Pam Lecky's Blog, page 14
April 1, 2022
Friday Reads – Her Last Betrayal by Pam Lecky
Many thanks to Karen King for hosting me today
It’s time for a Friday Reads post again and this week historical fiction author Pam Lecky has dropped by to tell us about her latest book, Her Last Betrayal, which will be out on April 14th.
Spying on the enemy is a dangerous game…
London, 1941
After losing her family to a Nazi bomb attack back home in Ireland,Sarah Gillespiejoins the British Secret Services to bring them justice.
Partnered with American undercover agentLieutenant Tony Anderson, Sarah embarks on a dangerous mission that takes her from war-torn London into the black mountains of Wales. But when one of her team is revealed to be a German mole, and enemies begin to close in, what price will Sarah have to pay to save her country – and herself?
Her Last Betrayal will be published by Avon Books UK/Harper Collins on 14th April 2022.
Pre-Order Buy…
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March 19, 2022
In Conversation with Mary Clancy
Pam thanks so much for inviting me to feature on your blog.
Mary ClancyLet me tell you a little about myself. I live with my family in Co. Kildare just outside Naas, with Michael and two of our three sons. My youngest is eighteen, I don’t know where those years went to. I mustn’t forget to mention our treasured dog Coco who is still sprightly at the grand old age of fifteen.
I look forward to having my books in the book shops when I can have a real live launch. (Most important.)
Having retired from my job as a social worker, I took to writing, a hobby which I had enjoyed for much of my adult life. Being offered a three book deal from Poolbeg Press in 2020 was such a dream. And here I am.
My debut book The Blue Washing Bag was published by Poolbeg Press during lockdown in September 2020, initially on Amazon. Between Love & Betrayal is my second book, recently published by Poolbeg Press on Feb 23rd 2022, also initially on Amazon.
The Blue Washing BagThe genre I write in is Historical Fiction. I have always been intrigued by stories of the past. Small town stories. Stories of ordinary people who lived their lives under constant scrutiny, particularly if they veered away from the path of decency. Times when women and men didn’t have the freedom of choice that we have today, social mores being what they were. Times when women were morally policed within their own communities. Many times banished by their own tribe, never to return home again. Women disgraced for having sex, whether they wanted it or not. Having babies out of wedlock was a scandal in tight knit communities, where it took more than a strong minded woman to stand up to the harsh punishments doled out, and not only by the church.
And the men involved seemed to escape the badges of humiliation and punishment that went along with it. (Unless of course a girls’ brothers were brave enough to give some Jack the lad a good seeing to.) Respectability was to be safeguarded above all else, and it helped if a family had either a nun or a priest to call their own.
My books tell the story of such brave women, some who were able to see beyond the domination of the church and state. And more who suffered the consequences of the times.
Between Love & Betrayal tells the story of young Connie Stapleton who arrives in the West End of London in 1924, relieved to be free from her widowed mother’s clinging dependency on her. Connie can breathe at last.
Meeting Lucrezia Romano, a Neapolitan art student, throws her off guard, takes her completely by surprise. She falls hopelessly in love with the rebellious Italian.
Between Love & BetrayalLucrezia, an outspoken feminist, has openly opposed Mussolini’s government and drawn negative attention to herself back in Naples. Voicing anti-fascist opinions, making a mockery of traditional Italian mores, she was vulnerable to harsh punishment by the regime if she were to remain in Italy.
Connie and Lucrezia discover in each other, a soulful connection. The couple decide to flee to the USA, wanting no more than to live their lives together, free from familial expectations. Free from societal condemnation – until fate shows its hand, throwing the two completely off course.
As Connie sacrifices her own emotional needs, she encourages Lucrezia to return home to Italy. The couple are separated.
Family loyalty, coupled with the economic pressures of the time test the relationship between the two. The story brings the reader from Ireland to the West End of London, to Italy and to the USA, before finishing the saga back in Ireland.
Having accepted her fate, living back home in the midst of the small community, Connie forms an unlikely friendship with a young flamboyant New Yorker, Darlene, who has arrived in Ireland full of expectations, only to be disillusioned with the narrow minded attitudes of the locals. Connie begins to question her situation as she is challenged by the newcomer, who is beyond disgusted at what Connie has endured. As the story unfolds, others who are drawn in to support Connie become caught up in events which will alter the course of their lives forever.
Buy Link: https://amzn.to/356gzFYMarch 4, 2022
New Release from Pauline Morgan
Good afternoon and thank you, Pam, for inviting me back to chat about my latest book.
I’d like to tell you a little bit about my second standalone cosy romantic story, Secrets Under Spanish Skies which is available now for pre-order. It will be published on St Patricks Day. Link: https://geni.us/kGf8uB
The idea for the book came from a conversation with a divorced woman who had an offer of starting a new life in Spain or to stay put in Scotland. The writer in me set about thinking if I could expand on the conversation, I could have the bones of a story.
In the past, I have visited Fortuna in Spain quite a few times and thought it would be the perfect setting to start a new life for my character. The book starts off with Moya’s life crumbling around her. She losses her home, has no money and can’t see a way forward.
Her best friend from working in the sewing factory offers her a life-line; to join her in Spain. At this part of the story, I enjoyed bringing in new characters and my story began to unfold.
Tiny plots entwined to reveal the larger plot, along with surprises to keep the reader on their toes. I enjoyed bringing out the bitchy side of my characters and the softer side too.
Before I start writing a book, a good author friend of mine advised me to use a notebook. I usually start with a title, synopsis, the big plot, then figure out were smaller plots can fit into the story. This helps me to see were my arcs will be in the book. I spent some time searching for the right Spanish names; a must, as they have to match up with my characters’ profile. I always write a profile for each character as it helps to create the characters likes or dislikes plus many more distinguishing abilities.
A question many people ask me is what time of day do you sit down to write. I can write at any given time and the same would apply to a location. In the past, I have found myself writing in car parks while waiting for my husband at the hospital. Busy cafes surrounded by people is another great space to lock yourself into the world of make-believe characters. If you are lucky, you might find something random to add to your book or overhear conversations that convey people’s emotions. Cafes and people-watching are a must for any writer. Over the years, I have picked up many tricks of the trade from writer friends or by joining online writing groups.
Along with my husband, I enjoy visiting local beauty spots for walks and picnics. If an idea pops into my head I immediately whip out my mobile and key it into my notebook.
Do I have any plans for further stories? The answer is yes. At the moment, I am in the middle of a complete rewrite of an old story I had lurking in the back of the cupboard. I hope to inject new life into the story with the skills I have learned along the way. Tucked away in a brand new notebook are a title and almost a blurb too. I get excited about the thought of starting a new story.
My third book, a Christmas story with a spooky touch, will be published in November 2022.
Secrets Under Spanish Skies𝐀 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲. 𝐀 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭.
Moya moved from Dublin to Nottingham when she was a teenager and met Kevin. But, after they were married, he became increasingly controlling and her only solace was attending Spanish and book-keeping night classes.
When Moya finds out Kevin has cheated on her – worse still, re-mortgaged their house to support his now pregnant mistress, she is devastated and left broken hearted.
At an all-time low, Moya’s oldest friend suggests she join her in Spain. Taking a leap of faith, Moya decides a fresh start in a new country is just what she needs.
But upon her arrival a prediction by a Spanish gipsy’s unnerves Moya…
𝙄𝙨 𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙇𝙖𝙬𝙮𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙢𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙨 𝙈𝙤𝙮𝙖 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙪𝙥 𝙋𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙧𝙖’𝙨 𝘽𝙤𝙭 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙎𝙠𝙞𝙚𝙨.
Link: https://geni.us/kGf8uB Pauline Morgan, Author
Retired housewife, Pauline Morgan, relocated to her native Northern Ireland and has been writing since 2000. She decided to write about her experiences in various houses she lived in and, as a result, self-published the paranormal Special Houses. Pauline previously joined the Romantic Novelist Association and participated in their New Writers Scheme. She is a member of an online writing group, Writers Ink VIP. Also, Pauline has written four short stories which were published in Woman’s Way magazine and two which were published in the iconic Ireland’s Own Magazine. She enjoys entering Flash Fiction competitions and was long-listed in the Kanturt Flash Fiction Competition. Her first poem, Airborne, was posted on the Pendemic.ie website in March 2020. Pauline’s primary focus is on women’s fiction.
February 23, 2022
Sex & Sexuality in Tudor England Blog Tour: Dress to Impress
Today, I am delighted to host Carol McGrath’s book blog tour for Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England.
Whilst researching a book recently published on the subject of Tudor Sex and Sexuality, I especially enjoyed researching provocative fashions for an era that had strict fashion codes including what colours and fabrics particular sections of society could not wear. The cod-piece was a fascinating aspect of this research.
In paintings and manuscript work, young Renaissance men appear utterly gorgeous, jewelled and colourful. The images aim to show beauty as a signifier of inward purity and Godliness, and therefore nothing to do with sex. But they are sexy, and doubtless they appeared so during the sixteenth century, depending on who was looking. Hose colours were significant: green hose suggested youthful vigour while red suggested passion. Fashions shown on illustrations are often outrageous, suggestive of the exotic, foreign and mythical.
As Henry’s reign progressed, and shorter coats became fashionable, the protective codpiece men wore became even more noticeable than ever. The codpiece was originally related to the Highlander’s sporran and is related to the sportsman’s jockstrap of later times, but it undoubtedly possessed a flamboyance all of its own. The codpiece created a sense of manly display, even from under a full suit of armour.
Henry VIIIThe codpiece began in the Middle Ages as a mere limp triangular flap to deal with the embarrassing absence of a covering, intended to cover that revealing gap between the two separate pieces of men’s stockings. It was also protective if created from metal and worn with armour for battle. By the sixteenth century the codpiece had developed into a statement of high fashion, therefore Tudor codpieces were individualised and accessorised and often made of luxurious decorated materials complete with ribbons and bobbles. Tudor men could mix and match their codpieces. A manly man could also strut around court in a garment that mimicked male genitals, drawing attention to them and exaggerating them to an absurd degree. His codpiece might be stuffed with straw to make it shapelier. Its hollow chamber had another use since it could also protect the lovely outer surface of stockings from the nasty sullying mercury-based ointment used to treat syphilis. It was also useful as a pocket. Money might be deposited within it because the wearer might need to pay an admirer. A kerchief could be tucked in the codpiece to facilitate some hasty mopping up operation. Amusingly, the codpiece sometimes served as a pincushion: men’s attire in the sixteenth century was so complicated, with many folds and wrappings around, sweepings over, tuckings, and overlappings, that pins might come in handy. The codpiece was daring, solid and padded. The larger the codpiece the more status was implied by its wearer.
Courtesy of Elizabeth ChadwickCod was slang for scrotum. We also have the expression ‘a man’s crown or family jewels’, referring to the pocket where coins or jewels could be stored. Just imagine reaching into the codpiece pocket for a jewel to give to a lover or mistress or even to pay a prostitute. Henry’s enormous codpiece emphasised his desired virility and capacity for providing England with heirs so he was never shy of strutting it about. It forms the centre-piece of Holbein’s drawing, The Whitehall Cartoon, which gives us Henry’s definitive image. A suit of armour belonging to Henry displayed in the Tower of London has an enormous metal codpiece. During past eras, female visitors to the Tower would stick pins in its lining hoping it would increase their own virility.
Henry VIII (1491-1547), by Holbein Holbein was extremely clever at capturing true likenesses as well as evoking richness and majesty. He flattered Henry, showing him in huge magnificence decked out in jewels, from rubies set in his collar to gems on his cap and worked into his doublet. This richness had to be displayed in portraiture because it was Henry’s identity. The Henrician court was one of the wealthiest in Europe and Henry himself was a patron of the arts. His aggressive stance in portraiture portrayed his majestic presence, legs apart, directly facing the viewer. Yet again, this was another strategy aimed to reinforce the strength of the Tudor dynasty. Layers of material broadened King Henry’s shoulders. His clothing showed a square silhouette tapering down to slimmer legs, leading the eye to the central royal importance of the procreative area, and, importantly, to Henry’s codpiece that held the potential for England’s future ruler. Henry’s opulence and rich surroundings, particularly when depicted as a still-young, handsome man in his forties, confirmed his wealth, power and virility. It is interesting that Henry’s armour in the Tower of London shows a man with shorter legs than in the portraits, perhaps more true to reality.
Holbein’s genius knew how to please.
Author Bio
Carol McGrathFollowing a first degree in English and History, Carol McGrath completed an MA in Creative Writing from The Seamus Heaney Centre, Queens University Belfast, followed by an MPhil in English from University of London. The Handfasted Wife, first in a trilogy about the royal women of 1066 was shortlisted for the RoNAS in 2014. The Swan-Daughter and The Betrothed Sister complete this highly acclaimed trilogy. Mistress Cromwell, a best-selling historical novel about Elizabeth Cromwell, wife of Henry VIII’s statesman, Thomas Cromwell, was republished by Headline in 2020. The Silken Rose, first in a Medieval She-Wolf Queens Trilogy, featuring Ailenor of Provence, was published in 2020 by the Headline Group. This was followed by The Damask Rose. The Stone Rose will be published April 2022. Carol is writing Historical non-fiction as well as fiction. Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England was published in January 2022.
Here is the buy link: Sex & Sexuality in Tudor England
January 13, 2022
A Conversation with Marcia Clayton
This evening in the Library we have Marcia Clayton who has dropped in to say hello and to share some insights into her life as an author.
Good evening, and thank you for inviting me for a chat, Pam. I live in North Devon in the South West of England, and I am a farmer’s daughter. I left school just before my sixteenth birthday, and worked for seven years in a bank before leaving to start a family. I held a variety of jobs for several years, working around looking after our three sons but then in 1990, I became an admin manager at our local college. It was at this time I decided to further my education by taking A levels in English and History, and went on to achieve a degree-equivalent qualification in management. In 2006, I moved to a job with the local authority as the Education Transport Manager, and I remained in that post until I retired in 2016. I am now enjoying retirement with my husband, Bryan.
Which genre do you write in and what draws you to it?I’ve written three historical fiction books in the Hartford Manor family saga, which is set in Victorian times. My interest in this period stems from my love of researching my family tree. My maternal granny absconded, leaving her husband with four children when my mother was just eighteen months old. My mum never met her mother, and as a child, this story intrigued me and I couldn’t wait to investigate.
Are you an avid reader? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?Yes, I am an avid reader and historical fiction is my favourite but I also like crime novels, and some of my favourite authors include Lee Child, Ann Cleeves, and Norah Roberts. However, I sometimes like to try something different and I recently read “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini. I thought this was an amazing book.
Are you a self-published/traditional or hybrid author?I’m a self-published author and have never tried to find an agent or a publisher. I wrote my first book in odd moments over several years when I was busy working full time and raising a family. I never expected to publish the book. However, my eldest son, Stuart, is a professional musician and has written several books. His wife, Laura, is a graphic designer, and between them, they persuaded me to upload my first book to Amazon.
Who has been the biggest influence on your writing?I’ve always been a big fan of Catherine Cookson and read many of her books in my twenties. Most of her books are set in the north of England, and I always thought it would be good to write similar books but based in the south west. Another author who has influenced me is Winston Graham, the writer of the wonderful Poldark series, set in the neighbouring county of Cornwall.
Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?I think living in the beautiful county of Devon has strongly influenced my writing. From my family research, I know that my ancestors go back to the 1500s in this area and I feel I belong here. I love the countryside and the people and would never wish to live anywhere else.
What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?Gosh, there are so many parts of the process that I find difficult I’m spoilt for choice! I’m always relieved when I have a book planned out and can then enjoy writing each chapter. Like many writers, I find the constant editing tedious and labour intensive. However, I think the most difficult part is marketing and trying to get the books into the hands of readers. I have only started to do this recently and find it quite hard going.
What was the best piece of writing advice you received when starting out?Probably the best piece of advice I received was to write about things I know and interest me. I was told to write the book that you would like to read.
Do you have a favourite time of day to write?Early morning is definitely when I am at my best. I certainly try not to write after tea time, as if I do, I find the ideas are swirling around my head in the early hours of the morning and prevent me from sleeping.
If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?I’m retired now, so my time is more or less my own. However, if not writing books, I would probably do more family research, read more, and indulge in my other hobbies of gardening and walking. I don’t often find the time these days, but I also enjoy knitting and crochet, and am an avid tennis fan.
If a movie was made of one of your books, who would you like to play the lead roles?The two main characters in my books are Annie Carter, a kitchen-maid at Hartford Manor, and Robert Fellwood, the wealthy heir to the Hartford Estate. I’d love to see Annie Carter played by Eleanor Tomlinson who is famous for her portrayal of Demelza in the Poldark television series, and Jonathan Bailey, from the Bridgerton series, would be ideal as Robert. Another important character in my second book, “The Angel Maker”, is Robert’s Aunt Margery, and I would love to see her portrayed by Dame Maggie Smith. I was impressed by her performance in Downton Abbey and think she is an amazing actress.
If you could travel back in time, what era would you go to? What draws you to this particular time?My favourite period in time is the Victorian era. Life was very strict, but it is clear the Victorians were no better than the rest of us and got up to all sorts of mischief, albeit discretely. Another reason I would like to travel back to this time is to meet my great-grandfather, Henry Willis. Henry was born in 1842 in the small Devon village of Berrynarbor. He came from a large family, and his father was a farm labourer. At the age of 16, Henry ran away to sea on a fishing smack from Ilfracombe Harbour. In 1864, he enlisted as a seaman in the US Navy in New Jersey and fought in the American Civil War. He was badly injured, losing an arm in battle, and was discharged in 1865 with a generous pension.
From then on, Henry led a double life. When he and his family of ten children lived in Devon, they were known as Willis. However, the family also lived in Cardiff, in Wales for many years, going by the name of Adams. No one knows why, but it is true. On his US Pension Record, he is recorded as Henry Willis, alias Adams.
Henry held many jobs over the years, including innkeeper, milkman, and builder, and from what I have read of him, he was quite a character. He was once charged with an assault on a gentleman over a dispute concerning fishing rights. Henry allegedly shook a stick at his landlord and threatened to put him in a straitjacket and lock him up in the beast-house. There is an amusing account in the local newspaper describing him as a “bluff, powerful-looking man, with all the appearance of the old campaigner, who spoke with a decided American twang.” He clearly enjoyed entertaining the jury, and fortunately for him, the case was dismissed. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall! I think Henry would have an interesting tale to tell.
Please tell us about your latest published workI published “The Rabbit’s Foot” in November 2021, and it is the third book in my Hartford Manor Series. The family saga is set in the rough class-divided period of Victorian England; a time when the working man had few rights and women virtually none. The series highlights the opulent lifestyle enjoyed by the privileged few, in comparison to the abject poverty endured by so many. I agonised for some time over the title of this book, which I think is unusual. However, I kept coming back to the same conclusion that it was the right one, though readers will have to wait until the very last paragraph of the book to understand why.
If you would like to know more about Marcia and her work please check out the links below:Links
http://mybook.to/TheMazzardTree
January 7, 2022
Pam Lecky Will Win Your Heart with ‘Her Secret War’ [DIAMOND REVIEW]
Does a young woman have what it takes to become a spy? (Photo courtesy Canva)
She thought they were safe. But that was before she heard the drone of planes overhead. The following day’s events changes her life forever. Does she have what it takes to rise from the ashes and forge a new path as a spy? Find out in Pam Lecky’s Her Secret War.
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December 13, 2021
1940: A Blitz Christmas
This could not be more appropriate when describing what became known as ‘Blitzmas’. In December 1940, Hitler’s Luftwaffe was doing its best to wipe British cities off the map. But the British public were having none of it and were determined to have the best possible holiday they could. Time magazine reported that Christmas parties were being held in the larger air-raid shelters, which provided safety for over one million people. Even the London theatres put on the usual Christmas Pantomimes. However, everyone suffered. It was not a normal Christmas by any means.
Gifts were difficult to come by. However, the Evening Standard reported that the Oxford Street pavements were congested and had a pre-war atmosphere. Luxuries such as silk stockings or French perfume were not to be found, but there was still liqueur chocolates available, and if you were lucky, you might find some figs or Turkish delight. Wine and spirits were plentiful but brandy was rare. The most popular present that Christmas was soap!
It was a ‘recycle’ Christmas. At home, decorations for the most part, were handmade, often by the children. Due to a paper shortage, scraps of paper, old Christmas cards, old newspapers, and brown paper were used to make ornaments and decorations. Presents were often homemade gifts wrapped in brown paper or even small pieces of cloth. Hand knitted items, such as hats and scarves were made by unravelling old jumpers and war bonds were bought and given as gifts, which helped the war effort. Homemade food items, such as chutneys and jams were popular and practical presents, along with items associated with gardening, like wooden dibbers for planting.
Manchester Christmas BlitzThere was little reprieve from the misery of Blitzkrieg. Greater Manchester bore the brunt of the Luftwaffe’s attacks that Christmas. On the night of 22/23 December 272 tons of high explosive were dropped, and another 195 tons the following night. Almost 2,000 incendiaries were also dropped on the city over the two nights. It became known as the Christmas Blitz. In total, 684 people died and a further 2,300 were wounded with districts to the north and east of the city badly affected. At least 8,000 homes were made uninhabitable.
The royal family had to spend the holiday at a secret location in case the Nazi airmen attacked while George VI was giving his Christmas broadcast. But as a mark of solidarity with the British public, the royal Christmas card was a picture of the king and queen in the grounds of the bombed Buckingham Palace. Traditional carol singing was cancelled due to the bombing and black-out, festive lights were not to be found on the streets, and many people had to work on the 26th of December, Boxing Day, which was a public holiday.
Due to rationing and high prices, most could not afford the traditional turkey or goose. Housewives had to use all their ingenuity to find substitutes. Luckily, the Ministry of Food provided lots of information (see recipe below) and even films on the subject. (The Imperial War Museum has many examples of these.) The only concession came in the week before Christmas in 1940; the tea ration was doubled and the sugar allowance increased to 12 ounces.
It can’t have been easy to celebrate a normal Christmas with many families separated by war and loved ones fighting overseas. Even though there was a small respite from the bombing in London on Christmas and Boxing Day, by 29th December, many families were rushing for the safety of air raid shelters once more. The King’s speech on Christmas Day must have been the highlight for many families but in December 1940. the outlook still looked bleak.
“The future will be hard, but our feet are planted on the path of victory, and with the help of God we shall make our way to justice and to peace.” King George VI (Christmas 1940)
In Her Last Betrayal, the sequel to Her Secret War, Sarah Gillespie spends Christmas with her family in Hampshire and is delighted to be involved in the Hursley Amateur Dramatic Society’s production of Hayfever, which they put on for the locals just before Christmas. However, it is to be a tragic Christmas that Sarah will never forget …
Her Last Betrayal will be released on 14th April. Cover reveal in the new year but pre-order now available:
December 7, 2021
New Release from Pam Lecky
Abbey Gardens, where it all started in No Stone UnturnedIt has been a hectic year, working on many different projects, including Her Secret War and Her Last Betrayal for Avon Books UK. However, as you probably know, my Lucy Lawrence Mystery Series is very close to my heart. Therefore, I am delighted to announce that the third book in the series, The Art of Deception, is now live for pre-order on Amazon worldwide. This title will be released on Friday 10th December.
The Royal Arcade, the scene is set for mischief …Lucy Lawrence is back in London, ready to settle down to a more sedate life after her adventures in Egypt. Unfortunately for Lucy, as she remarks to Phineas Stone: “mischief always find me!” So readers will not be surprised to hear that Lucy cannot resist being drawn into a case with Phineas.
However, her involvement triggers an unfortunate and tragic chain of events. It’s business as usual – murder and mayhem ensue! The action takes our pair from London to Kent and finally to Scotland to a desolate, rugged and isolated island …
I hope readers enjoy this third instalment; I have certainly had a lot of fun researching and writing this tale.
The Art of Deception (Book 3)London 1888: Stolen art and a vicious murder. Can Lucy Lawrence save Phineas Stone from the gallows?
Lucy is back in London and settling into her new life. To her delight, romance is also in the air. Meanwhile, Phineas is hunting down the notorious Apollo Syndicate: a dangerous gang stealing paintings to order from art collections all over the country.
Lucy cannot resist when Phin asks for her help with the case, but her involvement triggers a terrifying chain of events. When the husband of Phin’s ex-fiancée is found brutally murdered at a house party, Phin becomes the prime suspect.
Can Lucy untangle the dangerous web that threatens to engulf the pair just as her dreams of happiness are coming true?
Pre-Order Link: The Art of Deception
November 26, 2021
Pam’s Picks: Historical Fiction Books for the Holiday Season
There is such a wealth of great historical fiction books available right now, books that make super Christmas pressies too. Here is my round-up of 2021’s best, and there is something to suit all tastes, from romance to the ancient world.
A Comfortable Alliance by Catherine Kullmann
Can they open their hearts to something much deeper and passionate? Will their marriage only ever be a comfortable alliance?
Six years ago, Helena Swift’s fiancé was fatally wounded at Waterloo. Locking away all dreams of the heart, she retreated to a safe family haven. On the shelf and happy to be there, Helena has perfected the art of deterring would-be suitors. Will, Earl of Rastleigh, is the only son of an only son: marriage is his duty. One of the great prizes of the marriage market, he shies away from a cold, society union. While he doesn’t expect love, he seeks something more comfortable. But how to find the woman who will welcome him into her life and her bed, and be a good mother to their children?
When Will meets Helena, he is intrigued by her composure, her kindness and her intelligence. As their friendship develops, he realises he has found his ideal wife, if only he can overcome her well-known aversion to matrimony. Will succeeds in slipping past Helena’s guard. Tempted by the thought of children of her own, and encouraged by her mother to leave the shallows where she has lingered so long, she accepts his offer of a marriage based not on dangerous love but affectionate companionship and mutual respect.
But is this enough? As Will gets to know his wife better, and the secrets of her past unfold, he realises that they have settled for second-best. Can he change the basis of their marriage? Will Helena risk her heart and dare to love again?
Buy Link: mybook.to/AComfortableAlliance
Rebel’s Knot by Cryssa BazosIreland 1652: In the desperate, final days of the English invasion . . .
A fey young woman, Áine Callaghan, is the sole survivor of an attack by English marauders. When Irish soldier Niall O’Coneill discovers his own kin slaughtered in the same massacre, he vows to hunt down the men responsible. He takes Áine under his protection and together they reach the safety of an encampment held by the Irish forces in Tipperary.
Hardly a safe haven, the camp is rife with danger and intrigue. Áine is a stranger with the old stories stirring on her tongue and rumours follow her everywhere. The English cut off support to the brigade, and a traitor undermines the Irish cause, turning Niall from hunter to hunted.
When someone from Áine’s past arrives, her secrets boil to the surface—and she must slay her demons once and for all.
As the web of violence and treachery grows, Áine and Niall find solace in each other’s arms—but can their love survive long-buried secrets and the darkness of vengeance?
Buy Links: Amazon: http://mybook.to/RebelsKnot Kobo/Apple/B&N: https://books2read.com/RebelsKnot
Discerning Grace by Emma Lombard
Wilful Grace Baxter, will not marry old Lord Silverton with his salivary incontinence and dead-mouse stink. Refusing this fate, she resolves to stow away. Heading to the docks, disguised as a lad to ease her escape, she encounters smooth-talking naval recruiter, Gilly, who lures her aboard HMS Discerning with promises of freedom and exploration in South America.
When Grace’s big mouth lands her bare-bottomed over a cannon for insubordination, her identity is exposed. She must now win over the crew she betrayed with her secret.
BUY LINK: https://books2read.com/discerning-grace
Pagan Siege by Sam Taw
Three Violent Clans.
Two Deadly Rivals
One Struggle for Power
Anarchy reigns as the clan leaders revolt, threatening the Chief’s position within the tribe. Wildfires ravage the moors, settlers are starving and homeless, and wise woman, Meliora is no longer in favour. Their fate is now in the hands of fickle and ambitious youngsters, who have sly agendas of their own. Can they end the siege and retake control over the tin mines or will a vengeful leader prevail and slaughter Mel’s entire family?
Brutal skirmishes, bloody rituals and heartbreaking underdogs in the fifth book of the series. Start the adventure now.
Buy link: mybook.to/PaganSiege
Trysts and Treachery – Box Set by Elizabeth Keysian
In Tudor England, it’s dangerous to be an independent woman or to stand against the dictates of the Crown.
Enjoy this limited time only collection from Award Winning Author Elizabeth Keysian.
Lord of Deception: Despised by the cousin with whom she’s forced to live, the lonely but determined Alys craves escape. The most dangerous thing she could do is fall in love. Especially when the man who tempts her is Kit Ludlow, an exiled nobleman in disguise. Becoming involved in his secret mission proves more perilous than Alys could possibly have imagined.
Lord of Loyalty: An embittered war-hero must protect a crazed beauty. But he’s being blackmailed, she’s being hunted, and falling in love could be a fatal mistake. In honor of a deathbed promise, wounded veteran Sir William Cavendish rescues Isobel Marston from her grasping cousin. But this frenzied young woman proves a nightmare to handle. Soon Will is trying to save her from herself, as well as from those who want her dead.
Lord of the Forest: She failed to save the man she loved. She won’t make the same mistake again. In his forest home, he’s a king among both beasts and men. Living hand-to-mouth in his woodland lair, Lancelot is used to helping himself to what he wants, and he wants Clemence. But when she drags him back into the real world, he soon realizes that she will either bring him salvation or oblivion.
Buy Link: http://mybook.to/tandtboxset
Forgiving Nero by Mary Ann Bernal
Rome. The jewel of the civilized world is no longer what it was. Strength has failed the Senate. Her legions are in disarray, and the Empire has fallen into Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus Nero’s hands. His reign begins under a cloud of scrutiny, for he is the depraved Emperor Caligula’s nephew. Nero is determined to overcome that stigma and carve a name of his own. One worthy of Rome’s illustrious history.
Politics and treachery threaten to end Nero’s reign before it begins, forcing him to turn to unexpected sources for friendship and help. Many of the Praetorian Guard have watched over Nero since he was a small child, and it is in Traian that the young Emperor places his trust, despite the inherent threat of reducing his mother’s influence. Traian is the father he never had and the one man who does not judge him.
When Traian secretly marries the hostage Vena, it sets in motion a collision of values as Traian comes to odds with his former charge. The whirlwind that follows will shake the very foundations of the greatest Empire the world has ever known, and survival is far from guaranteed.
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/baGOMy
Amazon Global Link: mybook.to/ForgivingNero
Longsword’s Lady by J.P. Reedman
Spirited away to France after the death of her father, the Earl of Salisbury, young Ela is soon found by a wandering minstrel and taken to the court of Richard Lionheart. Aged nine, she is betrothed to the King’s illegitimate half-brother, William Longsword, before being sent for education in the household of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Some years later, Ela and William form a harmonious bond, despite their arranged marriage, and have many children, but their lives are always threatened by uncertainty. King John now rules, and William is his most loyal brother–and his enforcer. When the King tries to seduce Ela while William lies in the dungeons of the fighting Bishop of Bouvines, at last he decides to change his allegiance from the brother he once loved who has now become a tyrant. He returns to the Plantagenet fold only on King John’s demise and the accession of his young nephew, King Henry III. But war and strife is never far away, and on a journey from Gascony, William is shipwrecked and believed dead by most, barring Ela. Men of ambition start clamouring to wed the widowed Countess–and claim the earldom of Salisbury through marrying her…
Buy Link: http://mybook.to/elasalisbury
The Antonius Trilogy by Brook Allen
Author Brook Allen has a passion for ancient history—especially 1st century BC Rome. Her Antonius Trilogy is a detailed account of the life of Marcus Antonius—Marc Antony, which she worked on for fifteen years. The first instalment, Antonius: Son of Rome was published in March 2019. It follows Antony as a young man, from the age of eleven, when his father died in disgrace, until he’s twenty-seven and meets Cleopatra for the first time. Brook’s second book is Antonius: Second in Command, dealing with Antony’s tumultuous rise to power at Caesar’s side and culminating with the civil war against Brutus and Cassius. Antonius: Soldier of Fate is the last book in the trilogy, spotlighting the romance between Antonius and Cleopatra and the historic war with Octavian Caesar.
SON OF ROME: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NYTMRJS
SECOND IN COMMAND: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z1MWB4D
SOLDIER OF FATE: https://tinyurl.com/yycewwrz
Desire & Deceit by Carol Hedges
It is 1868, and the body of a young man has gone missing from the police mortuary at Scotland Yard, an event that has never happened before. Who was the mysterious corpse, and why was he spirited away in the night? These are the questions baffling Detective Inspector Stride and Detective Sergeant Cully as they set out to uncover the truth.
Meanwhile, two greedy, unscrupulous, inheritance-seeking brothers, Arthur and Sherborne Harbinger, descend upon London and their very rich dying aunt, each determined to get whatever they can out of her, and prepared to use whatever methods they can to win her favour. And over in her newly rented rooms in Baker Street, Miss Lucy Landseer, consulting private detective, has been presented with her first ever proper case to investigate ~ and finds it is one that will defy even her imaginative and inventive mind.
Set against the hottest summer on record, Desire & Deceit, the ninth outing for this popular Victorian Detectives series, explores how the love of money really is the root of all evil. Once again, Victorian London is brought to life in all its sights, its sounds, its sordid and gas-lit splendour. Another must-read book, teeming with memorable Dickensian-style characters.
Buy Link: author.to/Victoriancrime
Guardians at the Wall by Tim Walker
A group of archaeology students in northern England scrape at the soil near Hadrian’s Wall, once a barrier that divided Roman Britannia from wild Caledonian tribes. Twenty-year-old Noah makes an intriguing find, but hasn’t anticipated becoming the object of desire in a developing love triangle in the isolated academic community at Vindolanda. He is living his best life, but must learn to prioritise in a race against time to solve an astounding ancient riddle, and an artefact theft, as he comes to realise his future career prospects depend on it.
In the same place, 1,800 years earlier, Commander of the Watch, Centurion Gaius Atticianus, hungover and unaware of the bloody conflicts that will soon challenge him, is rattled by the hoot of an owl, a bad omen.
These are the protagonists whose lives brush together in the alternating strands of this dual timeline historical novel, one trying to get himself noticed and the other trying to stay intact as he approaches retirement.
How will the breathless battles fought by a Roman officer influence the fortunes of a twenty-first century archaeology dirt rat? Can naive Noah, distracted by his gaming mates and the attentions of two very different women, work out who to trust?
Find out in Tim Walker’s thrilling historical dual timeline novel, Guardians at the Wall.
Buy link: http://mybookto/guardiansatthewall
A Matter of Class series by Susie Murphy
A Matter of Class is a historical fiction saga set in rural Ireland in the 1820s, a time when the country is in turmoil as Irish tenants protest against their upper-class English landlords. Spirited Bridget Muldowney, a landowner’s daughter, and loyal Cormac McGovern, a stable hand’s son, once ran wild around the country estate as childhood friends. However, now that they’re adults, Bridget’s overbearing mother is determined to enforce the employer-servant boundaries between them and plots to keep them apart. The odds are stacked against Bridget and Cormac but love may prove to be a force too powerful to resist, and the consequences of their actions will echo throughout the whole series.
Buy link: https://getbook.at/class123
Lives Apart: A tale of emigration from Ireland to America after the famine. Set in County Clare, Boston, San Francisco and Nova Scotia, Lives Apart explores sibling relationships and how a disastrous action can reverberate through the lives of the extended family. It also looks at the experience of emigration, both for those who had the courage to venture across the Atlantic and those they left behind.
In 1877, young Johanna McNamara leaves her quiet life on the family farm in County Clare and emigrates to America to join her businessman brother Hugh. Full of hope, she is determined to make a success of her life. Tragedy strikes before she finds her feet, and she must put the care of others before her own needs.
Back in Ireland, farming life continues through the seasons, with her brother Art struggling to deal with his troubled son Declan. Sending him to the USA is an option that might help turn him into a man. Little does Johanna know what lies ahead with the arrival of a nephew, whose act of betrayal will blow her life apart.
LIVES WITHOUT END is an emotional tale of family secrets spanning three generations. Focussing mainly on the beautiful, but emotionally fragile, Bridie, a young bride, full of hope and courage, who, following a tragedy, emigrates from Ireland to build a new life in America. After her involvement in an affair that would rock society were it to be discovered, she is forced into making a heartbreaking decision. She returns home to Ireland with her arsenal of secrets, in her search for peace and the meaning of life. Hidden lives, memories of the past – who knows what lies beneath the surface we present to the world?
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08MWY632B
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0937FM2LY
Dublin’s Girl by Eimear Lawlor
1917. A farm girl from Cavan, Veronica McDermott is desperate to find more to life than peeling potatoes. Persuading her family to let her stay with her aunt and uncle in Dublin so she can attend secretarial college, she has no idea what she is getting into. Recruited by Fr Michael O’Flanagan to type for Eamon De Valera, Veronica is soon caught up in the danger and intrigue of those fighing for Ireland’s independence from Britain.
The attentions of a handsome British soldier, Major Harry Fairfax, do not go unnoticed by Veronica’s superiors. But when Veronica is tasked with earning his affections to gather intelligence for Sinn Féin, it isn’t long before her loyalty to her countrymen and her feelings for Harry are in conflict. To choose one is to betray the other…
Buy Link: https://amzn.to/3mPR0zi
Daughters of War by Lizzie Page
As a teenager in Chicago, May always dreamed of travelling the world. So when she falls in love with George Turner, she can’t wait to return to London as his wife. Two beautiful daughters follow, but George isn’t the husband he promised to be. Ten years on, May is wondering if she’s made a terrible mistake.
The Great War has been declared in Europe, and all around, brave young men are being called up to serve. George, banned from conscription himself, has taken to the bottle, and May suspects he’s seeing other women too. He even sends her beloved daughters away to school. She misses them terribly every day.
Then May meets veteran nurse Elsie, who persuades May to join the war effort. May knows nothing of nursing – it will be difficult, dangerous work, but her heart is telling her it’s the right thing to do and the only way to carve out a life for herself and her daughters away from George.
But when George does the unthinkable, May’s children are put at risk. Miles away on the front line and unable to reach them, will May be reunited with her little girls before it’s too late?
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07GFHHZNQ
Her Secret War by Pam Lecky
A life-changing moment: May 1941: German bombs drop on Dublin taking Sarah Gillespie’s family and home. Days later, the man she loves leaves Ireland to enlist.
A heart-breaking choice: With nothing to keep her in Ireland and a burning desire to help the war effort, Sarah seeks refuge with relatives in England. But before long, her father’s dark past threatens to catch up with her.
A dangerous mission Sarah is asked to prove her loyalty to Britain through a special mission. Her courage could save lives. But it could also come at the cost of her own…
Buy Link: http://smarturl.it/HerSecretWar
The Irish Clans is an epic story immersed in the tumultuous Irish revolutionary wars. The once mighty McCarthy and O’Donnell Clans, overthrown in ancient times, are not extinct. They are linked on two continents by a medieval pact entwining military history and religious mythology. Divine intervention plays a pivotal role in unearthing the secrets of the Clans’ treasure and heroic exploits. The patriotism and passion of Celtic heritage lies at the heart of this intriguing story.
In The Irish Clans: Book 5, Revolution, the Clans implement a plan to utilize the McCarthy gold for the coming revolution before rebel forces begin hostilities.
Buy Link: https://amzn.to/3gQNbWi
Heart of Cruelty by Maybelle Wallis
Birmingham, 1840: Jane Verity, deserted by her lover, endures the cruelties of the workhouse. Coroner Doughty rescues her on his way to an inquest on a young inmate. As Jane works in his household she deciphers the corrupt secrets of the workhouse, the truth behind his inquests, and the lies at the heart of his marriage. As she tries to convince him, he falls in love with her, but if he acts it will destroy him…
Heart of Cruelty is a gripping and authentic novel about passion that triumphs over reason, and about the abuse of power.
Buy Link: https://amzn.to/3mQm9T1
The Lucky Country by Rose M Cullen
A searing journey into the Australian Outback for an emigrant family in the early 1960s.
The Glendon family seek a new home and fortune in The Lucky Country after Patrick’s farm in Ireland is bankrupted by a freak storm. Their journey traverses the epic landscape of Australia and their fate collides with a cast of equally lost souls on the vast wheat and sheep station in Western Australia owned by Jack Anderson, a man as tough and ruthless as his pioneering father. Where indigenous storyteller, Ben Down, is as uprooted as any of the immigrants he encounters, the ways of his ancestors in his ‘Born Country’ no longer possible.
Buy Links:
Paperback The Lucky Country by Rose M Cullen | 9781839458705 (feedaread.com)
UK link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lucky-Country-Rose-M-Cullen-ebook/dp/B08ZG34F58
US link: https://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Country-Rose-M-Cullen-ebook/dp/B08ZG34F58
The Duty of Daughters by Wendy J Dunn
Doña, Beatriz Galindo. Respected scholar. Tutor to royalty. Friend and advisor to Queen Isabel of Castile.
Beatriz is an uneasy witness to the Holy War of Queen Isabel and her husband, Ferdinand, King of Aragon. A holy war that saw the Moors pushed out of territories ruled by them for centuries. In a time when most women possessed little control over their lives, Beatriz seeks control of her own destiny—even if this means placing herself in danger. Beatriz readies Catalina of Aragon, the queen’s youngest child, for a very different future life. She teaches Catalina how to survive exile and exist without Queen Isabel’s protection. She prepares her to be England’s queen.
Buy Link: http://mybook.to/FPS
Uneasy Quest by George Nash
Death and oblivion are never far away.
Ireland, 1169: a foreign army has landed in County Wexford. Invited by Diarmaid MacMurrough, King of Leinster, Strongbow’s Norman invasion of Ireland has begun…
Huw Ashe, a young Welsh archer, and his Norman father have joined the invading forces to escape a death sentence in Wales. Becoming a ruthless warrior, Huw forges alliances with the powerful warring factions of Munster and makes new and dangerous enemies. With Bridín O’Brien, an Irish noblewoman, he finds a love that bridges class and language barriers and endures separation, conflict and hardship.
As Huw and his family become the targets of a vicious revenge quest, he and Bridín must strive to find a safe haven from threats old and new, as war and upheaval take hold in Ireland and Huw risks losing everything.
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1838092005?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860
A Matter of Conscience by Judith Arnopp
A Matter of Conscience Henry VIII: the Aragon Years
‘A king must have sons: strong, healthy sons to rule after him.’ On the unexpected death of Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales his brother, Henry, becomes heir to the throne of England. The intensive education that follows offers Henry a model for future excellence; a model that he is doomed to fail. On his accession, he chooses his brother’s widow, Caterina of Aragon, to be his queen. Together they plan to reinstate the glory of days of old and fill the royal nursery with boys. But when their first-born son dies at just a few months old, and subsequent babies are born dead or perish in the womb, the king’s golden dreams are tarnished Christendom mocks the virile prince. Caterina’s fertile years are ending yet all he has is one useless living daughter, and a baseborn son. He needs a solution but stubborn to the end, Caterina refuses to step aside. As their relationship founders his eye is caught by a woman newly arrived from the French court. Her name is Anne Boleyn. A Matter of Conscience: The Aragon Years offers a unique first-person account of the ‘monster’ we love to hate and reveals a man on the edge; an amiable man made dangerous by his own impossible expectation.
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08W48QQ9C
In This Foreign Land by Suzie Hull
March, 1914. When talented artist Isobel embarks on a journey to Egypt, it’s to reunite her best friend Alice with her husband, Wilfred – and to use the stunning sights of Cairo as inspiration for her own paintings.
A whirlwind romance was the last thing she expected, but when Isobel meets Wilfred’s handsome brother, Edward, neither can deny the strong connection between them – especially when unexpected tragedy strikes, leaving them all reeling.
Just as they get to grips with their grief, WW1 erupts, and the lovers are forced to separate. They promise to meet again in London. But when Edward is listed as ‘missing – presumed dead’ only weeks after landing in France, Isobel is devastated, unmarried and on the brink of ruin. She has only one way to save her honour… but it means betraying the love she holds so dear.
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/this-Foreign-Land-romantic-page-turning-ebook/dp/B09L4T66YK
November 25, 2021
New Release from Suzie Hull
I am absolutely thrilled to bring you news of Suzie’s debut novel. I’m so very proud of her achievement for she is an inspiration, proving without a doubt, that hard work and perseverance really do pay off. I will be tucking into this book over the weekend.
A little bit about Suzie …Suzie Hull lives in Northern Ireland with her family and numerous rescue cats. She originally dreamt of being a ballet dancer, but instead trained as a Montessori Nursery teacher and has spent the last thirty years working with children. She has always had an enduring passion for history and books, and since she came from a long line of creative women it was only a matter of time before she turned to writing . A member of the RNA, In this Foreign Land is her debut novel.
In This Foreign Land by Suzie Hull‘I beg of you this one thing – that if I should perish here, in this foreign land, that you will look after her.’
March, 1914. When talented artist Isobel embarks on a journey to Egypt, it’s to reunite best friend Alice with her husband, Wilfred – and to use the stunning sights of Cairo as inspiration for her own paintings.
A whirlwind romance was the last thing she expected, but when Isobel meets Wilfred’s handsome brother, Edward, neither can deny the strong connection between them – especially after unexpected tragedy strikes, leaving them all reeling.
Just as they get to grips with their grief, WW1 erupts, and the lovers are forced to separate. They promise to meet again in London. But when Edward is listed as ‘missing – presumed dead’ only weeks after landing in France, Isobel is devastated, unmarried and on the brink of ruin. She has only one way to save her honour… but it will mean betraying the love she holds so dear.
A heartrending and thrilling WW1 romance, In This Foreign Land is the stunning new debut from Suzie Hull, for fans of Kate Hewitt, Shirley Dickson and Kate Eastham.
Buy Links:Amazon https://bit.ly/shfland
