Mary Anne Yarde's Blog: The Coffee Pot Book Club , page 46

"Tis the season for reading great books! Check out Thomas j. Berry's award-winning novel - Fire and Ash: Gifts of the Gods #HolidayReading #HistoricalFiction @TBerryAuthor

Publication Date: Oct 10, 2020Publisher: BooklockerPage Length: 450Genre: Historical Fiction, Ancient World

Five men and women in Ancient Greece are set on a dangerous journey of self-discovery during the bitter conflict of the Peloponnesian War.
While mighty Athens struggles to rebuild after a devastating campaign abroad, the feared warriors of Sparta prepare to deliver the final blow in a decades long war.  No one is safe anymore as the conflict shifts across the Aegean to the shores of wealthy Persia.  Old colonies, once loyal to Athens, are eager to rebel and the Great King is willing to pay anything to regain his control over them.   These coastal plains set the stage for massive battles and heart-breaking defeats.   This time there will be only one true victor.
The news coming out of Sicily ripples across the cities of Ancient Greece like a thunderbolt and it is left to the poor and desperate to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.  One young mother is suddenly faced with a horrible tragedy and struggles against all odds to make a new life for her family.  An eager boy looking for adventure enlists in the new Athenian ranks but finds life on campaign a lot more than he bargained for.  A Spartan officer in the twilight of his years struggles to adapt to a young man’s army and an exiled Athenian strives to earn his way back into the graces of his beloved city.  The harem girls in a Persian court meet a handsome foreigner and one risks everything for a chance at love.  
As the conflict between Athens and Sparta builds to a final showdown, five men and women struggle to come to terms with their changing world.  What will they find in the ashes when peace finally comes?




Amazon UK • Amazon US


Thomas Berry received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from St. Bonaventure University.  He takes pleasure in extensively researching both historical fiction and non-fiction stories.  In his spare time, he enjoys long distance running and has completed several marathons.  He currently lives with his wife and children in New Jersey.  You can learn more about Thomas and his historical novels at his website.

Connect with Thomas:Twitter • Instagram





 

 

Vivienne Brereton's is giving away a signed paperback edition of her fabulous book — The House of the Red Duke (A Phoenix Rising Book #1) #Giveaway #HistoricalFiction #Tudors @VivienneBreret1

Publication Date: July, 2019Publisher: Yuletide PressPage Length: 372 pagesGenre: Historical Fiction
             LOVE & WAR AT THE CANDLELIT COURTS!
  Be dazzled by the dancing, drama and display in Tudor England, Stewart Scotland, Valois France, and The Habsburg Empire.
Heady places of power, intrigue and lovers’ trysts. Where plans are equally likely to be drawn up for a bloody war, as for an extraordinary event such as the fabled 1520 Field of Cloth of Gold.
   Meet Thomas Howard. Soldier. Statesman. Courtier. Head of one of the most powerful families in England. A phoenix rising from the ashes at the magnificent court of Henry VIII. 
“If I have anything to do with it, we Howards will live forever.”
After a calamitous period of disgrace, Thomas’s family is once more riding high at court due to his intelligence and perseverance, and the part played by his middle son, Edward, a royal favourite known for his good looks, swagger and charm.
Thomas is a keeper of secrets on both sides of the Narrow Sea separating England from France. Mystery swirls around the lives of Tristan, Cecily, Valentine, and Nicolas. 
But there are no secrets that time does not reveal….
  “Nicolas laid his lute to one side, hardly bothering to stifle a yawn of boredom. Nevertheless, he couldn’t escape the fact that he’d agreed to take on a new wife.”


If you would like to be in with a chance to win a signed paperback edition of Vivienne Brereton fabulous book The House of the Red Duke then just drop your name in the comment section at the end of this post (Scroll Down).
Good Luck!
*The competition is open Internationally!
*The winner must be willing to provide their address. *Giveaway closes on January 4th 2021




‘Demoiselle Cécile’s related to the Governor of Picardy by marriage. Through his Cornish wife.’ 
Related to Guy d’Ardres? <<Related to Tristan d’Ardres>> who just happened to be the Admiral’s godson. Nicolas knew he would be hard pushed to decide which of the two deserved his contempt more. However, as usual, the honour would have to go to Tristan. Even with all this Cécile’s other failings (apart from having a name, Cecily, so close to the French, he was able to pronounce it with ease), Nicolas couldn’t think of anything less appealing than an affiliation with Tristan. It was already bad enough she was from Cornwall, a place that was almost like a separate country from England. He was still smarting from the loss of one of his best ships, ‘Le Nicolas’, off the Cornish coast, this past Christmas Day. Even though the cargo had been worth half a king’s ransom, and to his great regret, his crew had probably all met their end in a watery grave, most of all he mourned the loss of the gold and ruby necklace, priceless in worth and sentiment, presumably now adorning the seabed far beneath the Celtic Sea.
“Sunk without trace,” he’d been informed, when first told of the fate of ‘Le Nicolas’. 
<<Damned Cornish thieves!>> Notorious for their skills as pirates, they either captured their prey on the high seas, or weaved in and out of secret inlets in their vessels along the perilous, seventy-mile Cornish coastland. They worked in tandem with local smugglers, waiting to catch out an innocent ship with a false beacon shining its light onto the treacherous black rocks - instead of leading the vessel to the safety of harbour. Then they would pounce, stripping the ships of their entire cargo with the efficiency of a dog picking a bone clean. Nicolas had no idea what had happened to his ship but guessed that pirates and smugglers had far more to do with it than the ferocious December storm, mentioned in a cursory note that had arrived for him a couple of months later. At the time, he’d found it a little strange that Bonnivet, as Admiral of France, in charge of all things maritime, was never informed of such a major incident, or taken any interest in the loss of a French vessel in English waters. 
“You win some games, you lose some,” was the only comment he’d made, while giving a shrug. “With your skill at chess, you should know that by now.” His amusement had been palpable. “It seems not even the patron saint of seafarers with whom you share your name was able to intercede on your behalf.” The Admiral had finished off with a remark so irksome Nicolas felt tempted to punch him: “I’ve heard there’s a prayer used on the southern coast of England that goes something like this: ‘Oh Lord, protect ships at sea from the storm…but if they have to run aground, please let it be on our shore.’”

                           *                            *                      *
Sitting up straighter in his chair, Nicolas started mulling things over in his mind. He’d been about to refuse point-blank to take on the Cornish girl when a different possibility presented itself. What sweet revenge on Tristan to have power over this cousin of his.  His mind made up, he picked up a bright red cherry from the small Venetian glass bowl next to him and popped it into his mouth, thinking how apt this luscious fruit was associated with virginity, ripe to be plucked. He turned towards the Admiral in the manner of one who meant business. ‘I would expect to become a baron for my pains. And receive a sum of one hundred and fifty thousand livres tournoi, to be paid on the day of the wedding.’ 
The look on Bonnivet’s face was a picture of outrage, his pale cheeks flushing, and his eyes watering with emotion - as if in pain. ‘A baron! Wasn’t a seigneury enough? Or being chosen as a Chevalier of Saint-Michel. Or your most recent appointment as Master Falconer.’
<<So he still hasn’t forgiven me for the past>>
Nicolas knew for a fact that Bonnivet had stood in his way of receiving anything higher than a seigneury, convincing the King he’d already been more than generous. What pleasure then to keep the other man dangling for a little while longer, before tugging on the rope. ‘Unfortunately, honoured as I am to have received these titles, I fear my future bride will be less than impressed with a husband who is merely entitled to wear a crimson hood and a gold chain around his neck. After all, if I’m to be married to an Englishwoman who, according to you, will own most of Cornwall one day, for the sake of appearances - and French pride - I have to at least appear her equal. A lieutenancy and a seigneury won’t be enough.’
 <<Checkmate!>> 
                                    *                              *                            *
To his disgust, the Admiral’s face reflected his defeat. They both knew Nicolas had won again. But didn’t he always? This time would be no different. Although he felt tempted to ape Bonnivet’s taunting words about “losing some games” back to him, he resisted the urge. 
Now the matter had been settled to his satisfaction, he reached out for his lute and began idly strumming - after he’d wearily sworn to keep the plan secret from the rest of the world until the day itself. He let the remainder of the Admiral’s drearily fulsome, obviously false description of his future bride, and details of the magnificent wedding feast, float over his head. Why would he give a fig that the chapel at the forthcoming ‘Field of Gold’ would be lit with candlesticks brought over from Westminster Abbey in London. Or that he and his bride would sip wine from gold chalices, also transported from the Abbey.




Pick up your copy of

The House of the Red Duke

Amazon UK • Amazon US • Amazon CA • Amazon AU

Add The House of the Red Duke to your 'to-read' list on Goodreads






Born between historic Winchester and Southampton in the UK, Vivienne has been passionate about the Tudors for as long as she can remember. This led to a degree in Medieval History at university, and the growing desire to write a novel.
However, life took over somewhat and only after stays - short and long - in six countries she called home did she finally settle down to finish her novel.
Words have always played an important part in her life, whether it's been writing, editing, teaching English, or just picking up a good book.
Having three sons came in very handy when she had to write about squabbles between the male characters in her novel. Not so handy when she took her boys to Hampton Court and one of them got lost in the maze!
Seeing 'A Phoenix Rising', the first book in the series 'The House of the Red Duke', in print for the first time, was a moment of great joy for her. She hopes anyone reading it will enjoy the end result as much as she enjoyed writing it.
Connect with Vivienne:Website • Twitter • Instagram

Welcome to Day #5 of the Blog Tour of — Betrayal #histfictioneers #Betrayal #HistoricalFiction #CoffeePotBookClub @HistFictioneers @CraftygasheadZo

  

BETRAYAL
BY JUDITH ARNOPP, CRYSSA BAZOS, ANNA BELFRAGE, DEREK BIRKS,HELEN HOLLICK, AMY MARONEY, ALISON MORTON, CHARLENE NEWCOMB, TONY RICHES, MERCEDES ROCHELLE, ELIZABETH ST. JOHN, ANNIE WHITEHEAD

NOVEMBER 17TH - JANUARY 19TH

Publication Date: November 17, 2020

Publisher: Historical Fictioneers

Page Length: 486

Genre: Historical Fiction

Betrayal, treachery, treason, deceit, perfidy—all names for the calculated violation of trust. And it’s been rife since humans trod the earth. A promise broken A mission betrayed A lover’s desertion A parent’s deception An unwitting act of treason Betrayal by comrades Betrayal by friends Could you resist the forces of misplaced loyalty, power hunger, emotional blackmail, or plain greed? Is there ever redemption, or will the destruction visit future generations and even alter history? These questions are still with us today. Read twelve tales by twelve accomplished writers who explore these historical yet timeless challenges from post Roman Britain to the present day.

Today we are over on Zoe's Art, Craft & Life for a sneak-peek between the covers of this fabulous book!
Click HERE!

Welcome to Day #7 of the blog tour for The Wolf Banner (Sons of the Wolf, Book 2) By Paula Lofting #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @Paulalofting @Beatric09625662

 

December 7th – December 18th 2020
Amazon UK • Amazon US

Publication Date: August 26th 2020 / Second Edition: Publisher: Longship PublishingGenre: Historical Fiction
WAR AND BLOODFEUD
"Best battle description ever!"
1056...England lurches towards war as the rebellious Lord Alfgar plots against the indolent King Edward. Sussex thegn, Wulfhere, must defy both his lord, Harold Godwinson, and his bitter enemy, Helghi, to protect his beloved daughter.
As the shadow of war stretches across the land, a more personal battle rages at home, and when it follows him into battle, he knows he must keep his wits about him more than ever, and COURAGE AND FEAR MUST BECOME HIS ARMOUR…
Head on over to Candlelight Reading to find a 5 star review of this fabulous book!
Click HERE!

Head over to The Historical Fiction Blog and find out what inspired #HistoricalFiction author, Janet Lee Berg, to write her fabulous book - Restitution #BlogTour #HistoricalFiction #CoffeePotBookClub @janetleeberg1 @authorrochelle

 

December 8th - February 9th 2021

Publication Date: 30th September 2020
Publisher: Koehler
Page Length: 262 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction 
Amazon UK • Amazon US • Barnes and Noble • BooksAMillion

“Restitution” is the riveting, multigenerational story of Sylvie Rosenberg, a Holocaust survivor traumatized by the memory of her art dealer father forced to trade paintings with the Nazis in an attempt to save their large extended family.  Sylvie’s adult life in 1970s New York is plagued by survivors’ guilt and bitterness.  But when her self-destructive ways threaten to upend the life of her Vietnam-vet son, Sylvie finally needs to face her demons.  She returns to Holland to confront her past and fight the Dutch judicial system for the return of the masterpieces, but the battle proves far more difficult than Sylvie imagined...
Weaving in tragic true events from her own family history, Berg offers a sensitive story of history, romance, and humor along with detail from the extensive research of Lynn H. Nicholas, the world’s leading expert on art pilfered during WWII. Over 80 years later, the real family still awaits justice and the return of artwork that continues to hang on museum walls, without noting their tragic history…  

Find out about the inspiration behind Restitution over on The Historical Fiction Blog:
Click HERE!  

J.P Reedman is is giving away a paperback copy of her fabulous book — The White Rose Rent #Giveaway #Bookstagram #HistoricalFiction @StoneLord1

 

Publication Date: 8th September 2018
Publisher: Independently Published
Page Length: 106 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
The Tudor Era has dawned. Richard III lies in a shallow grave at Greyfriars in Leicester and Henry Tudor sits upon an uneasy throne.Richard's illegitimate daughter, Katherine Plantagenet, wife of one year to William Herbert, Earl of Huntingdon, struggles to find her path in the strange new world of Tudor England. Only fifteen years old, she fears her husband will put her aside due to her relationship to the deposed King.Frightened and alone, she recalls the events of her younger years, when Richard, Duke of Gloucester took her and her half-brother John to be raised at Sheriff Hutton Castle. Days when it seemed a baseborn girl could reach dizzying heights...Days of happiness before her father took the crown, before her cousins Edward and Richard vanished from the Tower of London, before beautiful Elizabeth of York danced in gold at the Christmas Feast of 1484 and started rumours flying...

If you would like to be in with a chance to win a paperback copy of J.P. Reedman's fabulous book The White Rose Rent then all you need is to pop your name in the comment section at the bottom of this post (Scroll Down)

Good Luck!

* Giveaway open to UK & European residents only!*Giveaway closes on January 4th 2021

Amazon UK • Amazon US

When someone mention medieval sheriffs, the first thing that pops into one’s mind is usually Robin Hood’s evil Sheriff of Nottingham. In the male-dominated world of the Middle Ages, you might imagine it was impossible that a woman could hold such an office. However, you’d be wrong. There were, in fact, at least two female Sheriffs—Nicola de la Haye, the stalwart older lady who held Lincoln castle against the French in 1217, and Ela Longespee, Countess of Salisbury in her own right, who married William, the illegitimate son of Henry II by his mistress, Ida. This made William half-brother to King Richard Lionheart and King John. Ela, who also laid one of the foundation stones of Salisbury Cathedral and founded two religious houses, Hinton and Lacock, has been called ‘one of the towering female figures of the thirteen century.’

LONGSWORD’S LADY is the seventh novel in the Medieval BABES series about lesser known medieval women, and primarily shows the earlier part of Ela’s long life (she lived into her 60’s, a fair age for the era.) Upon her father’s death when she only around 9, Ela, Earl Fitzpatrick’s only child and heir, is supposed to become King Richard’s ward—but instead her family spirit her off to Normandy. Their reasons are unclear; most likely they were not pleased with the idea that the King would marry her of to a husband not of their choosing, meaning would lose the benefits of the Salisbury fortune altogether, since Ela’s husband would become Earl in the right of his wife.

According to legend, King Richard sent out a troubadour called William Talbot to sing under castle windows until he found the missing heiress.  Locating her, she is brought to the King, who promptly weds her to William Longespee—Longsword—named for his height and the great blade he used in battle.

Although such records do not exist, it seems like Ela and William’s marriage was a happy one with at least eight children, seven living to adulthood. Two of the boys entered the church, one becoming bishop of Salisbury. Another became Seneschal of Gascony and the eldest was a Crusader. Sadly, he died at the Battle of Mansurah, an event which Ela is said to have seen in a vision.

William Longespee was one of the few people close to King John; some have even called him his ‘enforcer.’ However, at the end of this unpopular King’s reign, William suddenly turned his coat to support Prince Louis of France. Legends say this was because John, a known lecher, attempted to ‘seduce’ Ela while William was away fighting.

A few years later, when Henry III had taken the throne, William went away to war once more but was shipwrecked and presumed dead. The Justiciar Hubert de Burgh immediately asked the young King if his nephew, Reimund, could marry Ela. Only, if she’s willing, said the King. So off marched Reimund to go wooing in his best armour. Ela was offended and displeased and sent him packing from Salisbury Castle (now Old Sarum). William as it turned out was very much alive, and furious to hear about de Burgh’s nephew. Returning home, he went to the King and demanded satisfaction from Hubert. De Burgh apologised profusely for the ‘misunderstanding’ and invited William to a feast at his home. Shortly after the feast, William Longespee mysteriously died. A rat’s body found in his skull when his burial who disturbed was found to contain traces of arsenic!

Ela then went on to spend several years as Sheriff and then as abbey founder and abbess. Her descendants number in the thousands, if not millions; notables linked to Ela and William Longespee include King Richard III, King Henry VII, and at least six US presidents.

Lacock Abbey founded by Ela, Countess of Salisbury.


Pick up your copy of LONGSWORD’S LADYAmazon UK • Amazon US

Born on the West Coast of Canada, J.P. Reedman now lives in the shadow of Stonehenge. A writer since the age of 5, when she wrote her first story about Cleopatra, she now write historical fiction and historical fantasy, with a little bit of general fantasy thrown into the mix. Favourite periods are medieval England, particularly the Wars of the Roses era, and prehistoric Britain. J.P.  also writes about figures associated with her hometown of Amesbury, such as Queen Eleanor of Provence, Eleanor of Brittany and the naughty nun Mary of Woodstock, all of whom were buried in Amesbury (and are now lost!) J.P’s I, Richard Plantagenet series about Richard III  has been called ‘a new Ricardian classic’, and in the future there will be an offshoot series about various members of the House of York.

Connect with J.P. Reedman:Twitter 

Check out this fabulous 5 star review by The Books Delight of By Love Divided by Elizabeth St. John #BookReview #HistoricalFiction @ElizStJohn @jroberts1324

 

By Love Divided(The Lydiard Chronicles Book 2)By Elizabeth St.John


December 7th – December 18th 2020
Amazon  • Books2Read

Book Title: By Love DividedSeries: The Lydiard Chronicles, Book 2Author: Elizabeth St.JohnPublished: October 2017Publisher: Falcon HistoricalPage Length: 381Genre: Historical Fiction

London, 1630.
Widowed and destitute, Lucy St.John is fighting for survival and makes a terrible choice to secure a future for her children. Worse still, her daughter Luce rejects the royal court and a wealthy arranged marriage, and falls in love with a charismatic soldier. As England tumbles toward bloody civil war, Luce’s beloved brother Allen chooses to fight for the king as a cavalier. Allen and Luce are swept up in the chaos of war as they defend their opposing causes and protect those they love.
Will war unite or divide them? And will they find love and a home to return to—if they survive the horror of civil war. In the dawn of England’s great rebellion, love is the final battleground.
A true story based on surviving memoirs, court papers, and letters of Elizabeth St.John's family, By Love Divided tells of the war-time experiences of Lucy St.John, the Lady of the Tower. This powerfully emotional novel tells of England's great divide and the heart-wrenching choices one family faces.
Check out this fabulous 5 star review by The Books Delight.
Click HERE!
Pick up your copy for only 0.99 on #Kindle for a Limited Time!
Amazon  • Books2Read

Head over to A Darn Good Read for a sneak-peek between the covers of Paula Lofting's fabulous book - The Wolf Banner #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour @Paulalofting @ADarnGoodRead

 

December 7th – December 18th 2020
Amazon UK • Amazon US

Publication Date: August 26th 2020 / Second Edition: Publisher: Longship PublishingGenre: Historical Fiction
WAR AND BLOODFEUD
"Best battle description ever!"
1056...England lurches towards war as the rebellious Lord Alfgar plots against the indolent King Edward. Sussex thegn, Wulfhere, must defy both his lord, Harold Godwinson, and his bitter enemy, Helghi, to protect his beloved daughter.
As the shadow of war stretches across the land, a more personal battle rages at home, and when it follows him into battle, he knows he must keep his wits about him more than ever, and COURAGE AND FEAR MUST BECOME HIS ARMOUR…

Head over to A Darn Good Read and have a sneak-peek between the covers of The Wolf Banner.
Click HERE!

Welcome to Day #7 of the blog tour for Lady Estrid: A Novel of Eleventh Century Denmark by M J Porter #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour @coloursofunison @ElizStJohn

 

Lady Estrid: A Novel of Eleventh Century Denmark By M J Porter 

November 2nd  – January 4th
Amazon UK • Amazon US

Publication Date: 29th October 2020
Publisher: Independently Published
Page Length:
Genre: Historical Fiction 

Daughter, Sister, Duchess, Aunt. Queen.

United by blood and marriage. Divided by seas. Torn apart by ambition.

Lady Estrid Sweinsdottir has returned from Kiev, her first husband dead after only a few months of marriage. Her future will be decided by her father, King Swein of Denmark, or will it?

A member of the ruling House of Gorm, Estrid might not be eligible to rule, as her older two brothers, but her worth is in more than her ability to marry and provide heirs for a husband, for her loyalty is beyond question. 

With a family as divided and powerful as hers, stretching from England to Norway to the land of the Svear, she must do all she can to ensure Denmark remains under the control of her father’s descendants, no matter the raging seas and boiling ambition that threatens to imperil all.

Head over to Elizabeth St.John's Official Blog for an exclusive interview with MJ Porter.

Click HERE!

Check out Susan Appleyard award-winning novel - Bonfire of the Perfect #HistoricalFiction #crusades #mustread

 

Publication Date: April 2nd 2020Publisher: Independently PublishedPages Length: 278 PagesGenre: Historical Fiction
In 1209, Pope Innocent III launches a crusade against fellow Christians living peaceably in the south of France. They are the Cathars, regarded as heretics by the Roman Church, and the sect is flourishing. Thousands of knights, landless younger sons, mercenaries and assorted riff-raff pour south with Christian zeal to exterminate men, women and children of the same country. A dilemma soon arises: How to tell a Cathar from an orthodox Catholic?

Amazon UK • Amazon US

I was born in England, which is where I learned my love of history. My books have been finalists in the Wishing Shelf Book Award and MM Bennetts Award. I now live in Canada with my three children and six grandchildren for six months of the year and in Mexico with sun and sea and margaritas on the beach for the other six months. No prizes for guessing which months are spent where.

Connect with Susan: Blog • Goodreads • Amazon Author Page.