt – Lady Ella and Detective Inspector Aldcroft discuss their suspects

“So,” Aldcroft turns to me. “We have a number of suspects who while thinking they have an alibi, actually don’t. Miss Lilian Braithwaite is one of them, as are Lord and Lady Bradbury and Mr Hector Alwinton. They were all alone at one point or another yesterday afternoon, after luncheon and before the victim was found.”

“I’m intrigued by the notion that Lord Bradbury heard dogs barking and came to let his hounds inside. Lilian is adamant she arrived back only just as the body was discovered.”

Aldcroft nods, brooding.

“Yes. She might well have returned earlier. Slit our victims throat, and then scampered back along the road way. No one was looking for her. It was expected that she’d be a long time, because the dogs needed a good run, and it’s a fair distance to Cragend quarry and back.”

“But why?”

It always comes back to this. Why had Lady Carver and Mr Harrington-Featherington  needed to die? What did they know, or suspect, that made someone so desperate that only their death could make them feel safe?

“There’s been a great deal of speculation that this is all connected to your husband’s death.” There’s sympathy in Aldcroft’s voice. Not many ever show it. Most people believe me guilty. It’s taken my clever solicitor to argue for my innocence, and to pick apart the terrible report that the London detective cobbled together, with all his supposed witnesses.

I turn, hearing the scuff of a boot over the stones, and see my driver, Williams. I’ve not seen him since he returned me to Cragside yesterday, but he seems well enough. That pleases me. I know that Williams isn’t happy with his room in the servants wing. It’s quite distant from the main body of the house.

Williams nods at me. He’s dressed in his usual chauffeur garb. He looks smart but competent. I notice that he has flushed cheeks and mud along his boots and trouser bottoms. Where has he been?

“Detective Inspector,” Williams voice is gruff. He has no love for Aldcroft, and is unaware that we’ve reached an accommodation to help one another. I couldn’t find him earlier to let him know everything that had transpired last evening, and yet I believe he knows enough for I suspect where he’s been.

“I walked to Cragend quarry and back early this morning. I’ve taken all the different routes, past Slipper Lake, and along the carriage drive, and even through the many rock paths. I did find some evidence of dog prints on the higher path, but nowhere else, and yet, I discovered this,” and Williams holds out what can only be the murder weapon, its edge sharp and glistening with menace as he holds it in a white handkerchief, “crammed down the side of one of the rock paths. I’ve marked it and can show you exactly where it was.”

Aldcroft beckons one of his constables closer, as he peers at the sharp knife.

“Have you an evidence bag?” he asks them, and the youngster rushes to get one from a black bag, similar to a doctors bag, lying on the ground close to the garden alcove door.

“Put it in here,” Aldcroft instructs Williams. “But first, hold it out so I can look closer at it.”

Williams, watching me the entire time, does as he’s asked. Aldcroft grunts softly.

“It seems as though there might be a fingerprint in the gore. I’ll have someone look at it. Now, place it in here, carefully.”

I watch the two men as the knife’s lowered into a brown paper bag. Williams is entirely loyal to me. Aldcroft isn’t, and yet I can determine that both men see this as yet another indication of my innocence, if more were needed.

“Explain what you think happened,” Aldcroft asks my tall chauffeur.

I nod swiftly, to show that Williams should speak freely with the Detective Inspector. It warms me to know that he would have been circumspect if I’d implied it was necessary.

“I think the dogs were walked yesterday afternoon, but I don’t believe they went as far as the quarry.” I consider how Williams knows this, but servants often know everything that happens in a country house such as this. “While accepting that it rained a great deal last night, I don’t accept that it would have entirely washed away paw prints, not when the animals have such sharp nails that dig into the ground.”

“How far do you believe the dogs were walked?” Aldcroft queries. I’m pleased he considers Williams observations.

“No further than just beyond Slipper Lake.” Williams speaks of a lake that Edmund’s father constructed for fishing. It’s half way to the top of the slope, a more gentle climb for a man in his older years.

“So far enough away that their howls might not have been heard. But, what of Miss Lilian Braithwaite? She said she walked them to Cragend quarry.” I’m impressed that Aldcroft shares such insight with Williams. I consider then that they might have already spoken about what they think happened.

“She may well have done, but Miss Braithwaite returned by a different route to the dogs. I believe she tied them up, and left them while returning to the house to kill Mr Harrington-Featherington.”

Aldcroft’s lower lip twists in thought, but he doesn’t dismiss the suggestion.

“And what? She discarded the knife when rushing back to the dogs via a different route?”

“Possibly, yes. It’s certainly a quicker route if you needed to run.”

“And then, she returned more slowly, bringing the dogs as her alibi.”

“But why would Lilian have wanted to kill Mr Harrington-Featherington ?” I muse. “I can’t see that she could have been involved in my husband’s murder, either. She didn’t know either of us before our house party. Why then would she have felt the need to shoot him with a pistol?”

Williams is shaking his head, as perplexed as I am.

“I don’t know the answer to those questions, but there’s certainly something strange going on, even if she’s not responsible for leaving the knife wedged down one of the stone steps. She didn’t walk to Cragend quarry. Or rather, she didn’t take the dogs all that way or there would be prints in the mulch.”

“Couldn’t she have taken a different route.” I press. I know how many routes there are to Cragend. There’s anything from a gentle walk to a more strenuous climb.

But Williams shakes his head. “The paw prints simply stop. The dogs stopped there. They didn’t go any further.”

Author Bio: MJ Porter

MJ Porter is the author of many historical novels set predominantly in Seventh to Eleventh-Century England, as well as three twentieth-century mysteries. Raised in the shadow of a building that was believed to house the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia, meant that the author’s writing destiny was set.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.mjporterauthor.com/Blog: https://mjporterauthor.blog/Twitter: https://twitter.com/coloursofunisonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006592412433LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mj-porterauthor/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m_j_porter/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/coloursofunison/_saved/BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/mj-porter?list=aboutAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/MJ-Porter/e/B006N8K6X4/Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7163404.M_J_PorterLinktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/MJPorterauthor

Gwenna The Welsh Confectioner: Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour

Today, I am delighted to host Vicky Adin on the blog tour for Gwenna The Welsh Confectioner.

The book is part of Vicky’s series: The New Zealand Immigrant Collection – suspenseful family saga fiction about overcoming the odds

You can follow the tour by clicking on this link: Tour Schedule Page: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/05/blog-tour-gwenna-welsh-confectioner-new.html

Gwenna The Welsh Confectioner by Vicky Adin

Against overwhelming odds, can she save her legacy?

Gwenna’s life is about to change. Her father is dead and the family business on the brink of collapse. Thwarted by society, the plucky sweet maker refuses to accept defeat.

Amid the bustling vibrancy of Auckland’s Karangahape Road, she promised her father she would fulfil his dreams and save her legacy. But thanks to her overbearing stepbrother that legacy is at risk. Gwenna must find hidden strengths and fight for her rights if she is to keep her promise.

She falls in love with the cheeky and charming Johnno, but just when things are beginning to look up, disaster strikes. Throughout the twists and turns of love and tragedy, Gwenna is irrepressible. She refuses to relinquish her goal and lets nothing and no one stand in her way. Blind to anything that could distract her, Gwenna overlooks the most important person in her life, putting her dreams, her family, and her chance at happiness in jeopardy.

[Trigger Warnings: Domestic violence, death.]

Buy Links:

Available on Kindle Unlimited.

Universal series links:

Gwenna The Welsh Confectioner: https://books2read.com/u/38eQDrBrigid The Girl from County Clare: https://books2read.com/u/md67KWThe Costumier’s Gift: https://books2read.com/u/3n57eKAmazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gwenna-Welsh-Confectioner-Vicky-Adin-ebook/dp/B0732QDT2ZAmazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Gwenna-Welsh-Confectioner-Vicky-Adin-ebook/dp/B0732QDT2ZAmazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Gwenna-Welsh-Confectioner-Vicky-Adin-ebook/dp/B0732QDT2ZAmazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Gwenna-Welsh-Confectioner-Vicky-Adin-ebook/dp/B0732QDT2Z

Vicky Adin

Vicky Adin is a family historian in love with the past. Like the characters in her stories, she too, is an immigrant to New Zealand, arriving a century after her first protagonists and ready to start a new life.

Vicky Adin

Born in Wales, she grew up in Cornwall until aged 12. Her family emigrated to New Zealand, a country she would call home. Vicky draws on her affinity for these places in her writing. Fast forward a few years, and she marries a fourth-generation Kiwi bloke with Irish, Scottish and English ancestors and her passion for genealogy flourishes.

The further she dug into the past the more she wanted to record the lives of the people who were the foundations of her new country. Not just her ancestors but all those who braved the oceans and became pioneers in a raw new land. Her research into life as it was for those immigrants in the mid-late 1800s and early 1900s gave her enough material to write about the land left behind and the birth of a new nation for many years.

Vicky holds a MA(Hons) in English, is a lover of art, antiques, gardens, good food and red wine. She and her husband travel throughout New Zealand in their caravan and travel the world when they can. She hopes that younger generations also enjoy learning about the past through her stories as much as she had in writing them.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://vickyadin.co.nz/Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickyAdinFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/VickyAdinAuthor/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicky-adin-82b74513/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vickyadinauthor/?hl=enPinterest: https://nz.pinterest.com/nzvicky/BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/vicky-adin Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Vicky-Adin/e/B006JTB0VEGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6543974.Vicky_Adin

A Conversation with Author Karen King

Today in the Library, we have ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Karen King who has dropped in to say hello and to share some insights into her life as an author. I’d also like to congratulate Karen, as it is publication day for her latest novel, The Spanish Wedding Disaster.You are very welcome, Karen, please introduce yourself: Karen King

Hello, everyone. Delighted to be here. I am a multi-published author of both adult and children’s books. I’m delighted to say that my thrillers, The Perfect Stepmother and The Stranger in my Bed and my romantic novel The Cornish Hotel by the Sea became Amazon International bestsellers. I’m a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Society of Authors, the Crime Writers’ Association and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. I now live in Spain where I love to spend my non-writing time exploring the quaint local towns with my husband, Dave, when I’m not sunbathing or swimming in the pool, that is.

Which genre do you write in and what draws you to it?

Although I’ve written in a variety of genres, I’m now concentrating on writing thrillers and romance novels. Whilst these seem two completely opposite genres I find that they go together well, as they both explore the complexity of relationships. My tag line is that I write about ‘the light and dark of relationships’. Romance is where love finally goes right whilst in the psychological thrillers love goes drastically wrong. I love exploring both ends of the spectrum.

Are you an avid reader? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?

Oh yes, my kindle is groaning! I’m a bit of an eclectic reader and will read most things apart from gory crime or erotica. I love reading romance and thrillers, the genre I write for, but I also enjoy fantasy, mystery and historical novels. I like to read autobiographies too, and biographies of historical figures. I find it fascinating to read about people’s lives and the things they’ve overcome.

Are you a self-published/traditional or hybrid author?

I’m traditionally published. My current publishers are Bookouture and Headline Accent.

Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?

I think being a working class girl has influenced my writing, I don’t tend to write about the jet set! Also the places I have lived have certainly influenced the setting of my novels. My thrillers are often set in the Midlands, whilst my romances are mainly set in the more glamourous locations of Cornwall and Spain.

What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?

Getting the first draft down. I’m never satisfied with what I write and if I wasn’t strict with myself I would keep rewriting each paragraph and probably not get further than the first chapter! But I make myself put bum to seat, fingers to keyboard and write straight through the first draft. I don’t stop to edit unless I get seriously stuck, in which case I will go back to find out why. It’s often because I’m writing from the wrong character viewpoint or using the wrong tense. Once I solve that I carry on writing the first draft. Then I edit like mad.

What was the best piece of writing advice you received when starting out?

Give your character a problem and solve it in an unexpected way. I started my writing career working for children’s magazines and often had to deliver to very tight deadlines – and this was the days before email (I’m a dinosaur!). Once when I had to come up with a couple of short stories and post them the same day my editor gave me that tip. I’ve never forgotten it, and it’s the basis I still work from.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

I find it easier to write in the morning, as soon as I get up, the words seem to flow better then and there’s nothing like knowing that the daily writing has been done and the rest of the day is mine. But if I’m on a deadline I’ll write any time of the day, even well into the early hours.

If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?

I’d probably be a teacher. I was about to start my teacher training when I was offered regular work writing for children’s magazines, so I chose that option instead. I was writing children’s books up until a few years ago and often visited schools to talk to the children about my work, and run creative writing workshops, I loved it and felt that I had the best of both worlds. I also taught creative writing at Falmouth University and for evening classes so I did get to be a teacher too, albeit for adults.

If you could travel back in time, what era would you go to? What draws you to this particular time?

I think it would have to be the time of the ancient Egyptians. I’m fascinated with the pyramids and would love to see how they were built, and why.

You have been chosen as a member of the crew on the first one-way flight to Mars – you are allowed to bring 5 books with you. What would they be?

OMG! I would never go on a one-way flight to Mars. I’d want a return ticket or you wouldn’t get me in that space ship! As to what books I’d take, well the first two would be a massive book of magic and a huge book of jokes in case we meet any Martians. Hopefully if I could frighten them with my tricks or entertain them with my jokes they wouldn’t harm us! Next on the list would be a handbook on survival so I could be prepared for any emergency, and a thick notebook and pen so I could write down my experiences. If I could get a collection of Sophie Kinsella’s books all bound into the one book I would definitely take that, I think I’d need some light relief.

Please tell us about your latest published work.

The Spanish Wedding Disaster

Some people are romantics. Some aren’t. When Sophie and Maddie are summoned to a mysterious, top-secret meeting by their best friend Kate’s partner, and told that he’s planning to whisk Kate away for a surprise wedding in Gibraltar, it’s immediately clear that bubbly florist Sophie is a total romantic. And that freewheeling, purple-haired Maddie is not.

Soon, Maddie finds herself reluctantly organising venues, planners and ceremonies; trying not to think of her own memories of Andalucía, and those she’s lost touch with there. Meanwhile Sophie’s hoping this dreamy gesture might spur on her own boyfriend to similar plans . . . and absolutely not thinking at all about Kate’s gorgeous brother-in-law-to-be.

But Kate’s got no idea what’s going on. And as the stress piles up and the group jet off to the sunny south, it seems it’s not just Kate who might get a surprise in Spain – one that could change everything . . .

Buy Link: http://smarturl.it/thespanishwedding

If you would like to know more about Karen and her books, please check out her links: https://linktr.ee/KarenKing

New Release from William Todd

Today on the blog, I am delighted to be hosting William Todd, one of my favourite authors. William’s new release, Murder in Keswick, a Sherlock Holmes mystery, is a great read.You are very welcome, William, could you tell us a little bit about the background to the book?

I always enjoyed the stories of Sherlock Holmes when he left the confines of London. The Final Problem, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Devil’s Foot, and The Disappearance of Lady Carfax are some of my favorites, and the latter introduced me to the English Lake District. Ever since, that rugged and lovely setting has held a great fascination for me. I decided with this story to once again take the great detective and his raconteur to the Lake District.

Keswick was chosen quite by accident, but once I started my research, I realized I could not have picked a better place. All my research initially was done through the usual Google and Wikipedia routes, but I happened upon a kindly gentleman, a retired constable, who lives in the area, and he was an absolute treasure trove of information and even seemed keen to help out a Yank Anglophile like myself. We corresponded by email throughout the story’s writing. He sent me old photos and articles, a history of the area, and just general information I might need to make the story more complete—things I never would have found online. He had also written a book about a terrible accident that happened on Derwentwater at the time my story takes place, which was quite a happy coincidence. I mention this tragedy at the end of the story, and I mention him and his book in my acknowledgments.

This is one of four books I have written on the great detective. My others are, A Reflection of Evil, Elementary, and The Mystery of the Broken Window, which will all be coming out through Spellbound Books over the next few years. My hope is that when someone reads any of my Sherlock Holmes stories, they feel, although not ever being able to completely replicate the master ACD, I have at least come close and that this story and the ones to follow do justice to that great intellect that is Sherlock Holmes.

Murder in Keswick by William Todd

While on a well-deserved holiday in the Lake District to get away from the toils and troubles of London, Holmes and Watson find no respite.

As soon as they exit the train, they hear news of a grisly murder which is making its way around the murmuring commuters. A local aristocrat, Mr. Darcy, has been found missing his head!

And that very night, the wealthy widow finds a stranger in her home who, upon seeing her, abandons his plans and quickly leaves. She believes the intruder to be the murderer of her husband who is now after a large sum of cash she keeps in the house safe.

Unsure if the would-be thief is the murderer or an opportunistic burglar, Holmes devises a plan to catch the burglar, all the while investigating the murder of Mr. Darcy.

Here’s a wee snippet to whet your appetite…

Holmes read my disgruntled countenance when he turned to me. He said, ‘It was foolish to think evil had not yet stained this beautiful countryside. I dare say, Watson, that when it rears its ugly head out here, so far removed from more authoritative eyes, it may even thrive.’

I did not try and hide my disappointment, and I knew that it would be fruitless to try and convince him to leave this to the authorities, so with a sigh of resignation I asked, ‘What is the plan of action then?’

‘We shall check in to the King’s Arms, find out where the constabulary is, and pay the local authorities a visit.’

I nodded solemnly and picked up my baggage.

Noticing the devastated look on my face, Holmes only blinked at me emotionlessly then turned on his heel. Making haste towards the station entrance, he said over his shoulder, ‘come, come, now Watson. Did you not want me to relax on holiday? Well, what could be more relaxing than solving a murder?’

Buy Link: Murder In KeswickA little bit about William

William Todd has been writing for over 20 years, primarily gothic horror stories in the style of Lovecraft, Poe, and Shelley. Loving all things Victorian, he was keen to read (and later to write stories inspired by) the works of Arthur Conan Doyle. The first book he ever read cover to cover was Hound of the Baskervilles, which also fed his appetite for horror. William Todd has written two short story compilations of gothic horror, Dead of Night and Beyond the Gossamer Veil and one sci-fi/horror hybrid genre Something Wicked This Way Comes. He has also written multiple Sherlock Holmes pastiches, Murder in Keswick, A Reflection of Evil, Mystery of the Broken Window, and Elementary—a short story compilation. Two of his short stories were part of MX Publishing’s New Sherlock Holmes Stories with proceeds going to a charity for special needs children housed in Undershaw, the very home Conan Doyle penned Hound of the Baskervilles. Writing for the books was a special privilege because his daughter, Alina, has Down Syndrome. In 2022, he just finished his first YA/historical novel The Fall of the Hermit King, which is under review for publication, and in the meantime has started yet another Sherlock Holmes compilation.