Linnea Tanner's Blog, page 24
October 5, 2022
Heidi Eljarbo Brushstrokes from the Past The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #historicalfiction #solihansenmysteries #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub@HeidiEljarbo @cathiedunn
It is my pleasure to welcome back Heidi Eljarbo as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between September 26th — October 7th, 2022. Heidi Eljarbo is the author of the Historical fiction – dual timeline, a bit of mystery and sweet romance, Brushstrokes from the Past (Soli Hansen Mysteries Series), which was released by the author on 20th September 2022 (260 pages).
Below are highlights of Brushstrokes from the Past, Heidi Eljarbo’s author bio, and an excerpt from her novel.
To follow the blog tour, CLICK Tour Schedule
HIGHLIGHTS: BRUSHSTROKES FROM THE PAST
Brushstrokes from the Past
(Soli Hansen Mysteries Series)
by Heidi Eljarbo
(Blurb)
A Historical Art Mystery
WWII and the mid-seventeenth century are entwined in this fourth dual timeline novel about Nazi art theft, bravery, friendship, and romance.
April 1945. Art historian Soli Hansen and her friend Heddy arrive at an excavation site only to find Soli’s old archeology professor deeply engrossed in an extraordinary find in a marsh. The remains of a man have lain undisturbed for three centuries, but there’s more to this discovery…
As Soli tries to understand who the baroque man was and discovers what he carried in a sealed wooden tube, problems arise. A leak reveals the finds to the notorious Lieutenant Colonel Heinz Walter, and soon, both Nazi elite and the Gestapo are after the treasure.
When Heddy and the professor disappear along with the artwork, Soli and her resistance group must find them before it’s too late.
1641. In Amsterdam, French musketeer Claude Beaulieu has had his portrait done by his close friend and artist Rembrandt van Rijn. When a band of thieves steal the precious painting, Claude and his wife Annarosa Ruber pick up their swords and a few belongings and go after the culprits.
Set in Norway during the tumultuous last days of the second world war, as well as the peak of the glorious baroque art period, these two stories are a must for readers who love historical fiction with adventure, suspense, and true love that conquers all.
Perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Lucinda Riley, Kathleen McGurl, Rhys Bowen, and Katherine Neville.
Buy Links:
Available on #KindleUnlimited
Universal Link 
Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon CA Amazon AU
Heidi Eljarbo is the bestselling author of historical fiction and mysteries filled with courageous and good characters that are easy to love and others you don’t want to go near.
Heidi grew up in a home filled with books and artwork and she never truly imagined she would do anything other than write and paint. She studied art, languages, and history, all of which have come in handy when working as an author, magazine journalist, and painter.
After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She and her husband have a total of nine children, thirteen grandchildren—so far—in addition to a bouncy Wheaten Terrier.
Their favorite retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summertime and ski the vast, white terrain during winter.
Heidi’s favorites are family, God’s beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.
Sign up for her newsletter at https://www.heidieljarbo.com/newsletter
Social Media Links:
Website Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Instagram author page Pinterest Book Bub
EXCERPT #3: BRUSHSTROKES FROM THE PAST
Safely home, Soli plonked down on the couch. She had no idea where the Rembrandt musketeer painting was. But more troublesome than that, where were Professor Holst and Heddy?
Soli had expected a note from her friend, some sign that she’d been by. Maybe Heddy would show up later, but after an hour’s waiting there was still nothing.
Soli pulled her feet up on the couch and hugged her legs. Oh, that this day were over and done. What was she to do? Where could she start looking for Holst and Heddy? Were the two even connected? That would be strange, but at this point, anything was possible.
Having the painting disappear so quickly left her with a knot in her stomach. That lovely Rembrandt rendition, flawless and precious. Oh, that she had it in her secret chamber in the basement right now. She’d go downstairs and study it for hours, putting herself in the master painter’s time, imagining what it was like in Rembrandt’s studio with the handsome, French musketeer modelling for his portrait.
Startled by a sound, Soli put her feet on the floor and sat up straight. Someone was at the back door. Two knocks twice. Only her friends at the secret art club or Nikolai rapped like that. She quickly went to answer.
“Oh, Nikolai.” She grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. “I’m so glad you’re here. I spent the evening with Professor Holst’s wife, and she hadn’t heard from her husband since yesterday morning. The painting is gone. And Heddy…where is she?”
“Come sit.” He seated himself on the sofa and patted the next cushion. “Birger and Arvid haven’t heard anything either.”
She settled next to him. “You look serious, Nikolai. What do you know?”
“Lieutenant Colonel Heinz Walter has returned.”
“No. Not this, as well. Why can’t that horrible man just stay in Germany?”
“He travels to find art pieces. Every time he thinks he has discovered something of value here, he shows up, bringing death and fear with him.”
“I hoped I never had to face him again.”
“Well, I think you should prepare yourself. Walter will most likely speak with the different gallery owners and art connoisseurs like yourself. He usually does.”
Soli sighed. “I can’t close the shop and run off every time he comes.”
“Tempting as that sounds, it would look suspicious.” Nikolai paused for a moment, resting his deep-blue eyes on her. “There’s more,” he said. “One of my men spotted the lieutenant colonel on the street outside Professor Holst’s office early this morning.”
Soli frowned. “How early?”
“Before we arrived.”
Soli jumped up and started pacing the room. “But that could mean…no…oh, Nikolai, did he see anything else?”
Nikolai shook his head. “Only that a car drove up and stopped by the entrance. Walter and a couple of his men walked into the building. My officer was on his way to work and didn’t think more about it at the time. My man had no idea what Walter was after. He only mentioned it in a briefing we had later this afternoon.”
“And you had to keep calm about the incident?”
“Yes, and it’s a struggle every day. Since the German occupants seized our police headquarters, they’ve arrested countless Norwegians for disobedience to the new regime. Even British citizens suspected of being secret agents have been incarcerated in the prison behind the office building. We can house about one hundred and fifty people there, but I’ve seen as many as five hundred or more crammed into the cells.” He grunted. “I need to lead my men by obeying the German regulations. The police force at 19 Moller Street is a combination of Nazi supporters and true Norwegians—not that they speak about it—but after working with them for years, I’ve learned to read which side they’re on.”
Soli touched his cheek. “You live a dangerous life, Nikolai Lange. You attend special events arranged by the Gestapo and leaders of the Nazi party, and in between, you’re collaborating with the resistance. How do you do it? You must be a great actor.”
He flashed that special smile that always made her knees go weak. “I don’t think Hollywood is ready for me, but I admit it takes a lot of concentration on my part, keeping the two roles separate and distinct. Fortunately, I’ve managed so far.”
“But it’s not safe.”
He shrugged. “Says you. The work you, Heddy, and the boys do is no walk in the park, either.” His face turned serious. “What are we going to do about Walter?”
October 2, 2022
Fortunate Son Thomas Tibor The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @thomastibor57 @maryanneyarde @cathiedunn
It is my pleasure to welcome Thomas Tibor as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between October 3rd — October 7th, 2022. Thomas Tibor is the author of the Historical Fiction, Fortunate Son, which was released by Zahav Brothers Publishing on February 2022 (338 pages).
Below are highlights of Fortunate Son, Thomas Tibor’s author bio, and an excerpt from his novel.
To follow the blog tour, CLICK Tour Schedule
HIGHLIGHTS: FORTUNATE SON
Fortunate Son
By Thomas Tibor
(Blurb)
A powerful, evocative novel that transports the reader to a tense period in America, Fortunate Son is set on a southern college campus during the turbulent spring of 1970. Reed Lawson, an ROTC cadet, struggles with the absence of his father, a Navy pilot who has been Missing in Action in Vietnam for three years.
While volunteering at a drug crisis center, Reed sets out to win the heart of a feminist co-worker who is grappling with a painful past, and to rescue a troubled teenage girl from self-destruction. In the process, he is forced to confront trauma’s tragic consequences and the fragile, tangled web of human connections.
Trigger warnings:
One aspect of this story dramatizes instances of self-harm and makes references to suicide.
Buy Links:
This book is available to read on #KindleUnlimited
Universal Buy Link 
Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon CA Amazon AU
Barnes and Noble: Not available yet; should be available soon.
AUTHOR BIO: THOMAS TIBOR
A veteran writer and video producer, Thomas Tibor has helped develop training courses focusing on mental health topics. In an earlier life, he worked as a counselor in the psychiatric ward of two big-city hospitals. He grew up in Florida and now lives in Northern Virginia. Fortunate Son is his first novel.
Social Media Links:
Website Twitter LinkedIn Amazon Author Page Goodreads
Instagram: thomastibor2
EXCERPT TWO: FORTUNATE SON
…An hour later, Adam watched with amusement as Reed drenched himself with Brut cologne, rubbed most of it off, and tried on different outfits.
First, he tried the hippie route—faded jeans, one of Adam’s worn-out flannel shirts left untucked. Nah, too affected. Next, the country-club look—light-blue button-down oxford, chinos, and Bass Weejuns. Too square. Finally, he settled into his comfort zone—polo shirt, jeans, and white Adidas.
“You’ve never spent this long getting ready for a date.”
“Yeah, well. This is different. She’s different.” Late the night before, Jordan had called and asked him to pick her up at six.
Driving to her house, he recalled the fantasy that had kept him aroused the night before.
He rolls up to Jordan’s house.
Dressed in skimpy cutoff jean shorts and a low-cut T-shirt, she greets him with a deep kiss.
As the Mustang rumbles along country roads, she tosses her windblown hair, laughs at Reed’s witty jokes, and praises his well-rehearsed left-wing propaganda.
And when they arrive at a lover’s lane deep in the woods, they waste no time.
Naked, she straddles him as they make passionate love in the front seat.
Reed waited on her doorstep in the glow of the sinking sun. Despite his fears about Annabel’s state of mind, perpetual anxiety about his father’s possible fate, and trepidation about talking to his mother on Easter Sunday, life was looking up in his small corner of the universe.
That is, until Olivia opened the door, blew her nose into a handkerchief, and glared at him as if he were a Bible salesman.
“Oh, it’s you.” She retreated, replaced by Jordan, who was looking sexy in tight jeans and the raised-fist feminist T-shirt.
“Hi, do you mind if Olivia tags along? She’s been psyched to see this flick.”
Reed managed a polite smile. “Yeah, no problem.” But it was a problem. Three’s a crowd. What was she thinking? He wanted to hold hands at the movie, share milkshakes afterward, drive somewhere and make out—your basic, grade A, All-American Date.
Olivia reappeared in her usual baggy overalls and work boots. “Let’s split. I want a good seat.”
Like air slowly hissing from a punctured balloon, his hopes for the evening dissipated on the way to the theater. Jordan sat in the passenger seat. Olivia sprawled lengthwise in back, the soles of her boots rubbing dirt on the immaculate vinyl.
Reed glanced back a few times before saying anything. “Sorry, but do you mind keeping your shoes off the seat?”
Rolling her eyes, Olivia reluctantly moved her long legs.
Jordan turned on the radio news.
“Yesterday,” the announcer was saying, “President Nixon announced further troop withdrawals from Vietnam over the next year, contingent on progress at the Paris peace talks.”
“What a load of bullshit,” Olivia said.
“Why is it bullshit?”
“Simple. Because the peace talks are bogus, a cover for Tricky Dicky to keep the war going.”
Reed scoffed. Everything Nixon did was bogus or outright evil to Olivia. “Why the hell would he do that?”
She leaned forward, head between the front seats, frizzy hair brushing his shoulders. “How naive can you be? Because it’s an imperialist war. We claim to defend democracy but undermine it instead. Do you realize the U.S. has supported the French colonialists in Vietnam since World War II? Do you realize Ho Chi Minh would have won eighty percent of the vote had elections been held in ’56? And do you realize just who prevented those elections from taking place? We did.”
“So let me get this straight . . . according to you, we’re the bad guys, and the North Vietnamese are the good guys?”
“That’s exactly right. Vietnam’s been fighting for its independence for decades, first against the French and now us. Ho Chi Minh is like, you know, their George Washington.”
“You have got to be shitting me!”
Jordan switched off the radio. “Enough already. It all sounds like a broken record. By the way, I think you missed the turn a few blocks back.”
September 28, 2022
Book Spotlight Tempted by Her Outcast Viking Lucy Morris Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour @LMorris_Author @cathiedunn
I am delighted to spotlight the Historical Romance / Viking Romance, Tempted by Her Outcast Viking [Shieldmaiden Sisters Trilogy (Book 2 of 3, all standalone romances)], by Lucy Morris in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held on 29th September 2022. Tempted by Her Outcast Viking Girl was released by Mills & Boon/ Harlequin Historical on 29th September 2022 (281 pages).
Below are highlights of Tempted by Her Outcast Viking and the author bio of Lucy Morris.
To follow the Blog Tour, CLICK Tour Schedule Page
HIGHLIGHTS: TEMPTED BY HER OUTCAST VIKING
Tempted by Her Outcast Viking
(Shieldmaiden Sisters Trilogy)
By Lucy Morris
(Blurb)
Tempted by the Warrior
But she’ll never wed
Brynhild had once been close to Erik – until he’d betrayed her, and she’d hoped never to see him again. Now the fiercely independent shieldmaiden needs Erik’s skills to rescue her sister. Striking a truce with the tough, isolated loner they reach a mutually beneficial deal: in return, she’ll help him in his quest to find a wife – by teaching him how to please a woman in bed…!
Buy Links:
AUTHOR BIO: LUCY MORRIS
Lucy Morris has always been obsessed with myths and legends. Her books blend sweeping romance with vivid worldbuilding to whisk you away to another time and place filled with adventure. Expect passion, drama and vibrant characters.
Lucy lives in Essex, UK, with her husband, two children, and two cats. She has a massively sweet tooth and loves Terry’s Chocolate Oranges and Irn-Bru. In her spare time she likes to explore castles with her family, or drink bubbly with her friends.
Social Media Links:
Website Twitter Facebook Instagram Book Bub Amazon Author Page Goodreads
September 19, 2022
Justin Newland The Old Dragon’s Head Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #HistoricalFiction #TheCoffeePotBookClub #BlogTour @Matador @drjustinnewland @cathiedunn
It is my pleasure to welcome back Justin Newland as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between September 19th — September 30th 2022. Justin Newland is the author of the Historical Fiction / Fantasy / Supernatural Thriller / Speculative Fiction, The Old Dragon’s Head, which was released by Troubador Publishing Ltd. on 28th November 2018 (257 pages).
Below are highlights of The Old Dragon’s Head, Justin Newland’s author bio, and an excerpt from his novel.
To follow the blog tour, CLICK Tour Schedule
HIGHLIGHTS: THE OLD DRAGON’S HEAD
The Old Dragon’s Head
by Justin Newland
(Blurb)
The Great Wall of China may be constructed of stone and packed earth, but it is home to a supernatural beast – the Old Dragon. Both wall and dragon protect China’s northern borders from Mongol incursion. Just beyond the fortress of Shanhaiguan, the far eastern end of the wall protrudes into the Bohai Sea – that’s the Old Dragon’s Head.
Bolin, a young man working on the Old Dragon’s Head, suffers visions of ghosts. The local seer suspects that he has yin-yang eyes and other supernatural gifts. Bolin’s fief lord, the Prince of Yan, rebels against his nephew, the Jianwen Emperor. In the bitter war of succession, the Mongols hold the balance of power. While the victor might win the battle on earth, China’s Dragon Throne can only be earned with a Mandate from Heaven – and the support of the Old Dragon.
In every era, a man endowed with the powers of heaven – the Dragon Master – is born. Only he can summon the Old Dragon, providing he possesses the dragon pearl. It’s the year 1402, and neither the Old Dragon, the dragon pearl, nor the Dragon Master, has been seen for twenty years.
Bolin’s journey of self-discovery is mirrored by that of old China, as both endeavour to come of age. When Bolin accepts his destiny as the Dragon Master, heaven sends a third coming of age – for humanity itself. But are any of them ready for what is rising in the east?
Buy Links:
Amazon
Amazon UK 
Amazon US Amazon CA Amazon (AU) Amazon (India)
Other stores:
Barnes and Noble Waterstones Kobo
Author’s Website (where buyers can enter a dedication to be signed by the author)
Blackwell’s (UK) Bol (NL) Books.Telegraph (UK) Publisher’s Website Saxo (DK) Scribd
Justin Newland is an author of historical fantasy and secret history thrillers – that’s history with a supernatural twist. His historical novels feature known events and real people from the past, which are re-told and examined through the lens of the supernatural.
His novels speculate on the human condition and explore the fundamental questions of our existence. As a species, as Homo sapiens sapiens – that’s man the twice-wise – how are we doing so far? Where is mankind’s spiritual home? What does it look or feel like? Would we recognise it if we saw it?
Undeterred by the award of a Doctorate in Mathematics from Imperial College, London, he found his way to the creative keyboard and conceived his debut novel, The Genes of Isis (Matador, 2018), an epic fantasy set under Ancient Egyptian skies.
Next came the supernatural thriller, The Old Dragon’s Head (Matador, 2018), set in Ming Dynasty China.
His third novel, The Coronation (Matador, 2019), speculates on the genesis of the most important event of the modern world – the Industrial Revolution.
His fourth, The Abdication (Matador, 2021), is a supernatural thriller in which a young woman confronts her faith in a higher purpose and what it means to abdicate that faith.
His stories add a touch of the supernatural to history and deal with the themes of war, religion, evolution and the human’s place in the universe.
He was born three days before the end of 1953 and lives with his partner in plain sight of the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England.
Social Media Links:
Website Twitter: @drjustinnewland Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Amazon Author Page Goodreads
Nanjing, China.
In the Chinese Year of the Goat, 23rd January, 1368.
I, Zhu Yuanzhang, have expelled the Mongol invader. For too many winters, we have suffered at the hands of the barbarian. I will restore the greatness of China both in Heaven and on earth.
While my followers exhorted me to grasp the Mandate of Heaven, I dared not do so without a propitious sign.
Five days ago, on a cold, snowy day, I erected an altar of worship to the Supreme Cosmic Deity. I prayed that if the Lord on High approved of my new ruling house, then the appointed day of my enthronement – 23rd of January, 1368 – would be a bright day.
Today is that day and, miracle of miracles, the warm rays of the sun pierce the gloom and have melted the frozen earth. The Lord on High has heard my supplication. The Yang exerts itself upon the Yin. The order of the Tao is restored. Thus, I take my seat on the Dragon Throne.
As a bright day in Heaven means a bright day on earth, I name this the Ming – the Bright – Dynasty.
Zhu Yuanzhang, the Hongwu Emperor.
From The Great Ming Code
September 18, 2022
Paul Walker A Turbulent Peace Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @PWalkerauthor @cathiedunn
It is my pleasure to welcome Paul Walkler as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between September 19th — September 23th 2022. Paul Walker is the author of the Historical Fiction, A Turbulent Peace, which was released by Sharpe Books on 22nd July 2022 (305 pages).
Below are highlights of A Turbulent Peace, Paul Walker’s author bio, and an excerpt from his novel.
To follow the blog tour, CLICK Tour Schedule
HIGHLIGHTS: A TURBULENT PEACE
A Turbulent Peace
by Paul Walker
(Blurb)
January 1919.
Following the armistice, Mary Kiten, a volunteer nurse in northern France, is ready to return home to England when she receives a surprise telegram requesting that she report to Paris. The call comes from her Uncle Arthur, a security chief at the Peace Conference.
Within minutes of arriving at the Majestic Hotel in Paris, Mary hears a commotion in the street outside. A man has been shot and killed. She is horrified to learn that the victim is her uncle. The police report the attack as a chance robbery by a known thief, who is tracked down and killed resisting arrest.
Mary is not convinced. Circumstances and the gunshot wound do not indicate theft as a motive. A scribbled address on Arthur’s notepad leads to her discovery of another body, a Russian Bolshevik. She suspects her uncle, and the Russian, were murdered by the same hand.
To investigate further, Mary takes a position working for the British Treasury, headed by J M Keynes.
But Mary soon finds herself in the backstreets of Paris and the criminal underworld.
What she discovers will threaten the foundations of the congress.
Buy Links:
This book is available to read on #KindleUnlimited
Universal Link Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon CA Amazon AU
Paul lives in a village 30 miles north of London where he is a full-time writer of fiction and part-time director of an education trust. His writing in a posh garden shed is regularly disrupted by children, a growing number of grandchildren and several dogs.
Paul writes historical fiction. The William Constable series of historical thrillers is based around real characters and events in the late sixteenth century. The first two books in the series – “State of Treason” and “A Necessary Killing”, were published in 2019. The third book, titled “The Queen’s Devil”, was published in the summer of 2020.
Travel forward a few hundred years from Tudor England to January 1919 in Paris and the setting for Paul’s latest book, “A Turbulent Peace”. The focus of the World is on the Peace Conference after WW1 armistice. Add a dash of Spanish Flu, the fallout from the Russian Revolution, and you have a background primed for intrigue as nations strive for territory, power and money.
Social Media Links:
Website Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Amazon Author Page Goodreads
Wimereux, France
Monday, 6 January 1919
I hefted the leather suitcase and closed the door to my room without a backward glance. The promenade at Wimereux was a grey and cheerless place. We temporary residents referred to it as Pancake City, and I had been unable to find a more interesting explanation on the origin of the nickname than our partiality for the offerings of traders on the sea front. Predictably, there were no carts or kiosks in sight at that time of year. I used to scoff at the old adage, too cold to snow; nonsense of course, but on that day I could believe it. The icy chill in the air seemed too stiff and unyielding for anything as soft and delicate as a snowflake. I shivered as the razor-sharp bite of the offshore breeze twisted and poked its way through my winter coat. I stopped in the shelter of a hut, tightened my scarf, raised my coat collar and stamped my feet. The beach was deserted and a crashing, resentful sea was empty save for the distant, blurred outline of a ship disappearing into the gloom. Destination Dover, perhaps. Kent. Home. A day or two more and I would be there. It was almost three years since I had said a tearful goodbye to Mother, and I would return a different person. For her sake, I would have to try and recover some of the innocence and joy I left behind when I crossed the Channel.
It was only a few hundred yards from my lodgings to Hotel Splendide, or Stationary Hospital 14, as it had been known since late 1914. Before the war, I was told the town was an elegant and lively place – the Nice of the North. Now, the smart hotels and villas along the front, empty if not requisitioned for hospital or military use, gave an air of anti-climax and melancholy. I passed the main hotel entrance and headed for the casino at the side. Offering a sympathetic smile to the sentry outside, I entered what had become the administrative and supply centre for the region. The entrance hall was stacked with blankets, mattresses, bed frames, pots, pans; everything an army hospital might need, except surgical instruments and medication. The sergeant outside Faulkner’s office tapped the door, opened it, announced my name, then closed it behind me. The Colonel barely lifted his head to notice my entry and continued to write in a ledger. A trim man in his late thirties, his appearance matched the laboured and precise progress of his writing. He finished, moved the ledger to one side, placed his pen inside a hinged wooden box, then gazed at me as though startled to see someone standing on the other side of his desk.
‘Ah, yes, Miss Kiten, do take a seat.’ He made an extravagant show of raising an arm to check his wristwatch. ‘I was beginning to wonder what had delayed you.’
‘Thank you, Colonel and my apologies if I kept you waiting.’ I watched as he reached for a paper on top of a tray to his left. ‘Am I going home at last?’
He looked at me over his spectacles, then removed them and cleared his throat. ‘I’m afraid not. We had a telegram this morning.’ He smoothed out the paper creases on his desk. ‘You are due on the next train to Paris.’
‘Paris? I thought…? Why? What does it say?’ I couldn’t understand. Perhaps there had been a mistake.
He raised an eyebrow. It seemed my initial reaction was unexpected. ‘Of course, you don’t have to go, Miss Kiten. After all, you’re a volunteer.’ He replaced his spectacles and scanned the paper again. ‘Which is why it was such a surprise to get a telegram like this.’ He paused and shook his head as though finding the words difficult to comprehend. ‘Why on earth is the War Office sending a telegram to a volunteer nurse?’ His question was a rhetorical one, spoken as though I wasn’t present.
‘The War Office?’
‘Yes, it seems they have a position in mind for you.’
‘A… position?’
He ran a finger along his moustache and stared into the distance as though trying to solve a mental puzzle, then clicked his tongue and said, ‘One can only assume it’s concerned with the Peace Conference, although it doesn’t say as much. There is an urgent need for someone with language skills and apparently, you fit the bill.’ He looked up from the telegram. ‘You do have a facility with foreign languages?’
‘Yes, yes, but who would know that? Surely there are others more suited?’
‘There’s very little detail about the position, but I shouldn’t worry yourself unduly. These orders are often brief and to the point.’ He sat back in his chair and clasped his hands together. ‘I know any of my men would jump at the chance for a posting in Paris, and I would be delighted to be transferred there. Now hostilities are over, the theatres, galleries and restaurants will be ready and eager to entertain you.’
‘I… this is… unexpected. I thought I would…’
‘Yes, I understand this is a surprise, and I’m sure you want to get back home, but you may come to regard it as a reward; a thank you for your sterling efforts during the war.’
‘Where do I go? Is there a contact name? Sir.’
‘You are to report to Mr Arthur Burgess at the Majestic Hotel on Avenue Kleber. I understand the Majestic is one of the main hotels requisitioned for British delegates at the Peace Congress.’
Arthur. It started to make some sort of sense. I should have made the connection between Paris and Arthur. But why send a telegram to Faulkner? ‘I know Mr Burgess, He’s a long-standing family friend. Does he say… Is there a personal message for me?’
‘Personal – no, I’m afraid not. The telegram is signed AB, Head of International Security in the War Office. So, he’s a pretty important fellow, your Mr Burgess.’
‘Yes, I know he works in the War Office, but I had no warning that he might…’
‘Take a look for yourself, Miss Kiten.’ He handed over the telegram.
I scanned it quickly. Abbreviated staccato phrases, much as Faulkner had reported; nothing remotely conversational or familiar. Disappointed. Intrigued. Whatever was behind the telegram, there was no way I could deny ‘Uncle’ Arthur.
‘Thank you, sir. I’m ready to go. To Paris.’
‘Good, that’s the spirit.’ He checked his watch. ‘There’s a train in forty minutes. See Sergeant Chambers out there would you. He’ll organise your discharge, travel documents and with a bit of luck, there’ll be a motor car available to get you to the station on time.’
September 11, 2022
The Muse of Freedom Jules Larimore Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #historicalfiction #BlogTours #TheCoffeePotBookClub @jules_larimore @cathiedunn
I am delighted to spotlight the Historical Fiction / Renaissance Fiction / Sagas, The Muse of Freedom (Cévenoles Sagas), by Jules Larimore in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held on September 8th. The Muse of Freedom will be released by Mystic Lore Books being held between September 12th and September 16th, 2022 (454 pages).
Below are highlights of The Muse of Freedom and Jules Larimore’s author bio.
To follow the blog tour, CLICK Tour Schedule
HIGHLIGHTS : THE MUSE OF FREEDOM
The Muse of Freedom
A Cévenoles Sagas Novel
By Jules Larimore
(Blurb)
First in the series from The Cévenole s Sagas is THE MUSE OF FREEDOM.
“Brilliantly told, a story that will stick with you long after you’ve turned the last page . . . fresh and compelling, as relevant now as it was then.”~ Janet Wertman, award-winning author of The Seymour Saga trilogy
A French Huguenot apothecary’s legacy of secrets, a mystic healer’s inspiration, a fateful decision.
In the mysterious Cévennes mountains of Languedoc, France, 1695, Jehan BonDurant, a young nobleman forcibly held in a Dominican prieuré as a child, comes of age only to inherit a near-derelict estate and his Huguenot family’s dangerous legacy of secrets. While he cherishes his newfound freedom apprenticing as an apothecary, his outrage mounts over religious persecutions led by King Louis XIV’s Intendant Basville, who is sent to enforce the King’s will for “One King, One Law, One Faith”.
The ensuing divisions among families and friends and the gradual revelation of his own circumstances lead Jehan to question his spiritual choices. A journey deep into the heart of the Cévennes in search of guidance, unfolds in a way he least expects when he enters the enchanting Gorges du Tarn. There he discovers his muse, Amelia Auvrey, a free-spirited, mystic holy woman who reveals ancient healing practices and spiritual mysteries.
Together they quest for peace and spiritual freedom by aiding the persecuted until the Intendant’s spy reports their activities and the King’s dragoons are sent out after them. To retain their freedom, they must choose to live in hiding in a remote wilderness, join a festering uprising against the persecutions, or flee their cherished homeland with thousands of other refugees in search of hope.
Inspired by the true story of Jean Pierre Bondurant dit Cougoussac, distilled and blended with Cévenole magic lore, this is an inspiring coming of age story and family saga of courage, tenacity, and the power of love in a country rife with divisions under the control of an authoritarian king obsessed with power.
Fans of Poldark, Magic Lessons, The Lost Apothecary, and The Huguenot Chronicles will find thematic elements from those stories melded into this thrilling and obscure slice of French history.
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Jules Larimore writes emotive, literary-leaning historical fiction to inspire positive change for the oppressed and refugees, and to encourage an intimate relationship with the natural environment.
Influenced by a background in freelance travel writing, Jules uses captivating historical settings as characters. Then distills and blends them with a dose of magic, myth, and romance to bring to life hopeful human stories. A previous career in marketing offered an outlet for creative writing used to romance brands with mystery, excitement, and remoteness from everyday life.
With a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University, Jules has studied medieval history, ancient Greek culture, anthropology, folklore, narrative composition, and architectural design, and has trained under writing geniuses Libbie Hawker/Olivia Hawker and Roz Morris. While investigating the ancestor who inspired The Muse of Freedom, Jules researched late 17th century Languedoc customs, politics, and spiritual traditions specific to the little known Cévennes mountains of south-central France, culminating in a rich repository to feed future novels about the Cévenol people and culture.
Jules lives primarily in Ojai, California, with time spent around the U.S. and in various countries in Europe gathering more treasures in a continued search for authenticity.
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September 7, 2022
Helen Steadman God of Fire Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #HistoricalFantasy #CoffeePotBookClub #BlogTour @hsteadman1650 @maryanneyarde @cathiedunn
I am delighted to spotlight the Historical Fantasy, God by Fire, by Helen Steadman in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held on September 8th. God of Fire will be released by Bell Jar Books on September 13th, 2022 (350 pages). The audiobook narrator is Christopher Swift.
Below are highlights of God of Fire and Helen Steadman’s author bio.
To follow The blog tour, CLICK Tour Schedule Page
HIGHLIGHTS: GOD OF FIRE By Helen Steadman
‘Love was surely the greatest punishment of all’
He’s a rejected immortal. But can this magical blacksmith fight against fate and overcome the darkness of his past?
Hephaestus fears he’ll never be accepted. Cast down from Olympus and raised by a powerful sea witch, he sets out on a quest to discover his unknown father’s true identity. But he struggles to be taken seriously by the other gods who only want him for his ingenious inventions.
Convinced that solving his paternity will help him earn the love he seeks, the god of fire traps his mother and refuses to free her until she reveals a name. But when he uncovers a terrifying truth, he finds himself with more enemies than allies amongst the wrathful Olympians.
Can Hephaestus unlock buried secrets and prove himself worthy?
God of Fire is an imaginative standalone historical fantasy. If you like forgotten legends, fantastic beasts, and dark tales punctuated with humour, then you’ll adore Helen Steadman’s fascinating expedition into mythology.
Buy God of Fire to unravel the mysteries of ancient Greece today!
Recommended for fans of Mythos, Song of Achilles, Circe and Pandora’s Jar.
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AUTHOR BIO: HELEN STEADMAN
Dr Helen Steadman is a historical novelist. Her first novel, Widdershins, and its sequel, Sunwise, were inspired by the seventeenth-century Newcastle witch trials. Her third novel, The Running Wolf, was inspired by the Shotley Bridge swordmakers, who defected from Solingen, Germany in 1687. Helen’s fourth novel will be published on 13 September 2022. This is God of Fire, a Greek myth retelling about Hephaestus, possibly the least well-known of the Olympians. Helen is now working on her fifth novel.
Despite the Newcastle witch trials being one of the largest mass executions of witches on a single day in England, they are not widely known about. Helen is particularly interested in revealing hidden histories and she is a thorough researcher who goes to great lengths in pursuit of historical accuracy. To get under the skin of the cunning women in Widdershins and Sunwise, Helen trained in herbalism and learned how to identify, grow and harvest plants and then made herbal medicines from bark, seeds, flowers and berries.
The Running Wolf is the story of a group of master swordmakers who defected from Solingen, Germany and moved to Shotley Bridge, England in 1687. As well as carrying out in-depth archive research and visiting forges in Solingen to bring her story to life, Helen also undertook blacksmith training, which culminated in making her own sword. During her archive research, Helen uncovered a lot of new material and she published her findings in the Northern History journal
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September 6, 2022
M. B. Zucker The Eisenhower Chronicles Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #HistoricalBiography #WWII #Eisenhower #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @MBZuckerBooks @MichaelZucker1 @maryanneyarde
It is my pleasure to welcome M. B. Zucker as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between September 5th — September 9th. M. B. Zucker is the author of the Historical Fiction / Historical Biography, The Eisenhower Chronicles, which was released by Historium Press Books on 26th July 2022 (496 pages). The cover design is by White Rabbit Arts
Below are highlights of The Eisenhower Chronicles, M. B. Zucker’s author bio, and an excerpt from his book.
To follow the blog tour, CLICK Tour Schedule
HIGHLIGHTS: THE EISENHOWER CHRONICLES
The Eisenhower Chronicles
By M. B. Zucker
Blurb
In 1938 he was a lieutenant colonel stationed in the Philippines; by 1945 the world proclaimed him its savior. From leading the forces of liberal democracy against history’s most evil tyrant to the presidency, Dwight D. Eisenhower fought for and kept the peace during the most dangerous era in history.
The Eisenhower Chronicles dramatizes Ike’s life, portraying his epic journey from unknown soldier to global hero as only a novel could. He is shown working with icons such as FDR, Winston Churchill, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and confronting challenges like D-Day, the Little Rock Crisis, and Sputnik.
Eisenhower’s legacy is grounded in defending the world from fascism, communism, and nuclear weapons. This novel shows how he accomplished it all and takes readers into his mind and soul, grounding the history in the man who made it.
Advance Praise:
“An ambitious novel that illuminates the complexity of one of the great figures of the twentieth century. Ike’s homespun manner concealed a remarkably skilled, at times Machiavellian, leader who guided the nation through perilous times. M.B. Zucker brings us inside Eisenhower’s world as he wrestles with a series of decisions affecting the survival of free government and the fate of humanity. This is a fun, fast-paced, informative read that captures the man and his times. Highly recommended.” -Stephen F. Knott, Professor of National Security at the Naval War College and author of Washington and Hamilton: The Alliance that Forged America
“A most important aspect of M. B. Zucker’s The Eisenhower Chronicles is that it dispels at least two myths about Ike’s presidency: that it was but an appendage to his illustrious military career; and, that Eisenhower was more prone to react to events rather than shape them. In a lively and innovative style, Zucker shows his readers how Ike managed the Cold War during its most dangerous period and helped make his country a more fair and just society at home. A must read for anyone interested in mid-20th century America.”-Alvin S. Felzenberg, presidential historian and author of The Leaders We Deserved and a Few We Didn’t
“Zucker’s achievement is monumental. In a fast-paced narrative, he captures Dwight D. Eisenhower with mastery and precision-his thoughts, emotions, decisions, and actions. The smooth prose and rich detail put the reader right there with Ike at every step of his military career and presidency, with an accurate and compelling rendering. This is historical fiction at its best.” -Yanek Mieczkowski, presidential historian and author of Eisenhower’s Sputnik Moment: The Race for Space and World Prestige
This is a vast and minutely detailed account of Eisenhower as both supreme Warlord and President of the United States at a time of truly massive transformation.It is magisterial in its informed account and sweeping in its scope. It is a panoramic study, intensively researched, of Eisenhower as both a private person and a world figure…. Five stars and highly recommended.”– The Historical Fiction Company Editorial Reviews
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M. B. Zucker has been interested in storytelling for as long as he can remember. He discovered his love of history at fifteen and studied Dwight Eisenhower for over ten years. Mr. Zucker earned his B.A. at Occidental College and his J.D. at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He lives in Virginia with his wife.
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by M. B. Zucker
“Gentlemen, the President!” Cutler’s Boston Brahmin accent cut through the air. The entire National Security Council stood as Ike entered the Cabinet Room.
“Be seated,” Ike muttered curtly. His advisors sat down and noticed Ike’s brown plaid suit. That suit was a terrifying sight in the Eisenhower White House. It was the President’s signal that he was angry and not to be trifled with. Ike sat at the head of the table.
“I want to start with what we discussed in last week’s meeting. The issue of the Soviet H-bomb and the likelihood that they’ll hit us with it in the near future.”
“I fully believe this prediction will come to pass. It’s why we need to roll back communism. Or contain it at the very least,” Nixon interjected, determined to assert himself as a competent foreign policy thinker among the older, more experienced statesmen.
“It’s too expensive, Mr. Vice President,” Humphrey replied. “The Treasury Department’s analysis shows that NSC 68 will lead to a debt crisis by the decade’s end. We’ve avoided one already only because we ended the war in Korea and Truman’s wage and price controls.”
“Can we review what NSC 68 entails?” Ike asked. “We should be on the same page with what we’re dealing with here.” He turned to Cutler. “Robert, do you mind?”
“Of course, Mr. President,” Cutler replied as he glanced at his notes. “NSC 68 marked the final culmination of the Truman administration’s Cold War strategy. The document was written by Paul Nitze in 1950 and predicted that the Soviets would launch a nuclear strike on the US homeland in 1954 and that the US needed huge conventional forces to carry on the fight against communism after the Soviet strike. President Truman implemented the document after North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950, legitimizing Nitze’s predictions of a global communist conspiracy for world domination. This authorization quadrupled military spending to around sixty billion dollars by 1953. That dwarfs the annual level of defense spending during World War II.”
“And it will bankrupt the country if we maintain that level of spending for much longer,” Humphrey stated, slowly emphasizing each word and moving his thumb and index finger together as one unit. “We need to change the way we think about this situation. Opposing communism abroad and our finances at home are part of the same challenge. We need to think of the national debt as a greater threat to national security than the Soviet Union.”
“That’s absurd,” Admiral Radford replied. Radford was the architect of the US Navy’s aviation program during World War II and had recently succeeded Omar Bradley as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “The Reds are a bigger threat to the Free World than the Axis ever was. They threaten our security more than Robert E. Lee did 90 years ago. No amount of spending is too much in crushing them and their mission of world-wide tyranny.”
“I agree with George,” Ike responded. “We can’t afford to bankrupt ourselves in search of security. We’ll lose our freedoms and everything we’re trying to defend from the communists if we do.”
“I respectfully disagree, Mr. President,” Radford replied.
Ike frowned as he leaned forward in his chair. Most of the government thought the Soviets intended to launch a nuclear strike on the US within a year. Ike was skeptical of that prediction but knew they had to oppose communism. At the same time, he knew everyone but Secretary Humphrey and himself was prepared to spend as much as possible on the military for the duration of the Cold War. Ike believed that threatened America’s democratic way of life. But his nightmare from a few days ago had led him to think of another option for this situation. He decided to play the devil’s advocate to provoke a debate on his radical idea.
“I want us to consider the following thought experiment: Would it be morally wrong not to attack the Soviets before they have the capacity to hit the US? It looks to me as though the hour of decision is at hand, and that we presently have to face the question of whether we would throw everything at once against the enemy. The question can no longer be ignored. It’s our duty to answer it. Otherwise, we risk the likelihood of a giant nuclear Pearl Harbor.”
A grim silence sucked the life from the room. The prospect was horrifying. No one knew how to approach this hypothetical.
Dulles broke the silence. “To clarify, Mr. President, you’re talking about a preventive strike intended to destroy the entirety of the Soviet Union?”
“That’s correct, Foster. It’s the only way to guarantee that we’re neither hit ourselves nor that we’re forced to bankrupt ourselves.”
“Wouldn’t we also have to destroy the rest of the Iron Curtain? And Red China?” Allen Dulles asked, twirling an unlit pipe between his fingers under the conference table.
“We could consider that,” Ike replied. The men were tense for several long moments.
This time Radford broke the silence.
“This idea is logical. Communism must be opposed but the President and treasury secretary believe containment is too expensive. It is inevitable that the Soviets will hit us within a year or two if we don’t act preventively. They have a nuclear arsenal but lack the capacity to strike our mainland. We should take advantage of this fact before they develop that capacity.” The Dulles brothers, Nixon, and Cutler all nodded with Radford’s words. Ike folded his arms as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs continued. “When I led a carrier group in ‘45, we firebombed Japanese cities where the buildings were made of wood and paper. It caused an inferno, but we were tasked with killing the bastards scientifically. We can now do the same with the Soviets.”
Ike’s stomach clenched. He wanted to vomit and felt his temples sweat as his insides somersaulted. He did not expect his advisors to consolidate around the idea of destroying Russia so quickly.
If I pull the trigger on this, that’s my legacy. Not Overlord, not the lasting peace I wanted to build. But the destruction of over 100 million people. And that’s only if we stop at Russia. These monkeys will want to take out the entire Eastern Bloc and China too. It will be far worse than the two World Wars combined. The story of this century will be of two wars that propelled America to world leadership and within ten years of that leadership America committed by far the greatest atrocity in the history of our species. My name will be permanently condemned as a butcher who made Hitler look saintly in comparison.
“You’re all on board with this?” Ike growled.
“We have to deal with the world as it is. Not as we would like it to be,” Dulles replied.
“This may very well be our best option. We can’t let the Soviets win or risk their hitting us on the one hand, but on the other we can’t afford to contain them with NSC 68,” Nixon said.
What credentials does he even have to give that type of advice? Ike thought, glaring at his Vice President but holding back his criticism.
“Should we notify the NATO allies of our intentions?” Wilson asked.
“It’s far too early for that,” Ike replied. “This concept is still in its cradle.”
“It would be the financially responsible thing to do,” Humphrey said, throwing in his two cents.
Ike turned to his treasury secretary, with whom he usually agreed on most issues.
“We’re talking about hundreds of millions of lives, George. This is about more than money.”
“I don’t understand, Mr. President,” Humphrey replied as he shifted his posture. “You raised this idea as an alternative to NSC 68. You wanted a way to protect the free world from communism without bankrupting ourselves and sacrificing the Constitution to a Garrison State. Why shouldn’t we weigh the financial costs?”
“I want us to keep in mind the Ukrainian villagers that would be incinerated by this idea. There’s more at stake than money,” Ike responded.
“No one wants to incinerate Ukrainian villagers,” Dulles interjected. “But our foremost job is to protect Americans. And the American people face an imminent existential threat that will lose no sleep incinerating them at the first opportunity. We have a short window to prevent that, and I think we should take it. It’s not our fault that Ukrainian villagers live under an atheistic, demonic ideology that seeks to destroy us.”
“But must this be so zero sum?” Ike asked, his temper rising. “Must this be our lives or theirs?”
“President Lincoln, the wisest man to ever hold this office, once said that a house divided against itself could not stand—” Nixon began.
“He didn’t say that two houses constructed differently, of different materials, of different appearance could not stand in peace within the same block. So, Lincoln’s analogy doesn’t apply to us and the communists.”
“Mr. President,” Wilson began, “You did what was necessary to defend freedom when you invaded Normandy in ‘44. That was the largest operation in history. Millions were involved. I don’t understand the difference between that and this idea.”
“That was clearly necessary,” Ike replied. “I want to make sure that there are no alternatives before we contemplate something so horrible as this option.”
“I don’t see what our alternatives are,” Humphrey said. “The Reds know they can only truly defeat us by attacking our economy. NSC 68 plays directly into their hands on that point.”
“I would add that allowing the Soviets to develop the capacity to hit us with atomic weapons would be incredibly irresponsible,” Radford stated. “History will draw comparisons to President Buchanan allowing the South to secede before the Civil War. So, to return to the Vice President’s Lincoln analogy, doing the preventive strike that you originally suggested might be the Lincolnian position here.”
Ike continued to feel sick as he thought about this conversation.
It’s insane that they’ve all jumped onto this idea so quickly. I’m still not convinced that the Russians plan on hitting us and triggering a nuclear exchange. They fought tooth and nail to defeat Hitler and the boys currently running the Kremlin survived Stalin’s terror. They’re not suicidal. They’re survivors. It doesn’t make any sense that they would provoke their own destruction. But that still leaves the problem of NSC 68. George is right that it is way too expensive. It’ll bankrupt the country, which must be avoided if democracy is to survive. But that doesn’t mean we can simply give up on containment. Moscow would rule the world in no time. The nation of Washington and Lincoln cannot be allowed to fall to the ideology of Marx and Lenin! If only there was another option to allow us to contain communism without breaking the bank on such large-scale forces. It doesn’t help that maintaining such a huge military creates the ability, and therefore the pressure, to wage more limited wars like Korea. I have to find a way to keep us out of war without giving up on containment and without bankrupting the country.
Ike flexed his mental muscle to calm his stomach as he leaned forward. “We’ve beat this subject to death. Let’s move on to another. We should make our mistakes slowly and proceed cautiously.”
Specially Priced Preorder of Skull’s Vengeance Ebook
Specially Priced Pre-order of Skull’s Vengeance Ebook
Universal Release on October 18, 2022
SKULL’S VENGEANCE(Curse of Clansmen and Kings, Book 4)
A Celtic warrior queen must do the impossible—defeat her sorcerer half-brother and claim the throne.
But to do so, she must learn how to strike vengeance from her father’s skull.
AS FORETOLD BY HER FATHER in a vision, Catrin has become a battle-hardened warrior after her trials in the Roman legion and gladiatorial games. She must return to Britannia and pull the cursed dagger out of the serpent’s stone to fulfill her destiny. Only then can she unleash the vengeance from the ancient druids to destroy her evil half-brother, the powerful sorcerer, King Marrock. Always two steps ahead and seemingly unstoppable, Marrock can summon destructive natural forces to crush any rival trying to stop him and has charged his deadliest assassin to bring back Catrin’s head.
To have the slightest chance of beating Marrock, Catrin must forge alliances with former enemies, but she needs someone she can trust. Her only option is to seek military aid from Marcellus—her secret Roman husband. They rekindle their burning passion, but he is playing a deadly game in the political firestorm of the Julio-Claudian dynasty to support Catrin’s cause.
Ultimately, in order to defeat Marrock, Catrin must align herself with a dark druidess and learn how to summon forces from skulls to exact vengeance. But can she and Marcellus outmaneuver political enemies from Rome and Britannia in their quest to vanquish Marrock?
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August 17, 2022
Skull’s Vengeance by Linnea Tanner Launch Date October 18, 2022 #HistoricalFantasy #NewRelease #FantasyHistorical #CelticFantasy #AncientRome #Britannia
The Moment is Near!
The Official Launch Date of Skull’s Vengeance is October 18, 2022!
The epic journey continues for Catrin and Marcellus as they reunite in their quest to overthrow her half-brother, King Marrock.
A specially priced pre-order is coming soon, so be on the lookout.
Below is a review of Skull’s Vengeance by D. L. Finn for Readers’ Favorite.
“It’s always refreshing to be able to enjoy a book series at whichever point you join in, and Linnea Tanner does a great job of bringing readers directly into the action whilst also feeding the relevant backstory into the novel early on to make sure that we learn or remember important series details for everything to make sense. After this, the plot rockets off at a fantastic pace that amps up the tension at every turn, making for a surprisingly quick read filled with passion, bloodshed, and some very cinematic and exciting dark magic to top it all off. I enjoyed Marrock as a central villain with credible powers that make good sense according to the work’s internal logic, and the climax of the work serves to test Catrin’s mettle and keep readers’ hearts in their throats. I would certainly recommend Skull’s Vengeance to fans of the existing series, and Tanner’s writing to fantasy readers everywhere.”
So, without further ado, let me introduce you to…
SKULL’S VENGEANCE(Curse of Clansmen and Kings, Book 4)
A Celtic warrior queen must do the impossible—defeat her sorcerer half-brother and claim the throne.
But to do so, she must learn how to strike vengeance from her father’s skull.
AS FORETOLD BY HER FATHER in a vision, Catrin has become a battle-hardened warrior after her trials in the Roman legion and gladiatorial games. She must return to Britannia and pull the cursed dagger out of the serpent’s stone to fulfill her destiny. Only then can she unleash the vengeance from the ancient druids to destroy her evil half-brother, the powerful sorcerer, King Marrock. Always two steps ahead and seemingly unstoppable, Marrock can summon destructive natural forces to crush any rival trying to stop him and has charged his deadliest assassin to bring back Catrin’s head.
To have the slightest chance of beating Marrock, Catrin must forge alliances with former enemies, but she needs someone she can trust. Her only option is to seek military aid from Marcellus—her secret Roman husband. They rekindle their burning passion, but he is playing a deadly game in the political firestorm of the Julio-Claudian dynasty to support Catrin’s cause.
Ultimately, in order to defeat Marrock, Catrin must align herself with a dark druidess and learn how to summon forces from skulls to exact vengeance. But can she and Marcellus outmaneuver political enemies from Rome and Britannia in their quest to vanquish Marrock?
LAUNCH TEAM
For those interested in becoming part of my launch team, please e-mail me at linnea@linneatanner with the subject line: LAUNCH TEAM. I’ll be in contact to suggest ways you can help me in the successful launch of Skulls’ Vengeance.
