Mary Anne Yarde's Blog: The Coffee Pot Book Club , page 129

Join #HistoricalFiction author, Christopher J T Lewis, as he takes a look at Orlando Furioso — a sixteenth-century Game of Thrones #History @cjtlewis

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It is a sprawling saga of warring kings, brave knights, beautiful women, bad magicians, wicked witch queens, and the odd dwarf (who seems to share some of Tyrion’s interests). There is at least one feisty maiden warrior, Bradamante, who would give Brienne a run for her money. There are no dragons, but there is the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hippogriff</i>, a useful flying horse.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lfOyYf1RF7s..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lfOyYf1RF7..." width="450" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Orlando Furioso</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> was hugely popular and influential in the sixteenth century. It was the favourite poem of astronomer and scientist Galileo Galilei (1564-1642); he knew large chunks of it off by heart. In my recent historical crime story <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Galileo’s Revenge</i> you will find how it helped him in the pursuit of some of his not-so-scientific goals.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r62q_97R4j..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="307" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r62q_97R4j..." width="450" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Galileos-Rev... Revenge.</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The song of Orlando<o:p></o:p></span></b><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The main story of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Orlando Furioso</i> is set in the time of King Charlemagne the Great (742-812), when Christians and Saracens were at war for the possession of Europe. (So absolutely no modern resonance, then.) Poetic tales of knightly chivalry and courtly love set at that time were later written (or, at least, written down) in the 12^th century. The most famous was the ‘Song of Roland’.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In Ariosto’s 16^th-century version, the Saracens, under Agramant, king of Africa, are besieging Charlemagne in Paris. Here Angelica, daughter of Galafron, king of Cathay, is in protective custody – for her own good, sort of: it’s a long story. Orlando (that is the ‘Roland’ of the earlier stories), is the chief of Charlemagne’s Paladins (knights errant), but he is captivated by Angelica’s beauty. When she escapes and flees, he abandons his military duties and sets off after her. His search, and what he finds, drives him mad, indeed, utterly berserk – but not until canto 23 (out of a total of 46).<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Angelica and Medoro<o:p></o:p></span></b><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But what is it that drives Orlando mad? For the first eighteen cantos, the irresistible Angelica eludes her numerous noble suitors, both the chivalrous and the rather less so. (King Sacrapant, for example, meeting Angelica in the depths of the countryside, decides to ravage her forthwith:<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">‘I’ll gather now the fresh and fragrant rose,<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Whose beauty may with standing still be spent;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">One cannot do a thing, as I suppose,<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">That better can a woman’s mind content.’<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But Angelica manages to escape his clutches intact.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uJZtzB85Zs0..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uJZtzB85Zs..." width="450" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Eventually, by chance, she encounters a badly injured young Saracen soldier, named Medoro, someone <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> of noble birth, but a mere ‘page of mean deserts’. Whilst tending to his wounds, ‘She having learned of surgery the art’, she promptly falls head over heels in love and<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">‘She suffers poor Medoro take the flower<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Which many sought but none had yet obtained;<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">That fragrant rose that to the present hour<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ungathered was, behold, Medoro gained.’<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">For a month or more (as Medoro convalesces) they linger in the pleasant countryside. All the while they carve their names ‘with bodkin, knife or pin’ on ‘every stone or sturdy tree’. <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">‘“Angelica” and “Medoro” in every place<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">With sundry knots and wreaths they interlace.’<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But finally they head for Barcelona and take ship back to her home in Cathay.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Orlando goes berserk<o:p></o:p></span></b><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As luck would have it, some four cantos later, in his constant searching after Angelica, Orlando arrives at a pleasant shady grove. Of all the shady groves in all of Christendom!<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">‘For, looking all about the grove, behold,<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In sundry places fair ingrav’d he sees<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Her name whose love he more esteems than gold,<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">By her own hand in barks of divers trees:<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This was the place wherein before I told<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Medoro used to pay his surgeon’s fees,<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Where she, to boast of that that was her shame,<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Used oft to write hers and Medoro’s name….’<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">To remove all possibility of mistaken identity, Orlando finds a poem written by Medoro to celebrate his good fortune, and likewise the place<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Where sweet Angelica, daughter and heir<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Of Galafron, on whom in vain were fixed<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Full many hearts, with me did oft repair<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Alone, and naked lay mine arms betwixt.’<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Galafron, you will remember, was the King of Cathay. So, definitely not some other Angelica.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And thus, finally convinced of Angelica’s ‘betrayal’, Orlando goes mad. For ‘three days he doth not sleep nor drink nor eat,/But lay with open eyes as in a swoon;/The fourth, with rage and not with reason waked,/He rents his clothes and runs about stark naked.’ Stark, staring mad, then. He proceeds to run amok in the surrounding countryside, uprooting trees and assaulting herdsmen and, indeed, their flocks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A flight to the Moon<o:p></o:p></span></b><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But Orlando’s martial prowess is absolutely crucial to the defence of Christendom against the Saracen. The urgent question is, therefore, (Canto 34) ‘How to his wits Orlando may be brought?’ His friend, the English knight Duke Astolfo, undertakes to fly to the Moon, which is where all ‘things that on Earth were lost’ may be found. The journey is accomplished with the help of the hippogriff and Elijah’s chariot of fire. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7piwxlJlyBs..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7piwxlJlyB..." width="450" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Arrived upon the Moon, Astolfo finds a storehouse containing ‘a mighty mass of things strangely confused,/Things that on Earth were lost or were abused’. Along with the expected Biros and odd socks, he finds men’s lost wits, ‘kept in pots’ or jars, ‘amongst which one had writ/Upon the side thereof “Orlando’s wit”.’ And so, carrying this jar, and pausing only to grab his own lost wits – whose loss he hadn’t noticed – Astolfo descends to Earth again.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Eventually (canto 39), he catches up with the still raving Orlando. Unstoppering the jar, Astolfo holds it close ‘to [Orlando’s] nostrils; and eftsoon/He drawing breath, this miracle was wrought:/The jar was void and emptied every whit,/And he restored unto his perfect wit.’ Interestingly, ‘Thus being to his former wits restored,/He was likewise delivered clean from love.’ Orlando was so over Angelica, and could return to the business of saving Christendom.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Sources<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">I have used the rather free translation of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Orlando Furioso</i> ‘into English heroical verse’ by the delightful Elizabethan courtier Sir John Harington (1560-1612). There is a handy book of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Selections</i> (Indiana University Press, ca.1963) from this translation edited by Rudolf Gottfried.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Galileo’s Revenge<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By Christopher J T Lewis<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nr2MpmkvaO..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="307" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nr2MpmkvaO..." width="450" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Florence, October 1587.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Francesco de’ Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, collapses whilst out hunting with his ambitious younger brother, the Cardinal Ferdinand. Soon the Grand Duke is dead. Officially the Cardinal insists that his brother has died of a malarial fever. But secretly an investigation begins to find the killer – or a suitable scapegoat?<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Galileo, a brilliant, impecunious, and unscrupulous young scientist, is struggling to make a name for himself at the corrupt court of the Medici. He is horrified to be arrested as the Duke’s murderer: nothing burns so well as a wicked magician! His only hope is to find the real killer – or, at least, a better scapegoat. His search takes him through the piazzas and palaces of Florence, through the barber-shops and brothels, the cloisters and the taverns. Especially the taverns.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #666666;">Excerpt</span><o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 4.25pt; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Suddenly the Duke pushed his chair back from the table and lurched to his feet. His face had drained of colour. The sun was not hot this late in the year, but here, outside in the woods, the cool, bright light caught beads of sweat upon His Highness’ forehead. As the Duke straightened up unsteadily, Cardinal Ferdinand put out a solicitous hand to offer support. Irritably the Duke brushed the proffered arm aside, and the loose sleeve of the Cardinal’s jacket knocked over the Duke’s beaker of wine. A red stain spread rapidly over the white linen table-cloth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 4.25pt; margin-top: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 4.25pt; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Galileo watched the Duke walk away towards the nearest clump of trees… A minute or so later the Duke re-emerged from the bushes adjusting his dress and strode more briskly back to the Family table. He grabbed his beaker, which had been promptly righted and refilled, and poured the contents down his throat in one long gurgling draught. He turned abruptly and embraced his surprised brother the Cardinal, who had again risen from his seat upon the Duke’s return. For a moment they swayed together like tired wrestlers, before the Duke released his hold and, turning to the other side, stooped to gently kiss his Duchess Bianca upon the mouth. Straightening up again, he seemed to be struck by some sudden thought or remembered duty. His hand reached out towards the table but faltered in mid-air, and he crumpled in a heap upon the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 4.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 4.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The scene put Galileo much in mind of one of those old-fashioned frescoes of ‘The Last Supper’ – especially if you allowed yourself to imagine that Our Lord, after one-too-many toasts of blood-heavy red wine, had slid off his chair and disappeared under the table. All the guests at the Duke’s high table were frozen in strange poses of surprise and dismay, the Cardinal still half out of his seat, staring open-mouthed at Francesco’s empty place. The similarity to ‘The Last Supper’ was more than merely pictorial: the Duke might well have just announced that ‘One of you that eateth with me has betrayed me.’<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pick up you copy of<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Galileo’s Revenge<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Galileos-Rev... UK</a> • <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Galileos-Reven... US</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Christopher J T Lewis<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am a historian and writer, living in Cambridge, UK. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Galileo’s Revenge</i> is my first work of fiction.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have studied at Cambridge, London and Padua universities. Although theoretical physics was my first love, I subsequently became fascinated by the history of science. I am especially fond of the medieval and early modern periods: everything, that is, from the Venerable Bede (c.673-735) to the Honourable Boyle (1627-91), and a bit beyond. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A few years ago, I started work on a new, up-to-date biography of Galileo. Unfortunately (for me) a couple of other excellent scholars had already had the same idea, and I shelved my own project. But all was not lost. I have always loved crime fiction and historical fiction and above all historical crime fiction. (Yes, yes, I admit it: I adore Cadfael, even if he is the veritable white line down the middle of the road.) And so I had already started working on an early draft of my novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Galileo’s Revenge</i>.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My story, fills in some of the large gaps in our knowledge about his early life, and entangles the young, ambitious Galileo with the real (and highly suspicious) deaths of the Medici Duke and Duchess of Tuscany in 1587. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How hard can writing fiction be? </i>I asked myself.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> You just make it up as you go along. And I won’t have to check my references</i>. A much older and slightly wiser man, I finally stopped writing and published <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Galileo’s Revenge, or: A Cure for the Itch</i> in November 2018.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I taught for the Open University for some fifteen years; for another twenty years I was a supervisor and Affiliated Research Scholar at the Department of History and Philosophy of Science in Cambridge. My previous work includes <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heat and Thermodynamics. A historical perspective</i> (Greenwood, 2007), a largely biographical and social treatment aimed at non-specialist students and the general reader. This received an award from the US journal<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Choice</i> as one of their ‘Best Academic Books of the Year 2008’. <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But I have put all that behind me now, and I am trying to go straight. I live quietly just off the Mill Road in Cambridge, in newly fashionable Romsey Town. This is most convenient for splendid café/vinyl store ‘Relevant Records’, for wonderful cocktails at ‘196’, and for tasty Italian delicatessen at ‘Limoncello’. It was at each of these excellent emporia, of course, that I had the original inspiration for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Galileo’s Revenge</i>. Oh alright, that’s not true, it was whilst walking along the promenade at Southwold, but they have all helped to keep me going along the way.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Connect with Christopher: <a href="http://www.galileosrevenge.co.uk/&quo... • <a href="https://twitter.com/cjtlewis">... class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></div>

Check out T.J. London's fabulous book — The Turncoat #HistoricalFiction #Giveaway @TJLondonauthor @hfvbt

The Turncoat

By T.J. London

After Captain John Carlisle’s dance with death, he’s retreated to the serenity of the Oneida village with his beloved Dellis McKesson, trying to hide from the inevitable truth: war is coming. But when duty calls, and John’s expertise is needed to negotiate a treaty between the Six Nations of the Iroquois and the Crown, he’ll once again be faced with a decision: his King or his conscience.Many truths that have yet to be revealed, and a deal with the Devil made in desperation, threatens to ruin Dellis and John’s hard-won love. As ghosts of the past resurface, and bitter family rivalry exposes betrayal from those closest to her, Dellis is dragged down a devastating path to the truth of her parents’ murders.Now, the die is cast as war comes to the Mohawk River Valley in the Summer of 1777. St. Leger and his native allies siege Fort Stanwix. They’re also plotting a secret attack that will force the Rebels and the Oneida to face off against the Crown and their allies, further dividing John’s loyalties, leaving him on the precipice of another decision: Rebel or Redcoat?  Pick up your copy ofThe TurncoatAmazon UK • Amazon US

Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away some fabulous prizes! You can enter the giveaway HERE!1. A Signed copy of each of my Revolutionary books
2. A bag with my Revolutionary Author Logo
3. A Sterling Silver Tricorn hat charm, so you’re always in style
4. My favorite T-Shirt to wear when I write my Revolutionary tales, that says: The original New England Patriots, from 1630 in Boston
5. A stuffed founding father doll by Little Thinkers to inspire the Rebel in you
6. And a Founding Father book of quotes. Seditious banter from our brash Rebels!Giveaway Rules
• Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on July 19th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
• Giveaway is open to US only.
• Only one entry per household.
• All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
• The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.
T.J. London T.J. London is a rebel, liberal, lover, fighter, diehard punk, and pharmacist-turned-author who loves history. As an author her goal is to fill in the gaps, writing stories about missing history, those little places that are so interesting yet sadly forgotten. Her favorite time periods to write in are first and foremost the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolution, the French and Indian War, the Russian Revolution and the Victorian Era. Her passions are traveling, writing, reading, barre, and sharing a glass of wine with her friends, while she collects experiences in this drama called life. She is a native of Metropolitan Detroit (but secretly dreams of being a Londoner) and resides there with her husband Fred and her beloved cat and writing partner Mickey.
Connect with T.J. LondonWEBSITE • FACEBOOK • TWITTER • GOODREADS

Check out Stephanie Churchill's fabulous new book — The King’s Furies (Crowns of Destiny Book 3) #NewRelease #HistoricalFantasy @WriterChurchill

The King’s Furies Blog Tour – July 18, 2019
The King’s Furies(Crowns of Destiny Book 3)By Stephanie Churchill



An Author’s Inspiration…
Have you ever spoken with a friend, or maybe a relative, or perhaps even your spouse, and as you tell a story or relate the details of a certain event or past memory, the other person involved in the conversation recalls the details very differently from you?
Here’s another one:
What if a friend, relative, or spouse reacts to a situation or to a certain piece of news in a way that is vastly different from your expectation based on past history?
Life would be much simpler for all of us if we all had memories like elephants or if our behavior and reactions were always perfectly predictable. If everyone perceived things the way we did, if people reacted the way we did, or at least the way we expected, life would be far less complicated.
But how boring that would be for authors! Stories would be rather mundane, don’t you think?
One of the things I enjoy the most about writing books is the characters who populate them. Don’t get me wrong: the plot is vital to any good book. A character has to interact in the world we’ve created for them, and they have to actually do stuff. But for me, the real fascination is character. Especially the characters who exist in that very uncomfortable in-between of good and evil, who don’t see all black or white, are not always right or wrong. These kinds of characters inhabit a gray area that makes writing about them so interesting. People are complicated, unpredictable, and well beyond fascinating.
These subtly layered characters are what I love to write, and the idea of differing perspectives is what launched my Crowns of Destiny series.
My first two books, The Scribe’s Daughter and The King’s Daughter, focuses on two sisters, each who is unique in both perspective and personality. And like every other human on earth, each of the sisters engages with her environment and reacts to the events unfolding before her very eyes in a vastly different way. And as such, each sister has an adventure which reveals a slightly different series of events, uncovering a slightly different litany of truths, from the other sister.
The second book introduced a new character whose story was too fascinating for me to leave alone. It presented a new puzzle of perspective. I developed a new ‘what if’ question based on perspective.
When push comes to shove, what separates a king from a member of a street gang? Is it his wealth and resources? The king has the power to make law, the member of the street gang can only abide by the law or break it. And what about character? A king can behave with integrity or hide in the moral shadows just like a gangster.
My third and upcoming book, The King’s Furies, take a look at one of my final main characters, Casmir of Agrius. He is a man who never wanted to be king and a man who fights his own internal demons. What is his story, what makes him tick, and is his destiny fated, or can he take control of the becoming the man he can be?
The King’s Furies (Crowns of Destiny Book 3)

Not all enemies are visible.
 
Sometimes the most defiant ones exist only in the heart and mind.
 
The Defiler of Prilleand his hound are dead. With my marriage to the daughter of Bedic Sajen, ourhouses are united. After the birth of our daughter and heir to the throne, peace settles over Agrius once more.
 
But it's a fragile peace.
 
As I work to restore the former glory of my inheritance, rumors of betrayal and treachery reach the throne, threatening to shatter everything I have worked hard to achieve.
 
When old enemies surface, the rumors become real. Disaster strikes, plunging me into a darkness I fear I cannot escape.
 
Many advisors step forward to help, but it's never easy to determine friend from foe when it comes to the powers swirling around the throne.
 
Faced with the decision to stay true to my honor or to become like my father, a man I despised, the bonds of unity with forged with family and friends are tested. 
 
To the point of breaking.
 
What compromises will I make to secure the future of my family and my kingdom?
 
Will I lose both myself and the ones I love in the process?


Excerpt

From The King’s Furies, chapter 23:
“You are Rækallin in the flesh, I swear by the gods, Casmir. Or you are possessed by his minions at the very least.” Wolf tossed me a flask, and I caught it with one hand, quaffing a good measure then wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. “If you and I were not friends as we are, I would have supposed you were doing all you could to kill me before dumping my body into the Sound. But we are, and I know you were not. I can only imagine this has something to do with Rebane?”
I eyed Wolf then took another swig of the flask to avoid answering Wolf’s question. Yes, I had seen Rebane’s face in the fight. I’d wished it had been Rebane, and I had reacted accordingly. I had shown the traitor mercy, and that mercy had been repaid with more treason and treachery, not just against the Crown, but against me personally. Oh, yes, I had seen Rebane’s face in the fight, and I had dreamed of thousands of ways to kill him. I was a king; it was true; oath-bound to uphold the law. But I was a father first. It was good I had to stay home in Prille. If I met up with Rebane in Aksum, likely I’d kill him on the spot.
I tossed the flask back to Wolf who took my silence with a shrug and the offer of a hand to help me up.

Pre-order your copy ofThe King’s FuriesAmazonOut July 30th 2019

The Scribe's Daughter(Crowns of Destiny Book 1)



My father had a secret. It will likely kill me.

But he is gone, and only my sharp tongue and recklessness help me survive.

The day a man shows up at my door to hire me for a ridiculous task everything changes. I find myself on the run from powerful men who think I know something. But I don't. How is a scribe's daughter to know the secrets of kings and their thrones?

My only help comes from the son of the leader of a band of exiles, a man with his own secrets. Danger pursues us through mountains and swamps, across the sea and to exotic lands. Only then will I find answers.

But I will pay the price. A very big price.

My sharp tongue and recklessness have saved me in the past. Will they save me now?

Everything I thought I knew is a lie. I am a scribe's daughter, but there is more to the story.
Amazon

The King's Daughter (Crowns of Destiny Book 2)

Alone.
Taken from her home.
Facing a future she never expected. Or wanted...
Irisa's father had a secret. And that secret shatters everything she thought she knew.

Her life is a lie. And the man who has taken her will help her find the answers to her future.

Snatched away to a land not her own, Irisa finds herself caught in a web of powerful men who would use her for their own purposes. The line between ally and enemy is subtle, and knowing who to trust is more difficult than she thought possible.

As she begins to unravel the threads of her family's disturbing past, what she discovers is more sinister than she could have imagined.

A battle rages for the throne.

The throne that belongs to her.

And yet... her biggest enemy is her friend. Seizing this truth could cost her everything.

Will Irisa have the courage to claim her inheritance for her own?
Amazon

Stephanie Churchill
Evoking the essence of historical fiction but without the history, Stephanie’s writing draws on her knowledge of history even while set in purely fictional places existing only in her imagination.  Filled with action and romance, loyalty and betrayal, her writing relies on deeply drawn and complex characters, exploring the subtleties of imperfect people living in a gritty, sometimes dark world.  Her unique blend of historical fiction and fantasy ensures that her books are sure to please fans of historical fiction and epic fantasy literature alike.
Connect with Stephanie: Website• Twitter • Goodreads.

Join Historian,Trisha Hughes, as she takes a look at The Abdication of Edward VIII #History @TrishaHughes_

The Abdication of Edward VIIIBy Trisha Hughes

Early morning fog lay heavily over the Thames on Friday 11thDecember 1936. The river wound sluggishly through London as dark clouds collected on the horizon, turning it dishwater grey in the gathering gloom. Slowly, the fog lifted revealing Fort Belvedere in Windsor Great Park as a rambling turreted lodge. For 40-year-old Albert, younger brother of David, King Edward VIII, it was the most distressing day of his life.
For days before, Albert had not been welcome at David’s home, Fort Belvedere, even though he had tried repeatedly to talk to his brother. When he arrived that day, the press were already camped outside and a myriad of flashbulbs went off simultaneously to catch a glimpse of the distraught prince for a worldwide audience. Everyone knew that the British monarchy was being shaken to its very core.
Once inside the gates, the uproar ceased as Albert was led through a hallway to where his brother waited for him. A few officials whispered quietly in respectful conversations but as Albert entered, they ceased talking. The unseen presence in the room was Wallis. Albert had no doubt that it was she who was the catalyst that was bringing the four brothers together that morning. She was the presence who had brought David to this point to sign away his birth right.
David had a reputation for being calm under the most stressful of circumstances. This proved correct as he showed no emotion whatsoever when Albert entered the room, remaining remarkably composed. Neither of their brothers, Prince Henry Duke of Gloucester or Prince George Duke of Kent had arrived as yet so the meeting would have to wait until all four brothers were present.
On a writing table, small elegant crystal glasses and a jug of water waited on a gleaming silver tray. Beside them sat copies of the Instrument of Abdication ready for David to sign.  Each copy needed to be signed and witnessed by each of his brothers as the kingdom and empire was transferred from one brother to the other. When that was done, Albert would be the next king of England as King George VI. All that was needed was David’s signature to make it official.
Albert was in shock. Nothing had prepared him for this calamity. Although painfully aware of his own weakness, he fully understood his older brother’s failings. The passion that burnt in Albert’s chest had never burnt brightly in David’s. There were too many rules and too many regulations for him. It had been less than a year since their father had died and Albert shared his mother’s bewilderment that the monarchy was being plunged headlong into this crisis. His mother and father had brought all boys up to believe that the monarchy was “something sacred” and every monarch had the responsibility and obligation to put the country before anything else. But here was David, abdicating because his wish was to marry a divorced woman already in possession of “two husbands living”. The newspapers had exploded with the news and the scandal had been splashed over the headlines in every paper, both in Britain, in Europe and throughout the Commonwealth. Suddenly, the monarchy was tainted, perhaps destroyed. But in that room on that morning, there was no hint that David was bending under the strain.

Albert still couldn’t believe what was happening. In his eyes, his brother had qualities that he would never have. Just one week before, David was the life and soul of a dinner party, while Albert was happy to stay quiet, dull and reserved. As always, David had dazzled everyone as he talked about labour problems in South Wales. Albert never imagined he would be able to match his legendary older brother, much less replace him. For most of his life, he had never lived up to anyone’s expectations of being a royal.
David had approached the role of king lazily. He was unwilling to cooperate, and Documents of State were regularly returned unread. He offended the Church by failing to attend services or take Communion on the rare occasions that he did attend. More importantly, he had expressed his pro-German view when Adolf Hitler became Chancellor, then Head of State and finally Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Hitler had just reintroduced conscription in Germany and announced the German Air Force in direct contravention of the Treaty of Versailles signed after the First World War. David seemed unconcerned with the queasy facts and blind to Hitler’s ambitions.
Albert had seen the danger in the approaching months as David paraded Wallis on his arm around London. He knew that behind the figure-hugging satins was a determined, strong woman with an incredible belief in herself. Life out of the limelight was not what she had in mind. She wanted to be royal and acknowledged in every bow and every curtsey. At the very least, she wanted her royal sisters-in-law to show her somesort of respect. She was the one who had captured David’s heart and she wanted everything that he had promised her. And she was prepared to fight for it.
To Albert, the storm his brother created was excruciating. David was known the world over while Albert had managed to stay quietly in the background. It meant that when David stepped down, pictures had to be hastily found of Albert and the newspapers played the family card. Pictures of the awkward Duke, his wife Elizabeth and his pretty daughters, 10-year-old Elizabeth and 6-year-old Margaret were discovered and overnight the family became public property. Pictures surfaced of his wife on a blanket with her Welsh corgi, looking motherly, as she played in the garden with the dark-haired princesses in identical dresses. She looked plain, not elegant like Wallis, but to Albert she was utterly wonderful. Only the day before, crowds had gathered outside their Piccadilly home, hoping for a glimpse of their new king, and he had felt like he was on the edge of an abyss.
Disrupting Albert’s thoughts, his 36-year-old brother Henry Duke of Gloucester was shown into the room. As an army man, Henry knew all about the time-honoured role of the monarch.  Henry had never been close to David but he’d expected him to do his duty. His father had done his duty, as had his grandfather, but his brother seemed hell-bent on breaking all the rules. But as he was shown in, he appeared composed as he prepared to do his unpleasant duty of witnessing his brother’s signature.
The fourth and youngest brother, the glamorous 33-year-old Prince George Duke of Kent was still missing. Always attempting to lighten the mood, David remarked, “George would be late”.
His lateness was characteristic. The Duke of Kent was unpredictable, volatile and flamboyant, and totally alien to his solemn, quiet brother Albert. Kent had no sense of duty, but he was film-star handsome and a playboy whose irresistible good looks had attracted a series of women. His closeness to his older brother was the fundamental guiding force in his life and how he would react to the news was anyone’s guess. It was Albert’s job now to keep his brothers in line and do all he could with or without their support to face the crisis.
One hour later, the doors burst open and George Duke of Kent was shown into the room. That morning, he was uncharacteristically subdued. He was the youngest and closest to his oldest brother but still, he’d been unable to reach David during his self-imposed isolation until two days before. He’d wanted to talk to David before he made an irrevocable decision but on that occasion, when he finally met with him, David was anguished, chain-smoking and stressed beyond reason. But he was definite. He was going to abdicate. There was nothing that would convince him to give up Wallis.
Albert watched as his youngest brother swaggered into the room. He knew Kent had hidden himself away with David for most of the weekend and he’d heard the whispers from various factions that the Prime Minister was considering altering the succession to bypass both Albert and his equally unsuitable third brother Henry so that Kent, with his regal bearing, self-assurance and charm, could inherit the throne. Would the abdicating king leave easier if his favourite brother were to sit on the throne? Was it possible that Kent had even suggested it? That morning as he walked into the room, Kent certainly looked and sounded confident. Could Albert even trust him?

Back row from left to right: The Prince of Wales, future King Edward VIII, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, King George V, Prince Albert, future King George VI, and Prince George, Duke of Kent.
With Kent’s arrival, the formalities commenced, and an air of unreality took over. The dreaded event was becoming a reality. The time had come for David to sign the pages that would change history. Albert watched as David moved slowly towards the writing table and the room fell silent as he picked up the pen. All three brothers simultaneously held their breath, hardly daring to move, as David’s pen poised over the page. Then without any more delay, the pen scratched over the page and it was done. In that one moment, the world tilted and Albert and David swapped places in history.
As soon as David put the pen down, he glanced at Albert as if trying to see inside his heart. To anyone watching the pair, David looked like a swimmer coming up for air while Albert stared at his brother in dread. Without another word spoken, the four brothers shook hands and parted.

 Victoria to Vikings
The Circle of Blood
By Trisha Hughes

At the heart of our present are the stories of our past. In ages gone by, many monarchs died while they were still young. There were battles and diseases and many were simply overthrown. But the days of regal engagement in hand-to-hand combat are over and the line of succession has a good ageing prospect these days.
One of the most famous monarchs in history is Queen Victoria and her passing brought an end to an amazing era. She could be demanding, rude and she frequently fled public duties for the solitude of Scotland. But she loved fiercely and her people loved her fiercely in return. Under her reign, England achieved a greatness it had never known before.

Victoria to Vikings: The Circle of Blood spans from this great queen to another one: Queen Elizabeth II. Ours is the era of the longest living monarch in history and her ancestry is incredible. But walking two steps behind her, stalwart and loyal, stands Prince Philip, the strawberry to her champagne, and with him comes his own amazing Viking heritage.

Pick up your copy ofVictoria to VikingsThe Circle of Blood
Amazon UK • Amazon US



Vikings to Virgin:The Hazards of Being King
In Vikings to Virgin - The Hazards of Being King Trisha Hughes provides the reader with a pacey introduction to the many pitfalls faced by the ambitious as they climbed the dangerous ladders of royalty. It is easy to think that monarchs are all powerful, but throughout the Dark and Middle Ages it was surprisingly easy to unseat one and assume the crown yourself. But if it was easy to gain ... it was just as easy to lose.From the dawn of the Vikings through to Elizabeth I, Trisha Hughes follows the violent struggles for power and the many brutal methods employed to wrest it and keep hold of it. Murder, deceit, treachery, lust and betrayal were just a few of the methods used to try and win the crown. Vikings to Virgin - The Hazards of Being King spans fifteen hundred years and is a highly accessible and enjoyable ride through the dark side of early British monarchy.
                     Amazon UK • Amazon US                    
Virgin to Victoria 


Virgin to Victoria is a powerful retelling of the history of the British monarchy, beginning with Henry VIII's daughter, Elizabeth I, as she comes to the throne. Charting Elizabeth's incredible journey, Virgin to Victoria travels in time through the confusion of the Stuart dynasty, the devastation of a Civil War led by Oliver Cromwell, horrific battles for the throne and the turbulent Hanover dynasty with its intricate family squabbles. Despite her amazing legacy, Elizabeth failed England in one vital area. She never married, nor did she leave an heir to the Tudor family. In making this one fateful decision, the Virgin Queen left the path open for a take-over and life would never be the same. Victoria did not ask to be Queen. It was thrust upon her by a series of events that removed all others who stood in line for the throne. She assumed it reluctantly and, at first, incompetently. Parliament was sure that the 18-year-old could be relied upon to leave the job of running the country to the professionals. Couldn't she?
Amazon UK • Amazon US



Trisha Hughes

I was born in a little outback town called Blackall in Central Queensland, Australia. From there my parents moved to the Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley where I grew up to be a tiny, self-reliant little girl.

My first book,  ‘Daughters of Nazareth’  is my story, written eighteen years ago, fuelled on by the discovery of a family I never knew I had.  It’s full of family secrets, tremendous heartache but proves the human spirit’s amazing ability to triumph over adversity. Nineteen years ago, after just one phone call, my life changed abruptly. With that change came a passion for writing and I have been writing ever since.
I love writing crime novels but my passion is with the history of the British Monarchy. The first in my ‘V2V’  trilogy is  ‘Vikings to Virgin – The Hazards of being King ’ published in 2017. The second in the series is due for release on 28th April this year and is called  ‘Virgin to Victoria – The Queen is Dead. Long live the Queen.’  The final book,  ‘Victoria to Vikings – The Circle of Blood’  will be released early 2019.
Trisha loves to hear from readers, you can find her: Website •  Twitter • Facebook

Check out Ellie Midwood's fabulous new book — Auschwitz Syndrome #CoverReveal #WW2

Auschwitz SyndromeBy Ellie Midwood

Germany, 1947.

A strange case scheduled for the Denazification Court lands on the desk of an American psychiatrist currently serving in Germany, Dr. Hoffman.
A former Auschwitz guard, Franz Dahler, is set to appear in court, and he has requested to bring the most unexpected witness to testify in his defense - one of his former inmates and current wife, Helena.
As soon as one of the newly emerging Nazi hunters and former Auschwitz inmate, Andrej Novák, recognizes the officer’s name, he demands a full investigation of Dahler’s crimes, claiming that the former SS man was not only abusing Helena in the camp but is also using her as a ploy to escape prosecution.
Silent, subdued, and seemingly dependent on her husband’s every word, Helena appears to be a classic victim of abuse, and possibly more of an aid to the prosecution instead of the defense.
As she begins giving her testimony, Dr. Hoffman finds himself more and more confused at the picture that gradually emerges before his eyes; a perpetrator is claimed to be the savior and the accuser, the criminal.
The better Dr. Hoffman gets to know each participant, the more he begins to question himself; whether he’s facing a most unimaginable love story, or a new and still-nameless psychological disorder affecting the very manner in which Helena sees the events of the past.

Partially based on a true story, this deeply psychological, haunting novel will take you back in time to the heart of Auschwitz and post-war Germany, and will keep you guessing the true motive of each side.
Pre-order up your copy ofAuschwitz SyndromeAmazon UK • Amazon US




Ellie Midwood
Ellie Midwood is an award-winning, best-selling historical fiction writer. She's a health-obsessed yoga enthusiast, a neat freak, an adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew, and a doggie mama.
Ellie lives in New York with her fiancé and their Chihuahua named Shark Bait.

Awards:
Readers' Favorite - winner in the Historical fiction category (2016) - "The Girl from Berlin: Standartenführer's Wife"
Readers' Favorite - winner in the Historical fiction category (2016) - "The Austrian"(honorable mention)
New Apple - 2016 Award for Excellence in Independent Publishing - "The Austrian"(official selection)
Readers' Favorite - winner in the Historical fiction category (2017) - "Emilia"
Readers' Favorite - winner in the Historical fiction category (2018) - "A Motherland's Daughter, A Fatherland's Son"
Connect with Ellie: 
Website • Amazon • Goodreads  • BookBub • Facebook.

#Historical Romance author, Mary Gillgannon, is taking a look at life in the time of Richard the Lionheart. Mary is also giving away 1 eBook copy of her fabulous book — Lady of Steel @MaryGillgannon

Life in the time of Richard the LionheartBy Mary Gillgannon
The plot of my romance Lady of Steel hinges on two important realities of the medieval era:  the impact of the Crusades and the lowly status of women.
The book takes place during the reign of Richard the Lionheart. As far as medieval monarchs go, Richard appears almost admirable. He’s not an out-and-out sociopath like his younger brother John, who most historians agree murdered his nephew Arthur to prevent him from being a threat to his taking the throne. Nor does Richard have the reputation for genocide his grandnephew Edward I does. Edward is the brutal king from Braveheart who did his best to grind both the Scots and the Welsh into abject submission.
Richard the Lionheart.
Richard was handsome, with reddish blond hair and a tall, robust stature that represented the best of his parent’s Norse and Gallic bloodlines. He was also utterly fearless and absolutely devoted to his goal of freeing Jerusalem from the Saracens. But he was far from the wise, generous and lordly king he is often portrayed to be in movies.
Although Richard was king of England, he spent almost no time at all in the country, appearing there only long enough to be crowned and to raise funds for the Third Crusade. Then he was off to the Holy Land, pausing briefly to wed Berengaria of Navarre. Although he took Berengaria with him on Crusade, he spent almost no time with his wife and their relationship was so distant there is some doubt that the marriage was ever consummated. This led to rumors that Richard was gay, but most likely his all-consuming passion for war simply took precedence over his role as husband.
The Crusades were portrayed at the time (and sometimes still are) as a campaign by the noble European Christians seeking to liberate the Holy Lands from the heathen Saracens. In fact, the Muslim Arabs of the Middle Ages were far more civilized and erudite than the Crusaders. They were years ahead of the Europeans in mathematics, astronomy and medicine, and also much more sophisticated in terms of art and history.
Evidence of Richard’s raw brutality is revealed when he finally gains control of the city of Acre. He demands a ransom from the sultan Saladin for the 3,000 Arab prisoners he has taken. When he doesn’t get it, Richard orders the prisoners slaughtered—men, women and children. It’s said that the knights engaged in the killing ended up knee-deep in blood.
The slaughter of Acre.
The hero of Lady of Steel, Fawkes de Cressy, earns his wealth and acquires his army because of his service to King Richard, but his experience on Crusade scars him. When he returns to Valmar Castle to rescue Lady Nicola, for whom he has carried a torch for nearly four years, he is not the idealistic young man who fell hopelessly in love after an hour in her bed. He is wary and suspicious, especially when he hears the sinister rumors surrounding Nicola.
As for Nicola, she has spent the last four years trying to protect herself and those she cares about from her cruel husband. Females in the Middle Ages, even noblewomen, had little control over their lives and were virtual property of first their fathers and then their husbands. Daughters were married off in the most advantageous marriage possible, and their feelings had no bearing on the matter. Once wed, it was perfectly acceptable for their husbands to rape them (at least that’s what we would consider it) or beat them. The rule of thumb refers the English common law where a man could only beat his wife with a stick as big around as his thumb.
A medieval woman’s lack of autonomy over her own life is vividly illustrated by the circumstances of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lionheart’s mother. When she aided her son Henry in a revolt against her husband, King Henry II, the king retaliated by imprisoning her. She was confined in various locations in England for sixteen years, and only freed when her son Henry died and Richard became king. Eleanor had as much power as any woman in Europe at that time, but she was still totally subject to the will of her husband.

Eleanor of Aquitaine
Although I love the pageantry, passion and high-stakes drama of the Middle Ages, as a woman, I’m not sure I would have truly enjoyed living in the time period. Although I can dream I would end up wed to a heroic knight like Fawkes de Cressy, who would not only adore me, but admire my strength and resourcefulness, as he does Lady Nicola.

Lady of Steel
By Mary Gillgannon


One rapturous hour sparks unforgettable passion between Lady Nicola and Fawkes de Cressy. The memory of their time together enables Fawkes to survive the perils of the Crusades and gives Nicola the hope and strength to endure a brutal marriage. But when Fawkes returns three years later, he finds Nicola enmeshed in a dark web of castle intrigue. Fawkes has also been altered by the hardships and cruelties of war, and Nicola fears to trust him with her secrets or her heart. Surrounded by enemies, the battle-hardened knight and the aloof, wary woman must rebuild the bond between them. Only if they dare let the soul-stirring magic their bodies share grow into love can they escape the sinister plot that threatens to destroy them both.
Excerpt
What was that terrible racket? Nicola rushed out of the weaving shed and looked around, trying to decide where the noise was coming from. Shouts and whistles echoed in the distance, and the castle yard was near deserted.
She hurried to the gate and shouted up to the guard in the tower. “What is it? Are we being attacked?”
“It’s Lord Fawkes and his captain putting on a display.”
“Where?”
“On the practice field.”
Nicola hurried across the bailey and climbed the stairs to the ramparts. She made her way around the wall to the rear of the castle and looked out. On the worn, rutted practice field, two knights garbed in full armor rode toward each other carrying heavy lances. Along the edge of the field, several dozen men were lined up, watching.
Nicola held her breath as the two horses raced forward. Before they met, the men’s lances collided. It made a thunderous sound, but neither man was unhorsed. They pulled in their mounts and circled around for another go at each other.
“Are they mad?” Nicola muttered to herself.
She focused on the knight on the chestnut charger, who was clearly Fawkes. His horse’s hooves dug into the ground, scattering clots of earth and grass. Beneath the glossy brown coat, the animal’s muscles bunched and stretched in sleek rhythm. Fawkes’s mail glinted in the sunlight and his lance thrust forward like a streak of light. Horse and man and weapon moved in perfect deadly harmony, Nicola felt a surge of exhilaration.
Her elation turned to apprehension as the two knights neared each other. A moment before they met, Fawkes leaned in hard and his lance struck Reynard’s lance from the side. Reynard’s weapon flew from his hand and he tumbled from his horse.
Fawkes circled around, as if he meant to charge. Reynard scrambled to his feet and drew his sword. Nicola watched disbelieving as Fawkes raced his mount directly at Reynard. At the last moment he turned and the lance pierced empty air instead of solid flesh.
Nicola let out a gasp of relief. She hadn’t really believed Fawkes would run down his own man. But he’d come so close. What an incredible display of skill and strength and lightning quick reflexes. It took her breath away.
Fawkes circled around to where Reynard stood. He dismounted and a squire rushed up to take the reins of his lathered destrier. Both men pulled off their helmets and cradled them under their arms as they walked toward the line of spectators. The men milled around, cheering. Fawkes raised his hand and silenced them, then spoke.
Nicola couldn’t hear what he was saying, but from his gestures he appeared to be explaining details of the jousting match. Nicola watched him, her chest tight with longing. He cut such a striking figure, with his raven-black hair and tall, broad-shouldered physique. Her husband was a heroic figure, a knight among knights. The awareness tormented her. Would he ever return to her bed? Or now, having done his duty, would he seek satisfaction elsewhere, in order to scorn and punish her?
Giveaway
Mary Gillgannon is giving away one eBook copy of Lady of Steel.
All you need to do is leave your name in the comment section at the bottom of this post!
Giveaway Rules
• Leave your answer in the comments at the bottom of this post.• Giveaway ends at 11:59pm BST on July 26th.• You must be 18 or older to enter.• Giveaway is only open Internationally.Only one entry per household.• All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.•Winners will be announced in the comments.• Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.


Pick up your copy ofLady of SteelAmazon • Barnes and Noble• iTunes • Kobo
Mary Gillgannon
Mary Gillgannon is the author of seventeen novels, including romances set in the dark age, medieval and Regency time periods. She’s married and has two children. Now that they’re grown, she indulges her nurturing tendencies on four very spoiled cats and a moderately spoiled dog. When not writing or working—she’s been employed at the local public library for twenty-five years—she enjoys gardening, reading and travel.
Connect with Mary: Website • Blog • Facebook • Twitter.

How to banish Writer’s Block with #HistoricalFiction author, Cryssa Bazos # amwriting #tips #Fiction @CryssaBazos

Banishing Writer’s BlockBy Cryssa Bazos
A blank page is a fearsome beast. When that condition persists for any length of time, when no amount of glowering at the computer screen will conjure up a decent sentence, the writer must face it for what it is . . .  dreaded writer’s block.


It’s especially frustrating when you’ve carved out precious time to write and all you have to show for it is being entirely caught up with everyone’s feed on social media. Rather than gnashing your teeth and sharing memes, here are some tips to conquer writer’s block. 
Research
Whether you’re a historical fiction writer or not, there is no better time to go down a few rabbit holes.


If your story is set in the past, trawl the internet with a purpose. This particularly works if you’re struggling to write the next sequence of scenes and you don’t know which way you should go with them. British History Online is one of my favourite rabbit holes. There are wills, letters, declarations and endless Parliamentary records all transcribed on the site and not all of them require a subscription. I’ve run across tasty scenarios that have spurred my creative juices and got me past the dreaded saggy middle. Truth, after all, is grist for the fiction mill. 
Give yourself permission to write poorly
Writers are often their harshest critics. Have you found yourself typing a sentence only to obliterate it with the backspace tab because it’s drivel? Stop doing that. Time enough to edit later. The first draft is for you to get the story down, barebones and all. Go ahead, write drivel. Don’t worry about about not knowing the right historical word for something yet. Call it “X” if it helps you move on. You can and will go back to it later. By virtue of getting something down and ploughing through it, cringeworthy prose and all, your Muse will eventually sit up and take notice of your efforts. The Muse will realize that you mean business and if they don’t come to your rescue, there will be no living with you. Then the real words will start to flow. Keep writing.
Change POV
I’m not talking about head hopping. If the story is being told by more than one character and you’re struggling with a scene, it’s entirely possible that you might not have the right character on centre stage. Switch actors and try again. Another character may have a greater stake in the scene than the one you thought you brought with you. If you are working in a first person POV and you can’t switch characters, try rethinking the setting. Does it have to be in an inn or can it be moved out to a country lane or a forest? Bring along the antagonist or a love interest. Nothing livens the party up like having someone work actively against your main character or who is desperately trying to impress them.
Quite often when you change something—anything, the creative floodgates will swing right open.


Give yourself permission to walk away
No, not to procrastinate on social media. Therein lies only more frustration. Instead, go for a walk, clean the house, or read a book. If possible, visit a museum or an art gallery—perfect to stir ideas for what you are writing about. Engaging with other creative pursuits (i.e. art, music) can free your mind and help you to come up with an unexpected solution to your blank page. 
Call a (writerly) friend
Go for a coffee and pitch your story problem. Bounce ideas off them. Brainstorm crazy scenerios. Pay attention to how they react to these ideas. Do any solutions resonate with them? Do they sit up and take notice? A fresh mind may be able to help you pinpoint what and where the stumbling block is. Even if you don’t come up with the right solution on your coffee break, talking shop will more than likely revitalize and inspire you. At the very least, you’ll have a healthy outlet to deal with your frustration with someone who knows your pain.
And then you can move on. Tomorrow is always another writing day.


Cryssa Bazos 
Cryssa Bazos is an award-winning historical fiction author and 17th-century enthusiast with a particular interest in the English Civil War. Her debut novel, Traitor's Knot is the Medalist winner of the 2017 New Apple Award (historical fiction), a finalist for the 2018 EPIC eBook Awards (historical romance) and the RNA Joan Hessayon Award. Her second novel, Severed Knot, was longlisted for the Historical Novel Society 2018 New Novel Award.
Connect with Cryssa: Website• Facebook• Twitter• Newsletter Sign-Up.

Severed Knot
By Cryssa Bazos



Barbados 1652.
In the aftermath of the English Civil War, the vanquished are uprooted and scattered to the ends of the earth.When marauding English soldiers descend on Mairead O’Coneill’s family farm, she is sold into indentured servitude. After surviving a harrowing voyage, the young Irish woman is auctioned off to a Barbados sugar plantation where she is thrust into a hostile world of depravation and heartbreak. Though stripped of her freedom, Mairead refuses to surrender her dignity.

Scottish prisoner of war Iain Johnstone has descended into hell. Under a blazing sun thousands of miles from home, he endures forced indentured labour in the unforgiving cane fields. As Iain plots his escape to save his men, his loyalties are tested by his yearning for Mairead and his desire to protect her.

With their future stolen, Mairead and Iain discover passion and freedom in each other’s arms. Until one fateful night, a dramatic chain of events turns them into fugitives.

Together they fight to survive; together they are determined to escape. 



Pick up your copy ofSevered KnotAmazon• Kobo• Nook• Google Books • iTunes.
The Coffee Pot Book Club
★★★★★ Highly RecommendedRead the full review HERE!

#BookReview — A Rip in the Veil (The Graham Saga #1) by Anna Belfrage #TimeTravel #HistoricalFiction @abelfrageauthor

A Rip in the Veil(The Graham Saga #1)By Anna Belfrage


On a muggy August day in 2002 Alex Lind disappears without a trace. On an equally stifling August day in 1658, Matthew Graham finds her on an empty Scottish moor. Life will never be the same for Alex – or for Matthew.

Due to a series of rare occurrences, Alexandra Lind is thrown three centuries backwards in time. She lands at the feet of Matthew Graham – an escaped convict making his way home to Scotland in this the year of our Lord, 1658.

Matthew doesn’t quite know what to make of this concussed and injured woman who has seemingly fallen from the skies- what is she, a witch?

Alex gawks at this tall, gaunt man with hazel eyes, dressed in what to her mostly looks like rags. At first she thinks he might be some sort of hermit, an oddball, but she quickly realises the odd one out is she, not he.

Catapulted from a life of modern comfort, Alex grapples with this new existence, further complicated by the dawning realization that someone from her time has followed her here – and not exactly to extend a helping hand.

Potential compensation for this brutal shift in fate comes in the shape of Matthew – a man she should never have met, not when she was born three centuries after him. But for all that Matthew quickly proves himself a willing and most capable protector he comes with baggage of his own, and on occasion it seems his past will see him killed. At times Alex finds it all excessively exciting, longing for the structured life she used to have.

How will she ever get back? And more importantly, does she want to?


“Something impossible and incomprehensible had happened to her — but it had happened…”
Her car, her phone, all electrical devices had stopped working. Curious, some might say. And then the pain had come, and the thunder…
Never had Matthew Graham been in such a storm, but the worst seemed to be over, and he could ill afford to waste any more time. If they caught him, they would kill him, for such was the fate of an escaped convict. If they caught him, they would kill him, for such was the fate of an escaped convict. It was the birds that had made him pause, and then he had heard a woman scream.
It was impossible. A fantasy. A myth. You could not go back. You could not go forward. There was only the here and now. So, there must be a rational explanation. All Alexandra Lind had to do was find her car, and she could carry on with her journey. She could not afford to miss the meeting. But… There was no car. No road. There was just a tall, scruffy man who looked like he had not seen a good meal in years.
Matthew was scandalised by what Alexandra was wearing, but he knew when a lass needed help, and despite his long years in prison, he was not a heartless hardened criminal. Not yet, anyway.
If it were not for Matthew, Alexandra would have died outside on the moor. But Matthew was on the run, and Alexandra was utterly out of her depth. When she had closed her eyes, it had been 2002, and now she had somehow travelled back in time to 1658. Things like this didn’t happen to her. They didn’t happen to anyone.
Unbeknownst to Alexandra, slipping through time was to be the least of her concerns…
From the compelling narrative to the highly appealing characters, A Rip in the Veil (The Graham Saga #1) by Anna Belfrage is an enthralling story, layered in history, romance and with just the right dash of magic that keep a reader turning those pages all night long.
Above everything else, A Rip in the Veil is a love story. The romance between Matthew and Alexandra is a slow simmering build as one would expect. Alexandra has a lot to figure out, and she takes her time to do so. Alexandra had a life, a family and because of this, she struggles with her feelings for Matthew and yet, she is also pragmatic enough to understand that she is probably not going to see her family again and that she has to make the best of it. It does, of course, help to be attracted to her rescuer! There was something about Matthew. It was as if his soul called to hers. Matthew is wary of becoming too attached to the woman from the future. He is nursing a broken heart, and he is reluctant to let down his guard, fearing he would be hurt again. At times, this made him appear selfish and arrogant, but I think Alexandra was wise enough to understand that it would take time for him to trust her fully. I thought the love story was beautiful and very lovely to behold. Belfrage has taken two very broken souls and made them whole again. Fabulous storytelling. 
I have to talk about the paranormal sub-plot in this book. I thought the darker, very magical, element of the narrative made this story just a little different to other time-travel novels. Within the pages of this remarkable book, there is, of course, the romance, but there is also a blood-feud, a witch, and the subsequent witch hunt, as well as an inquisitor from the Spanish Inquisition! What more can you ask for?
Through the sub-plot, Belfrage introduces her antagonists. Luke, Matthew’s brother, is a man who is crippled by bitterness and jealousy. He is a really dangerous character who will go to any lengths to destroy his brother and anyone and everything that his brother loves. Luke was very easy to despise. He is cruel and heartless. His despicable behaviour quickly vanquished any sympathy I may have had for him. Another of the antagonists that is certainly worthy of note is the inquisitor, Hector. Hector’s relationship with Alexandra’s mother is complicated and filled with blood, pain and death, which ended in a curse. I could have felt a level of sympathy for Hector if his desperation did not drive him to do such awful and dreadful things. The antagonists certainly helped to drive the story forward.
The narrative of this story and the authentic historical detailing made this book almost effortless to read. The pages flew by as did the time — wonderful storytelling by a very talented author.
If you are looking for your next Scottish time-travel romance, then look no further than A Rip in the Veil. I cannot wait to find out what happens next in Book #2 of The Graham Saga.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.The Coffee Pot Book Club.
Pick up your copy ofA Rip in the VeilAmazon UK• Amazon US

Anna Belfrage
Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with two absorbing interests: history and writing. Anna has authored the acclaimed time travelling series The Graham Saga, set in 17th century Scotland and Maryland, as well as the equally acclaimed medieval series The King’s Greatest Enemy which is set in 14th century England.  She has recently released the first in a new series, The Wanderer. This time, she steps out of her normal historical context and A Torch in His Heart is with a fast-paced contemporary romantic suspense with paranormal and time-slip ingredients.
Find out more about Anna by visiting her website, or herAmazon page.

#BookReview — Before The Brightest Dawn (The Half-Blood Trilogy Book #3) By Jana Petken #HistoricalFiction #WW2 @AuthoJana

Before The Brightest Dawn(The Half-Blood Trilogy Book #3)By Jana Petken

Jana Petken’s extraordinary historical epic, The German Half-Bloods Trilogy, reaches its sweeping, heart-wrenching conclusion. 

In The German Half-Bloods and The Vogels, Jana Petken followed the turbulent lives of an Anglo-German family as they forged their paths through the Second World War. Now, the conflict intensifies in the Soviet States, North Africa, France, and the growing resistance movement in Poland. 

Will Max, Paul, and Wilmot Vogel survive the most ruthless phase of the war to date? 

Max takes a path to momentous events in North Africa where he balances undercover games of espionage in decadent Cairo with dangerous missions behind the German Afrika Korps’ lines. 

Paul’s loyalty to the Third Reich continues to wane as Germany’s extermination programmes in Poland expand, and he is stalked by the new Kriminalinspektor, Manfred Krüger. Can he stay one step ahead of a man who has been ordered to destroy him? 

Wilmot faces new challenges in the Afrika Korps, but is he mentally and physically prepared to lead his men into Libya’s fiery desert and against the British 8th Army? 

Before the Brightest Dawn, the long-awaited Book 3 of the Half-Bloods Trilogy, concludes the story of the inextricably entangled fates of three brothers … through a war that becomes increasingly brutal and cruel.




“If such a thing as sympathy existed in war, no one would die, and soldiers would shake hands with the enemy and march homeward without a drop of blood being spilt…”
But, when the best political weapon is that of terror, and it is mistakenly believed that *cruelty commands respect, there is no room for sympathy — only blood.
It had become a war of ideologies. National Socialism and the Germanic-Nordic blood on one side, and the other… Not men. Not women. Not children. They were certainly not people. On the other side, there were only animals.
Paul Vogel had seen The Third Reich’s idea of mercy, and it had made him sick to the very bottom of his soul. But nothing had prepared him for the horror of the Łódź Ghetto. Paul wanted to become a doctor because he wanted to make a difference. How was he supposed to treat the ghetto’s many patients when he was denied necessary supplies and equipment? And how was he, as a man who had sworn to do no harm, to stand by and do nothing as men, women, and children were shot in the streets? And what about those who were herded into cattle cars on the Sonderzüge, was he to stay quiet and say nothing about them as well? Paul has a decision to make. Does he continue to obey orders or does he dare to turn his back upon the Party, upon his own country, and fight with the Polish Resistance?
Wilmot Vogel had always dreamed of being awarded an Iron Cross. He had demonstrated his bravery and courage in Russia, and his dream had come true. Wilmot wears his Iron Cross with pride. He had hoped his next post would be in Europe, somewhere less inhospitable. Instead, Wilmot finds himself in Libya, with the Afrika Korps under the command of Erwin Rommel. However, this is a different type of war to the one Wilmot has fought in before. The heat is relentless, the food disagreeable, and the Allies are under the command of Field Marshal Montgomery. Wilmot knew the war in Africa would be no easy win. But he was beginning to suspect that he would be lucky if he came out of this with his life.

Max Vogel was also in Africa, but unlike his brothers, he had been a member of the British Special Operations Executive (SOE), from the very beginning. He could not stand and fight for a country that had so fundamentally lost its way. Thrown into a world of espionage, Max must keep his wits and his courage, for the Allies depend upon the information he can uncover.
Compelling, engrossing, the most vivid of tales, filled with moments of pure heroism as well as the deepest of tragedy, Before The Brightest Dawn (The Half-Blood Trilogy Book #3) by Jana Petken is the story of one family who is torn apart by the deadliest war in recorded history.
Having tutored Modern European History for many years, I have seen more than my fair share of black and white photographs of soldiers, taken during World War II, and while doing so, I have often wondered who these soldiers were and what happened to them. This story reminded me of those photographs and, although fictional in the telling, Before The Brightest Dawn gives us an insight into what it was like to fight on both sides of the war.
Wilmot, who despite mistaking nationalism for patriotism, is at heart a good man. He has lived through the horrors of being a Soviet prisoner of war only to find himself fighting for his life in the deserts of Libya. His war is an incredibly hard one, and yet his determination, and his loyalty and caring attitude, especially towards Egon — a shell-shocked young soldier — made him a very likeable character. He is young and full of life despite the terrible suffering he has endured, and his cheeky arrogance helps him to survive the war and all her horrors. When I started reading Book 1, I did have my doubts about Wilmot, he is almost besotted with the idea of Hitler and the Party, and because of this I feared I was going to struggle to connect with him, but in the end, I think he was one of my favourite characters in this series. He starts this series young and naïvely idealistic, but by Book #3 he is a seasoned soldier, and Hitler has well and truly fallen off the golden pedestal that Wilmot had initially put him on.
Despite it all, Wilmot also has an air of vulnerability about him. He is still a young man at the close of Before The Brightest Dawn, and he finds himself on the losing side. Much is written about the allied victory in works of historical fiction, but not as much is written about the German defeat from the German perspective. By showing both sides of the war, Petken has painted a very vivid and rounded story that swept me away in its brilliance.
The dangerous game of espionage that Max plays, and the risks that he takes to gather information made this story tautly gripping. I adored Max’s characterisation. He is incredibly driven, and he gets the job done despite the risks to himself. But there is another side to him. He is a brother, a son, and a fiancé. He wants to protect his family by bringing about an end to the war so that they can all be reunited.
Paul’s story is a cross between Thomas Keneally’s Schindler’s Ark and Wish Me Luck, a British television series about the resistance that was first broadcast in 1988. So many times, I found myself in tears as Paul’s story unfolded in front of me. Here is a decent, caring man who is being asked to do things that go against every fibre of his being. Paul is a very moral man, and he does not get caught up in party politics. Unlike Wilmot, Paul is a patriot, but he can see nationalism and the Nazi Party for what it truly is. His choice is simple. Either he toes the party lines and does as he is told without question, or he fights back. But if he does that, then he may well find himself in front of a firing squad. His decisions and actions really helped to drive this story forward, and I liked him very much. In truth, I was enthralled by Paul’s story from start to finish. His character is incredibly well drawn. A photograph come to life.
Once again, Petken has presented her readers with a historical rich tale, where nothing is beneath her attention. The hours of research that has gone into this book, and indeed this series, clearly shines through in the impressive prose and the persuasive narrative. Petken is one of those authors who makes history come alive.
I have enjoyed every minute of this series and now feel slightly bereft that it has come to an end. If you are looking for your next World War II historical fiction series which shows both sides of the war, then look no further than The Half-Blood Trilogy. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.The Coffee Pot Book Club.
*“The best political weapon is the weapon of terror. Cruelty commands respect. Men may hate us. But, we don’t ask for their love; only for their fear.” Heinrich Himmler (original year not specified).

Pick up your copy ofBefore The Brightest Dawn(The Half-Blood Trilogy Book #3)Amazon UK • Amazon US

Jana Petken
Jana Petken is a bestselling historical fiction novelist and screenwriter. 
She is critically acclaimed as a bestselling, gritty, author who produces bold, colourful characters and riveting storylines. She is the recipient of numerous major international awards for her works of historical fiction and is presently in talks with film producers regarding one of her titles.Before life as an author, she served in the British Royal Navy. During her service, she studied Naval Law and history. After the Navy, she worked for British Airways and turned to writing after an accident on board an aircraft forced her to retire prematurely.
Connect with Jana: Website • Twitter  • Goodreads

Now is your chance to vote for your favourite book cover for JULY over on The Coffee Pot Book Club! #BookCovers #CoffeePotBookClub #Competition

The Coffee Pot Book Club
Book Cover of the Month




Readers' Choice! July 2019
Now is your chance to vote for your favourite book cover for June. All you need to do is pop the number of the book cover you like along with the book title in the comment section at the bottom of the page.
The winner will be announced on the 28th July.



★ 1 ★
The Portrait By Cassandra Austen




★ 2 ★
Smoke in her EyesBy Anna Belfrage





★ 3 ★Betrayal in TimeBy Julie McElwain

★ 4 ★Rogue Most WantedBy Janna MacGregor

★ 5 ★State of TreasonBy Paul Walker

★ 6 ★Forsaking all OtherBy Catherine Meyrick

★ 7 ★Severed KnotBy Cryssa Bazos

★ 8 ★Tales of FrejaBy Sarah Dahl

★ 9 ★The Kammersee AffairBy John Holt

★ 10 ★Wise Before Their TimeBy Ann Richardson

★ 11 ★I Love To Hate YouBy Elizabeth Keysian

★ 12 ★The Highlander's Lost LadyBy Anna Campbell

★ 13 ★Death at the EmeraldBy R. J. Koreto

★ 14 ★The Brotherhood of the Black FlagBy Ian Nathaniel Cohen

★ 15 ★Victoria to VikingsBy Trisha Hughes

★ 16 ★The King's FuriesBy Stephanie Churchill

★ 17 ★The TurncoatBy T.J. London

★ 18 ★Galileo's RevengeBy Christopher J T Lewis

★ 19 ★Dawn of Dark DaysBy Shaun Green

★ 20 ★Porphyry of AshBy Peter Sandham

★ 21 ★The Hooded MenBy David Pilling

★ 22 ★Heroines of the Medieval WorldBy Sharon Bennett Connolly




★ 23 ★War KingHakon's Saga Book 3By Eric Schumacher




★ 24 ★Grave ExpectationsBy Heather Redmond













★ 25 ★The Winchester GooseBy Judith Arnopp













★ 26 ★The Briton and the Dane: Timeline
By Mary Ann Bernal















★ 27 ★No Stone UnturnedBy Pam Lecky














★ 28 ★A Gentleman's PromiseBy Penny Hampson














★ 29 ★
Counterpoint: Barbara, Lady Villers
By Elizabeth St.John


















★ 30 ★Lady of SteelBy Mary Gillgannon

















★ 31★Before The Brightest Dawn (The Half-Blood Series Book #3)By Jana Petken











★ 32★ The Fire of Winter By D.K. Marley












Good Luck!