Mary Anne Yarde's Blog: The Coffee Pot Book Club , page 19

Welcome to Day #3 of the blog tour for A Sword Among Ravens (The Long-Hair Saga) by Cynthia Ripley Miller #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour #Excerpt @CRipleyMiller @authorrochelle @theodene @BritonandDane.

 

 

March 8th – March 19th 2021

Publication Date: 9th December 2020
Publisher: BookLocker
Page Length: 267 Pages
Genre: Romantic Historical Mystery
Amazon UK • Amazon US • Barnes & Noble
In a grave, on the edge of a Roman battlefield, an ancient sword has been discovered. Legend claims it belonged to King David of Israel and carries a curse—those who wield it will tragically die—but not the chosen.   
AD 455. Arria Felix and her husband, Garic the Frank, have safely delivered a sacred relic to Emperor Marcian in Constantinople. But now, Arria and Garic will accept a new mission. The emperor has asked them to carry the sword of King David of Israel to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem where Arria will dedicate it in her murdered father’s memory.
As Arria and Garic travel into the heart of the Holy Land, they face many challenges and dangers. Their young daughter is missing then found in the company of a strange and suspicious old monk. A brutal killer stalks their path. And a band of cold-blooded thieves is determined to steal the sword for their own gains. But when Arria confronts the question of where the sword should truly rest—old friendships, loyalties, and her duty are put to the test like never before. At every turn, Arria and Garic find themselves caught in a treacherous mission wrapped in mystery, murder, and A Sword Among Ravens.

Our first stop of the day is over to The Historical Fiction Blog where Cynthia is talking about children in early and late Ancient Rome. 
Click HERE!
Our second stop of the day is over on Books, Lattes and Tiaras for a fabulous review.
Click HERE!
Our final stop of the day is over on Let Your Words Shine... where you can have a sneak-peek between the covers.
Click HERE!
Tour Schedule

Welcome to Day #3 of the #audio blog tour for State of Treason (Book 1, William Constable Spy Thrillers) By Paul Walker, Narrated by Edward Gist #HistoricalFiction @PWalkerauthor @ElizStJohn @wendyjdunn

 

February 24th - April 28th 2021
Publication Date: February 2021

Publisher: Audible Studios

Page Length: 317 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction
Amazon Audio

London, 1578
William Constable is a scholar of mathematics, astrology and practices as a physician. He receives an unexpected summons to the Queen’s spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham in the middle of the night. He fears for his life when he spies the tortured body of an old friend in the palace precincts.
His meeting with Walsingham takes an unexpected turn when he is charged to assist a renowned Puritan, John Foxe, in uncovering the secrets of a mysterious cabinet containing an astrological chart and coded message. Together, these claim Elizabeth has a hidden, illegitimate child (an “unknowing maid”) who will be declared to the masses and serve as the focus for an invasion.
Constable is swept up in the chase to uncover the identity of the plotters, unaware that he is also under suspicion. He schemes to gain the confidence of the adventurer John Hawkins and a rich merchant. Pressured into taking a role as court physician to pick up unguarded comments from nobles and others, he has become a reluctant intelligencer for Walsingham.Do the stars and cipher speak true, or is there some other malign intent in the complex web of scheming?
Constable must race to unravel the threads of political manoeuvring for power before a new-found love and perhaps his own life are forfeit.
Our first stop of the day is over on Elizabeth St.John Official Blog for an exclusive interview with Paul.
Click HERE!
We are also stopping over on Wendy J Dunn's Official Blog for an audio excerpt post.
Click HERE!

Welcome to Day #8 of the blog tour for The Lengthening Shadow (The Linford Series) by Liz Harris #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @lizharrisauthor @CelticLady1953

March 1st – March 12th 2021

Publication Date: 1st March 2021Publisher: Heywood PressPage Length: 360 PagesGenre: Historical Fiction
When Dorothy Linford marries former German internee, Franz Hartmann, at the end of WWI, she’s cast out by her father, Joseph, patriarch of the successful Linford family.
Dorothy and Franz go to live in a village in south-west Germany, where they have a daughter and son. Throughout the early years of the marriage, which are happy ones, Dorothy is secretly in contact with her sister, Nellie, in England.
Back in England, Louisa Linford, Dorothy’s cousin, is growing into an insolent teenager, forever at odds with her parents, Charles and Sarah, and with her wider family, until she faces a dramatic moment of truth.  
Life in Germany in the early 1930s darkens, and to Dorothy’s concern, what had initially seemed harmless, gradually assumes a threatening undertone.
Brought together by love, but endangered by acts beyond their control, Dorothy and Franz struggle to get through the changing times without being torn apart.
Head over to CelticLady Reviews where The Lengthening Shadow is in the Spotlight! 
Click HERE!
Tour Schedule: 

Have a sneak-peek between the covers of Keira J. Morgan's fabulous #NewRelease - The Importance of Pawns (Chronicles of the House of Valois) #HistoricalFiction @KJMMexico

 

Publication Date: 10th March 2021Publisher: French Historical Fiction/ Fiction de la renaissance FrançaisePage Length: 380 pagesGenre: Historical Fiction
Based on historical events and characters in sixteenth-century France, this timeless tale pits envy, power and intrigue against loyalty and the strength of women’s friendships. 
The French court dazzles on the surface, but beneath its glitter, danger lurks for the three women trapped in its web. The story begins as Queen Anne lies dying and King Louis’s health is in declines. Their two daughters, Claude and young Renée, heiresses to the rich duchy of Brittany, become pawns in the games of power. 
Countess Louise d’Angoulême is named guardian to both girls. For years she has envied the dying Queen Anne, the girls’ mother. Because of her family’s dire financial problems, she schemes to marry wealthy Claude to her son. This unexpected guardianship presents a golden opportunity, but only if she can remove their protectress Baronne Michelle, who loves the princesses and safeguards their interests. 
As political tensions rise, the futures of Princess Renée and Baronne hang in the balance, threatened by Countess Louise’s hidden plots. Timid Claude, although fearful of her mother-in-law, must untangle the treacherous intrigues Countess Louise is weaving. Claude and her friends encounter one roadblock after another as they contrive to outflank the wily countess. Their goal is to protect young Princess Renée. 
In the end, faced with frightening consequences, will Claude find the courage to defend those she loves?


Excerpt from Chapter 1.
After the queen’s sudden relapse, Michelle sent a page flying to King Louis. By the time he arrived, Queen Anne was sleeping heavily from the dose of pain medicine.
King Louis, face lined with sorrow, stood at the foot of the queen’s bed, staring at his wife’s waxy face. She lay pale as a corpse under her embroidered coverlet. 
Michelle touched her forehead. “She experienced an excruciating attack of the renal stone and is still fevered, but less so.”
Queen Anne stirred and began a high-pitched mumble. This was a worrying symptom. “Agnez, fetch a jug of the filtered, cold water,” Michelle ordered. 
She poured a measure of clear water into a bowl, set two stoppered bottles on the worktable, added a measure from each to the bowl, and stirred. A fresh herbal aroma cleansed the stale air.
King Louis perched on the edge of the chair. “What are you preparing?” He leaned forward to sniff. “It smells of flowers.”
“It is a mix of lavender oil, spirits of alcohol and pure water — to reduce her fever and freshen her. She will sleep more calmly.”
“From what does she suffer?” King Louis insisted.
Knowing him, she believed he would prefer the truth. She said, “I can list her symptoms, but is not your question: will she recover?”
“I shrink from any hint that she will not, yet....” He squared his thin shoulders. “The unsugared pastille then.” He stared at the floor.
“Her humors are imbalanced. For some time, I have suspected a bilious humor from the sour odors of her urine and breath, signs of a renal disorder. The agony she suffered today suggests stones lodged in the renal passages. Only our Savior can give a certain answer, but I know no remedy. My treatment today only served to reduce her pain.” “Why did you not send for my principal physician to attend her? Is Dr. Loysel not learned?” King Louis sounded like an inquisitor.
 “You know Mme. la Reine detests physicians. I have been ministering to her since she lost your last child two years past. She is resting quietly now, Sire, as you can see.” Michelle strove not to sound defensive. “Dr. Loysel will bleed her, purge her, and prescribe stinking curatives of bats blood and snake excrement.” She sniffed. “The queen has neither the strength nor the blood for such remedies. My treatment — willow bark tea mixed with a drop of opium — reduces her pain and allows her to sleep.” She picked up her notes from the bedside table and offered him the note pad — leather-bound scraps of vellum held together by string. “I have recorded all my treatments.”
King Louis swallowed and glanced at the notepad. “I must know she is receiving the best… the correct… treatment.”
“To be sure, the queen must have the best care.” Michelle hesitated. People could accuse even noblewomen of witchcraft these days and then torture and burn them at the stake for small acts. Whenever anything went wrong — a failed harvest, a sudden hailstorm, an outbreak of plague — the burnings started. With the queen so ill, Michelle would be safer if an infirmarian attended her. “Princess Renée’s infirmarian, Dr. Nichel, has seen her. But perhaps your Dr. Loysel, should attend her instead.”
King Louis considered. “It is true that my wife blames the doctors for our infants’ deaths. And we both trust you....” He chewed his lower lip. “But I must be sure. She is precious to me.” He leaned over Anne and dabbed away a drop of sweat on her brow. 
Michelle said, “Send for him, Sire. Let us hope he knows of cures of which I am unaware.” It was prudent to have him present. It should quell the inevitable rumors.
The king rose, still troubled. “I shall. Although I doubt he.... I have observed that my wife improves most in your care.”
“You are kind, Your Grace. In truth, the queen’s recovery lies in the Lord’s hands.”



Amazon UK •  Amazon US • Amazon CA • Amazon AU • Amazon FR • Amazon MX


Keira J. Morgan
Keira retired from training and management in the Canadian Public Service to follow a career as an author. She now writes from Mexico where she lives happily with a husband, two cats and two dogs. Her doctoral level studies in Renaissance history underlie her historical fiction. She writes about the turbulent sixteenth-century French Renaissance. Her stories tell of powerful women who challenged tradition to play crucial roles in French affairs. Find out more at KJ Morgan — Writer
She also maintains a non-fiction website, All About French Renaissance Women, [https://www.keiramorgan.com] where she writes about the lives of Frenchwomen during the era. She plans to collect their biographies into a book.
Connect with Keira:Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram

Head over to The Coffee Pot Book Club for a fun interview with Richard Lacey the protagonist of Penny Hampson's fabulous #NewRelease - A Gentleman's Promise @penny_hampson

 

A docile wife is what he wants. A husband is the last thing she needs. Can a quest for a killer teach them that they are both wrong?

Emma Smythe and her brother arrive at Easterby Hall to discover that a handsome stranger has laid claim to their ancestral home and the family title. Have her relatives been murdered, and is her brother next? Determined to find the answers, she has no option but to trust the gentleman who insists that he will help. But danger appears in many guises, and for a woman intent on remaining single, her intriguing protector may prove the biggest threat of all. 

The attempts on Richard Lacey’s life begin when he inherits a title and a rundown estate. A coincidence? He’s not so sure. Problems multiply with the unexpected arrival of Jamie and Emma Smythe. Long thought dead, they too are potential targets. Richard thinks he wants a docile, obedient wife, but will the task of keeping headstrong Emma safe from danger change his mind?

Embroiled in a sinister mystery, can Richard and Emma work together to catch a killer? And will this dangerous quest teach them that what they both wish to avoid is exactly what they need?

Filled with intrigue, unexpected twists, and faultless period detail, this slow-burn romance is a must-read for lovers of classic Regency fiction.

Hello, Miss Yarde, I’m very pleased to make your acquaintance, though I must say, I find it quite unsettling to be having a tête-à-tête with a young lady unaccompanied by her maid. However, it has been explained to me that in the 21st century, this sort of thing happens all the time and without any breath of scandal, so for the benefit of your readers I will be happy to make an exception.

My name is Richard Lacey, I’m thirty-two years old and I come from Cornwall. I’m the head of my family, and have been so since the death of my father some years ago. Of course, taking on the responsibility of not only my siblings, Julia and David, but also my father’s mining and manufacturing interests meant I had to grow up pretty fast. Julia often says that I’m far too serious and that I should enjoy myself more, but really, I haven’t the time.

And now, to add to my problems, I’ve recently inherited a title and a rundown estate from a distant relative. To be honest, I’m not bothered about being a viscount, but I’ll have to do something about the estate. It’s such a responsibility ensuring that all who are dependent upon my businesses and estates are cared for, and I take my responsibilities seriously, as every gentleman should. If I make a promise, you can be sure I will keep it. And there’s another troubling problem… from the day the notice of my title was posted, I’ve been the victim of several accidents. It could all just be coincidence, but there have been rumours about the death of one of my predecessors, not the accident it appeared apparently, so I suppose I’d better look in to things.    

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I enjoy living in London, I’ve got a townhouse there. It’s a bit lonely now though, as Julia recently got married and my younger brother David is still studying at Oxford. My main home is in Cornwall, a lovely place not far from the coast. However, I come up to London a lot in order to attend lectures on science and engineering. You’ve got to keep up to date with engineering, especially if you own mines. My favourite place in the world? My study. Everything is just as I want it - I can’t bear disorder - my study is where I go to think. 

What would you consider to be your greatest strength?

My greatest strength, you ask? Hmm, well, I’m organised. One has to be when looking after younger siblings and managing one’s business affairs. Of course, I have help, but I insist on knowing every last detail… yes, I like to be in control. Then if anything goes wrong, it’s my sole responsibility to put it right. Have I mentioned that I take my responsibilities seriously?

Describe your perfect day.

My perfect day would begin with a ride on my favourite horse, Caesar. There’s nothing like a good gallop to clear the mind. Then once I’ve breakfasted, it’s into my study to start work. Before Julia married, she would always look over the accounts. She’s got a keen eye for numbers, and if Father was happy for her to undertake what some would call a gentleman’s task, then I am happy too. Why waste a good brain? I’ve never been one to regard females as mere decorative items - though I do appreciate a pretty face - I’m all in favour of ladies learning skills that have previously been denied to them. And when I marry, I’d quite enjoy having someone sensible to talk to of an evening. Alas, not many females are as educated my sister, so I suppose I’ll just have to look for a wife who is quiet and biddable.

Back to my perfect day. If I have time in the afternoon I’d enjoy a visit to Manton’s shooting parlour. It’s been a long time since I was there and I’m rather rusty. George, my brother-in-law and I made a rare trip to our club the other night - he doesn’t come out much now that he’s married Julia. Anyway, on our way home we were set upon by ruffians; it was a good thing that George had his pistol on him. To be honest, my perfect day wouldn’t include visiting my club, I find card games rather boring. No, what interests me are the scientific lectures given at the Royal Institution. I’ve seen Humphry Davy there several times, you must have heard of him. He’s a Cornishman too, you know.

Sir Humphry Davy, National Portrait Gallery 

You’ve mentioned that you’d like to get married at some point. Do you have anyone in mind?

Not at all. I haven’t had time to give the subject much thought actually, what with all my responsibilities. I know that I’d like someone who wouldn’t cause me too much trouble - Julia was enough of a handful and I’m glad that she is George’s problem now. Not that she did anything scandalous, it’s just that she was so lively and adventurous I spent half my time worrying about her. Yes, I’d like a docile wife who enjoys routine and who will be happy to stay at home and raise our children. I’m afraid that I’ve lost my taste for adventure.

Well, it’s been lovely chatting to you, Miss Yarde. I now need to make haste and journey to Minster Lovell and discover what’s been going on at this estate I’ve inherited. Yes, I’ll be relieved when that’s all sorted and I can get on with my quiet, ordered life.

Amazon 

Penny Hampson writes mysteries, and because she has a passion for history, you’ll find her stories also reflect that. A Gentleman’s Promise, a traditional Regency romance, was Penny’s debut novel in 2018, soon followed by more in the same genre. Penny also enjoys writing contemporary mysteries with a hint of the paranormal, because where do ghosts come from but the past? The Unquiet Spirit, a spooky mystery/romance set in Cornwall, was published by Darkstroke in 2020.
Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time).
For more on Penny’s writing, visit her blog. Penny can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.
Penny’s Books:THE GENTLEMEN SERIES (Regency Historical Mystery/Romances)A Gentleman’s Promise (revised 2nd edition coming soon!)An Officer’s Vow: purchase link A Bachelor’s Pledge: purchase link ~  The Unquiet Spirit (A spooky contemporary mystery/romance) purchase link 
A short story by Penny ~ ‘The Rowan Tree’  A tale with a twist, is published in Dark Scotland, an anthology of dark tales. All royalties go to two Scottish charities ME Research UK and The Halliday Foundation.  Purchase link.

Welcome to Day #2 of the blog tour for Widow’s Lace by Lelita Baldock #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalMystery @BaldockLelita @MagicofWorldsBE @linneatanner

 

March 8th – March 19th 2021

Publication Date: 23 March 2020
Publisher: Independently Published
Page Length: 242 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction / Mystery
Amazon UK • Amazon US • Barnes & Noble

A hundred year old mystery, the widow left behind, a fallen soldier, the abandoned fiancée, an unnamed body and the young student determined to find the truth.
In 1886 famous English poet Edward Barrington moves from Derbyshire, England to a farm on the Finniss River, in South Australia. Two years later he disappears.
25 years later Archie Hargraves abandons his fiancée Clara and travels from England to meet with Edward’s widow, Rosalind. He plans to write a biography and make a name for himself, independent from his wealthy father. Returning to England in 1914 he abandons his work to join the war in Europe. His journal of notes from Australia is never released.
Ellie Cannon, a young PhD candidate at Sydney University, is writing a thesis on one of Barrington’s last known poems, The Fall. It’s not going well. Struggling with her relationship with her mother and loss of her father, Ellie is on the brink of failure.
Then a body is found by the Finniss River, 130 years after Edward’s disappearance. Could it be the famous poet?
The discovery draws Ellie into the worlds of Edward, Archie and Clara, taking her across Australia and England in her search for the truth.
Covering life in remote South Australia, the social pressures of 1900s Britain and the historical role of women, Widow’s Lace is an historical fiction, mystery cross-over dealing with themes of obsession, fear, love, inner-secrets and regret. But also the hope that can come from despair.
Welcome to Day #1 of the blog tour for Widow’s Lace. We are stopping over on two fabulous blogs today.
Head over to the Magic of Wor(l)ds sneak-peek between the covers of Widow's Lace.
Click HERE!
Our second stop is over on Linnea Tanner’s Official Blog where you can read another fabulous excerpt!
Click HERE!
Tour Schedule 

Welcome to Day #2 of the blog tour for A Sword Among Ravens (The Long-Hair Saga) by Cynthia Ripley Miller #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour #Excerpt @CRipleyMiller @cathiedunn @hooverbkreview

 

 

March 8th – March 19th 2021

Publication Date: 9th December 2020
Publisher: BookLocker
Page Length: 267 Pages
Genre: Romantic Historical Mystery
Amazon UK • Amazon US • Barnes & Noble
In a grave, on the edge of a Roman battlefield, an ancient sword has been discovered. Legend claims it belonged to King David of Israel and carries a curse—those who wield it will tragically die—but not the chosen.   
AD 455. Arria Felix and her husband, Garic the Frank, have safely delivered a sacred relic to Emperor Marcian in Constantinople. But now, Arria and Garic will accept a new mission. The emperor has asked them to carry the sword of King David of Israel to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem where Arria will dedicate it in her murdered father’s memory.
As Arria and Garic travel into the heart of the Holy Land, they face many challenges and dangers. Their young daughter is missing then found in the company of a strange and suspicious old monk. A brutal killer stalks their path. And a band of cold-blooded thieves is determined to steal the sword for their own gains. But when Arria confronts the question of where the sword should truly rest—old friendships, loyalties, and her duty are put to the test like never before. At every turn, Arria and Garic find themselves caught in a treacherous mission wrapped in mystery, murder, and A Sword Among Ravens.
Welcome to Day #1 of the blog tour for A Sword Among Ravens.
Our first stop of the day is over to Ruins & Reading for a sneak-peek between the covers of A Sword Among Raven.
Click HERE!
Our second stop of the day is over on Historical Fiction Reviews for another sneak-peek between the covers!
Click HERE!
Tour Schedule

Welcome to Day #4 of the blog tour for The Dark Shadows of Kaysersberg By Michael Stolle #HistoricFiction #BlogTour @MichaelStolle16 @JudithArnopp

 

February 16th- April 20th 2021
Publication Date: 27th December 2020

Publisher: Independently Published

Page Length: 223 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction / Romance / Adventure
Amazon UK • Amazon US

It’s 1646 and infant King Louis XIV reigns over France; wily Cardinal Mazarin holds the reins of power - but he needs money, desperately.
Armand de Saint Paul, the younger son of a great and rich noble house, is leading a carefree life in Paris, dedicating his time to such pleasures as gambling, hunting and amorous pursuits.
Unexpectedly, Armand has to defend the honour of his house in a duel that transpires to be a deadly trap, set up by a mighty foe of the house of Saint Paul.
Will Armand be able to escape the deadly net of intrigue that soon threatens to destroy him?
How can a young man deal with love, when it’s no longer a game, but a dream beyond reach?
The leading question is: What is going on behind the façade that is Castle Kaysersberg,where nothing is as it seems to be … until the day when the dark shadows come alive?
Head over to Judith Arnopp's Official Blog for a sneak-peek between the covers.
Click HERE!

Welcome to Day #7 of the blog tour for Liz Harris' fabulous book - The Lengthening Shadow (The Linford Series) #BookReview #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour @lizharrisauthor @swiftstory

 

March 1st – March 12th 2021

Publication Date: 1st March 2021Publisher: Heywood PressPage Length: 360 PagesGenre: Historical Fiction
Amazon UK • Amazon US 
When Dorothy Linford marries former German internee, Franz Hartmann, at the end of WWI, she’s cast out by her father, Joseph, patriarch of the successful Linford family.
Dorothy and Franz go to live in a village in south-west Germany, where they have a daughter and son. Throughout the early years of the marriage, which are happy ones, Dorothy is secretly in contact with her sister, Nellie, in England.
Back in England, Louisa Linford, Dorothy’s cousin, is growing into an insolent teenager, forever at odds with her parents, Charles and Sarah, and with her wider family, until she faces a dramatic moment of truth.  
Life in Germany in the early 1930s darkens, and to Dorothy’s concern, what had initially seemed harmless, gradually assumes a threatening undertone.
Brought together by love, but endangered by acts beyond their control, Dorothy and Franz struggle to get through the changing times without being torn apart.
Head over to Deborah Swift’s Official Blog and read a fabulous review.
Click HERE!

Promote your book in front of the #Bookstagram community with The Coffee Pot Book Club's Instagram Weekend Book Blast Package #BookPromotion #BookMarketing #Instagram

 

Let The Coffee Pot Book Club get your book in front of the #Bookstagram community with our

Instagram Weekend Book Blast Package 

Promote your book in front of the #Bookstagram community to gain recognition and get your book noticed.
An Instagram Weekend includes:
• 2 days of promotion• 2 personalised Instagram artworksTotal cost £25.00
You will receive one post a day across the weekend, whereby we will gain as much exposure as possible for your book within the #Bookstagram community.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
• On the weekend, your book must be on promotion for free and/or available on #KindleUnlimited. • The Coffee Pot Book Club makes no guarantee of sales during an Instagram Weekend. The focus of the promotion is for you to gain exposure.
• An Instagram Weekend must be booked at least two weeks in advance. We only run one event per weekend. Book early for the best choice of promotional dates.
Refunds
Once payment is remitted, no cash refunds will be made as we begin organising your promotion immediately.
If you would like to find out more, or book an Instagram Weekend, visit the contact page.