Linnea Tanner's Blog, page 7
December 16, 2024
Book Review On a Sword’s Edge JR Tomlin #OnASwordsEdge #HistoricalFiction #ScottishHistoricalFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @jeannetomlin @cathiedunn
I’m delighted to welcome JR Tomlin as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour, being held between December 9th – 20th, 2024. JR Tomlin is the author of the Historical Fiction / Scottish Historical Fiction, On a Sword’s Edge (The Swords of Scotland), independently released on November 16th, 2024 (159 pages).
Below are highlights of On a Sword’s Edge, JR Tomlin’s author bio, and my 5-star review of the compelling, coming-of-age novel set in medieval Scotland.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/09/blog-tour-on-a-swords-edge-by-j-r-tomlin.html
HIGHLIGHTS: ON A SWORD’S EDGE
On a Sword’s Edge
(The Swords of Scotland)
by J R Tomlin
Blurb:
Scotland. 1263. The scent of rain mingles with the smoke of campfires as word spreads: the Norse are coming…
As tempers rise between King Alexander and the Norse King Haakon, at the center of it all is sixteen-year-old William Douglas, a squire in service to Sir John Stewart, Lord High Steward of Scotland.
When Haakon’s fearsome fleet is espied approaching Scotland’s shores, carrying the greatest invasion force the Norse have ever mustered, the dread of battle settles over the land. Summoned to Ayr Castle, William joins the Scottish forces in a desperate defense. Now tasked with serving his newly knighted brother, Hugh, William has little time to dwell on the fear – or thrill – of his first real taste of war.
And once the Norse’s menacing line of ships finally touches shore, Scotland’s fate may rest on more than noble titles and knightly deeds— it’ll take the mettle of every soul on the ground for them to triumph.
Set against the wind-swept coast of medieval Scotland, On a Sword’s Edge takes you right into the center of The Battle of Largs alongside a mere – yet fearless – squire.
Triggers Points: Some fairly bloody fights.
Buy Link:
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/3R7l8D
AUTHOR BIO: JR TOMLIN
R. Tomlin is the author of more than twenty historical novels, set for the most part in Scotland. Her love of that nation is traced from the stories of King Robert the Bruce and the Good Sir James her grandmother read to her when she was small to hillwalking through the Cairngorms where the granite hills have a gorgeous red glow under the setting sun. Later, her writing was influenced by the work of authors such as Alexander Dumas, Victor Hugo, and of course, Sir Walter Scott.
When JR isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time hiking, playing with her Westie, and killing monsters in computer games. In addition to having lived in Scotland, she has traveled in the US, Europe and the Pacific Rim. She now lives in Oregon in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Author Links:
Website: https://www.jrtomlin.com
Twitter: https://x.com/TomlinJeanne
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jrtomlin.bsky.social
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-r-tomlin
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/jrtomlin
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4094154.J_R_Tomlin
BOOK REVIEW: ON A SWORD’S EDGE
On a Sword’s Edge by JR Tomlin sweeps you into medieval Scotland where the Norse King Haakon threatens to invade. The coming-of-age historical fiction is told from the first-person perspective of William Douglas, the sixteen-year-old squire to Sir John Stewart. Like most young men his age, William seeks glory in battle. When Haakon’s ships reach the seacoast near Largs, many of his ships aground. William gets his first taste of battle as he watches his oldest brother fall in battle as the Scottish forces under the sovereignty of King Alexander III successfully force the Norseman into retreat. William only has a short time to grieve his brother’s death and to celebrate the victory when King Alexander summons his troops to assert Scottish control over the Isles of Man and Islay.
Author Tomlin has demonstrated meticulous research on this period of Scottish history that is less known. Not only are the battle scenes riveting, but the story vividly describes the customs and culture of Middle Ages Scotland. The colloquial language spoken at the time is woven into the dialogue to give the story a realistic depiction of the era. A glossary of words helps the reader navigate through the dialogue, which becomes more natural to read by the end of the novel. The epic battle scenes are riveting, but a respite in the book gives a flavor of everyday life and mores through the eyes of William. Funeral rites, Christmas traditions, and festive celebrations for the army are brought to life.
William is an engaging character who, in the beginning, has naïve ideals about knighthood, honor, and warfare. However, his experiences prepare him for the ultimate duties of a knight who must lead his men with courage and sound judgment. William’s experiences culminate in a satisfying ending in which he embraces the qualities of a courageous knight who leads by example. The book has added features such as a list of characters and the author’s note, providing additional insight into the historical events.
For anyone interested in learning more about medieval Scotland, I recommend On a Sword’s Edge for its gripping battle scenes, realistic depiction of the historical events, and the compelling, coming-of-age story of a squire taking on the legacy of an older brother whose life is tragically cut short.
Twitter: @cathiedunn
Instagram & Threads: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Bluesky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
December 12, 2024
Rosemary Hayes Traitor’s Game #HistoricalFiction #Spies #NapoleonicWars #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @HayesRosemary @cathiedunn
I‘m pleased to welcome Rosemary Hayes as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between November 22nd – December 13th, 2024. Rosemary Hayes is the author of the Historical Fiction, Traitor’s Game (Soldier Spy, Book #1), released by Sharpe Books on 26th September 2024 (134 pages).
Below are highlights of Traitor’s Game, the author bio of Rosemary Hayes, and an excerpt from her book.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/10/blog-tour-traitors-game-by-rosemary-hayes.html
HIGHLIGHTS: TRAITOR’S GAME
Traitor’s Game
(Soldier Spy Book One)
by Rosemary Hayes
Blurb:
‘Right from page one you know you are in the hands of a talented storyteller… An exciting tale of espionage and adventure in the classic mould.’ ~ R.N. Morris, author of The Gentle Axe
1808.
Captain Will Fraser has just returned from the Front in the Peninsular War. He is disgraced and penniless, the victim of a conspiracy led by a jealous and influential officer. Fraser has been falsely accused of insubordination and cowardice and dismissed from his regiment.
Fraser and Duncan Armstrong, his wounded Sergeant, arrive in London to seek out Will’s brother, Jack, who works for King George’s Government.
But Jack has disappeared. He vanished from his lodgings a week ago and no one has seen him since. Friends and colleagues are baffled by his disappearance as is the young woman, Clara, who claims to be his wife.
Then Will is viciously attacked, seemingly mistaken for his brother, and only just escapes with his life. When news of this reaches Jack’s colleagues in Government, Will is recruited to find his brother and he and Armstrong set out to follow a trail littered with half-truths and misinformation.
For their task is not quite what it seems.
Will closely resembles his brother and it becomes evident that he is being used as a decoy to flush out Jack’s enemies. These are enemies of the State, for Jack Fraser is a spy and his colleagues believe he has uncovered evidence which will lead to the identity of a French spymaster embedded in the British Government.
Will’s search leads him to France but in this murky world of espionage, nothing is straightforward.
The soldier turned spy must unmask a traitor, before it’s too late.
Buy Links:
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bwwEee
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
AUTHOR BIO: ROSEMARY HAYES
Rosemary Hayes has written over fifty books for children and young adults. She writes in different genres, from edgy teenage fiction (The Mark), historical fiction (The Blue Eyed Aborigine and Forgotten Footprints), middle grade fantasy (Loose Connections, The Stonekeeper’s Child and Break Out) to chapter books for early readers and texts for picture books. Many of her books have won or been shortlisted for awards and several have been translated into different languages.
Rosemary has travelled widely but now lives in South Cambridgeshire. She has a background in publishing, having worked for Cambridge University Press before setting up her own company Anglia Young Books which she ran for some years. She has been a reader for a well-known authors’ advisory service and runs creative writing workshops for both children and adults.
Rosemary has now turned her hand to adult fiction and her historical novel The King’s Command is about the terror and tragedy suffered by a French Huguenot family during the reign of Louis XIV.
And Traitor’s Game, the first book in the Soldier Spy trilogy, set during the Napoleonic Wars, has recently been published.
Author Links:
Website: www.rosemaryhayes.co.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HayesRosemary
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosemary-Hayes/e/B00NAPAPZC
EXCERPT: TRAITOR’S GAME
Then his thoughts turned to the other news he had heard from Armstrong. That the Colonel of the Buffs, volunteers charged with fighting the smugglers, was none other than the father of his betrayer. The bile rose in his throat and he fought to suppress his anger and resentment.
I cannot fight old battles. I have a job to undertake, a brother to find and a spy to unmask.
At last he, too, lay down on the deck and closed his eyes, but his sleep was disturbed by vivid dreams and he was thankful when he was jerked awake by the crew pushing him out of the way so that they could hoist the sails. He stood up and stretched and looked across to the East where the dawn sky was streaked with red and orange and then, turning his head, he could just see, on the horizon, a glimpse of land.
The sails cracked as they filled with wind and during the next hour the galley made good speed towards the shore. They were within sight of land, and Will was already beginning to work out some sort of plan, when the Master suddenly gave a shout and let forth an oath. Will and Armstrong both looked up in surprise as the man pointed at a distant smudge.
‘That’ll be an English gunboat,’ he said.
It was not long before he was proved right. The smudge soon formed into a vessel and it was heading in their direction at speed.
‘Damnation!’ muttered the Master, then he turned to Will. ‘No point in trying to outrun it,’ he said. ‘It would only condemn us further. I don’t want to know your business, sir, but I’d ask you to have a fine story ready for the Government men.’
Two of the crew immediately set to work to conceal anything which might condemn them. They opened the false top of the barrel and emptied it, concealing ingots in their shoes and coins in their pockets.
One of the men had a fistful of documents in his hand. Will was thinking fast.
‘Give those to me,’ he said. ‘I’ll put them in my haversack and concoct a likely story about them.’
The man looked at the Master who nodded. ‘I hope, sir,’ he said to Will, ‘that you are a fine actor, otherwise we shall all be arrested.’ Then he ordered the false barrel top to be smashed into small pieces and tossed overboard.
The Master ordered the crew to lower the sails and they waited as the gunboat grew ever closer.
Armstrong was by Will’s side. ‘Act the officer now, sir. Stand up straight, put your shoulders back and act affronted.’
‘I’m not on the parade ground,’ muttered Will, but unconsciously he did as the Sergeant said when the gunboat came alongside and two armed men leapt onto the galley’s deck. The elder of the two introduced himself as the Lieutenant Commander of the gunboat and requested to search the galley. Will had, by now, transformed himself into an arrogant and well-bred officer of the sort he had never admired. He stood, legs braced and arms folded, and confronted the men. Then he proffered his hand to the Commander.
‘Captain Fraser of the Highland Light Infantry, recently returned from Portugal,’ he said. ‘I would ask you not to impede our passage.’
‘We have to search the vessel, sir,’ said the Commander. ‘Government orders.’
‘Search all you wish,’ said Will, hoping that any search would be cursory, ‘but you will find nothing of interest.’ He gestured towards the Master. ‘I have employed this man and his crew to take me, in all secrecy, to rescue two escaped prisoners of war and to hand over certain secret documents to those who are working undercover for the Government.’
The Commander did not look convinced. ‘This vessel looks mighty like a galley called the Queen Anne that’s been seized before.’
‘But as you can see,’ said Will, his voice calm, although his heart was beating wildly in his chest, ‘You are mistaken. This vessel is the Apus of London.’
He noted that the men exchanged glances and Will pressed his advantage.
‘I’m sure you understand that there is information I cannot disclose to you, sirs. I am in the service of the British Government and I am acting under orders sent from London on the highest authority.’ Then he took a couple of the sealed documents from his haversack and waved them under the men’s noses. ‘These contain the most confidential missives and must not, under any circumstances, fall into the wrong hands.’
‘And what is your role, exactly, sir?’
Will raised an eyebrow and twisted his lips into what he hoped was a sarcastic smile.
‘My dear Commander,’ he said. ‘Surely you know better than to ask.’
Both men were, by now, looking quite discomforted. Will continued. ‘Now, we have done you the courtesy of stopping and allowing you on board. I beg that you return the favour and let us continue on our journey with all haste. There is a rendezvous I need to keep in France and the security of our country will be at considerable risk if I do not make contact with my agent at the appointed time.’
In the event, to Will’s great relief, the men did not search the vessel but finally returned to the gunboat having shaken Will’s hand and wished him God speed on his mission.
When the gunboat had left and the crew had, once more, hoisted the sails, Armstrong turned to Will.
‘Lord, sir, Sally and Lottie would be proud of you. You’ve missed your calling. You should join them on the stage.’
Even the surly Master congratulated him on his performance and thanked him for his quick thinking. ‘You gave a good impression of a military man, sir. I could almost believe you were an officer!’
Armstrong turned away to hide his smile but Will was sweating profusely and trembling with the strain of it.
How much more lying will I have to do on French soil? I am not suited to such deception.
Twitter: @cathiedunn
Instagram & Threads: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Bluesky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
December 4, 2024
Peggy Joque Williams Courting the Sun #HistoricalFiction #Versailles #LouisXIV #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub
I‘m pleased to welcome Peggy Joque Williams as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between November 28th – December 19th, 2024. Peggy Joque Williams is the author of the Historical Fiction, Courting the Sun: A Novel of Versailles, released by Black Rose Writing on May 9th, 2024 (389 pages).
Below are highlights of Courting the Sun: A Novel of Versailles, the author bio of Peggy Joque Williams, and an excerpt from her book.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/11/blog-tour-courting-the-sun-by-peggy-joque-williams.html
HIGHLIGHTS: COURTING THE SUNA NOVEL OF VERSAILLES
Courting the Sun: A Novel of Versailles
by Peggy Joque Williams
Audiobook narrated by Mallory Fuccella
Blurb:
“A rich journey through 17th century France in all its aspects—its bucolic countryside, the still-unmatched splendor of the court of Louis XIV, and the struggling French colony in Canada.”
~ Margaret George, New York Times bestselling author of Elizabeth I, The Autobiography of Henry VIII & The Memoirs of Cleopatra
France, 1670. On her sixteenth birthday, Sylvienne d’Aubert thinks her dream has come true. She holds in her hands an invitation from King Louis XIV to attend his royal court. However, her mother harbors a longtime secret she’s kept from both her daughter and the monarch, a secret that could upend Sylvienne’s life.
In Paris, Sylvienne is quickly swept up in the romance, opulence, and excitement of royal life. Assigned to serve King Louis’s favorite mistress, she is absorbed into the monarch’s most intimate circle. But the naïve country girl soon finds herself ill-prepared for the world of intrigue, illicit affairs, and power-mongering that takes place behind the shiny façade of Versailles.
This debut historical novel from Peggy Joque Williams captures the vibrancy and quandaries of 17th century life for a village girl seeking love and excitement during the dangerous reign of the Sun King.
Triggers: Rape Scene, Spousal Abuse
Buy Links:
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mqk0r9
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/courting-the-sun-peggy-joque-williams/1144842024?ean=9781685134129
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/96858/9781685134129
Black Rose Writing: https://www.blackrosewriting.com/historicaladventure/courtingthesun
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
AUTHOR BIO: PEGGY JOQUE WILLIAMS
Peggy Joque Williams is the author of Courting the Sun: A Novel of Versailles and co-author of two mystery novels, On the Road to Death’s Door and On the Road to Where the Bells Toll, written under the penname M. J. Williams. She is an alumnus of Michigan State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
A retired elementary school teacher and avid researcher, Peggy’s fascination with genealogy and her French-Canadian, European, and Native American ancestry inspires her historical fiction. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin.
Author Links:
Website Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Threads
Pinterest Book Bub Amazon Author Page Goodreads
EXCERPT: COURTING THE SUN
A NOVEL OF VERSAILLES
Carufel had said he would fetch me that evening for dinner, the grand couvert. I asked Tatie to help me with the azure gown I had worn that morning.
“No, Mademoiselle!” Lisette looked horrified. “A lady must never wear the same gown for dinner she wore in the morning.”
A new rule. “The rose-colored one then?”
She nodded, satisfied, and helped me dress again. She was putting the finishing touches to my hair when we heard the knock at the door.
“That must be Monsieur Carufel,” Tatie said, folding my day clothes.
“Let him in.” I gazed into the looking glass Lisette held for me, aware of my many flaws. When I turned to greet Carufel, I saw it was Oncle who entered, wearing yet another change of clothing, this time a deep blue velvet. I hid my disgruntlement.
“Dinner is with the royal family tonight.” He attempted to buss me on the cheek.
I sidestepped. “That is what I am told.”
“Excellent, excellent.” But his look was critical. “Are you wearing that?”
“Is something wrong with my dress?”
“It’s rather…bucolic. Don’t you think?” His attention drifted. I realized his eyes were trailing Lisette as she moved about. His tongue flicked out to lick his lips before he turned back to me. “Are you expecting Carufel?”
“He is to escort me to the Queen’s dining room.” I was the one distracted now, noticing Tatie had positioned herself between Oncle and Lisette.
Another rap on the door.
“That must be him,” Oncle said. “I will accompany you, of course.”
Lisette scurried to open the door and immediately dipped into a curtsy. Yet again it was not Carufel, but a much taller man who stepped through the door. He wore a black wig cascading with curls and ribbons, several strands of pearls around his neck, and matching pearl drop earrings. A large circle of cerise powder highlighted each cheek, and his lips were colored with a bright red cream that matched the red of his waistcoat and breeches. Oncle coughed to hide his snigger. Tatie stared wide-eyed but managed a quick curtsy.
The visitor lifted a lace-cuffed hand to his chin and regarded me, his finger tapping a black velvet beauty patch affixed to his cheek. “You look nothing like I remember her.” His voice dripped with disappointment.
“Who?”
“Your mother.”
It was then I realized who he was. I dropped into a deep curtsy. “Monsieur!” I addressed King Louis’s brother with the title he was known by at court. When he bade me rise, I added, “She told me I favor my father.”
“Then he must be a rakishly handsome fellow. It translates well into the female form.”
I felt the all-too-familiar heat rising to my cheeks.
Oncle stepped forward. “And you are…?” His voice startled me into an introduction.
“Oncle Claude, this is Monsieur le Duc d’Orléans—Prince Philippe.”
Oncle’s eyes went wide. He quickly bowed from the waist. “Monsieur. I apologize. Claude d’Aubert, at your service. La demoiselle’s uncle and chaperone.”
“Hmm.” Philippe’s gaze swept over him dismissively. To me he said, “Perhaps you would allow me to accompany you to dinner. I am curious to get to know la jeune cousine of whom my brother is so enamored.” He extended an arm.
Unable to hide my delight, I placed my fingers on his wrist, just the tips, as I had seen the courtiers do. “You are very kind.” I batted my eyelashes at him, attempting to mimic the ladies of the court.
He laughed, moving my hand to the crook of his arm. “There is no need to play the coquette, ma chérie. You will garner more attention from the men here than you’ll know what to do with just by being yourself. And cause extreme vexation among the ladies.”
Outside my door stood a crowd of courtiers waiting for Monsieur. A man with a mustache and long golden curls draping his shoulders leaned against the far wall looking studiously bored. The women in the group eyed me warily, dipping in the slightest of curtsies, while the men bowed with exaggerated pomp.
“I present to you…” Prince Philippe flourished his hand in dramatic fashion. “Ma cousine, Mademoiselle Sylvienne.”
“Bonsoir, Mademoiselle!” The men’s voices rang out in eager greetings.
All except the one still leaning against the wall. His voice was an insolent drawl. “I suppose she’s pretty enough. Will likely get eaten alive at court.”
Monsieur swatted at the man’s head as we passed. “No naughtiness, Lorraine.”
The courtiers fell into step behind us, crowding out my uncle. The man called Lorraine let several moments pass before pushing himself away from the wall and following.
Unlike Carufel, who always hastened to get from one location to another, the Prince preferred to stroll. Obviously aware of all eyes on him, he treated our journey through the palace as a pageant, he and I in the lead, his devotees trailing like bright peacocks.
Carufel, waiting at the door of Queen Marie-Thérèse’s dining chamber, bowed as we approached. “Mademoiselle Sylvienne will sit with the royal family,” he said. Then, pointing to a door further down, “Monsieur d’Aubert, you are welcome to join those who wish to observe.”
Oncle, affronted, complained, “I am her uncle, her chaperone. She is my charge.”
“Oui. But she is cousin to the King. You are not.”
Twitter: @cathiedunn
Instagram & Threads: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Bluesky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
December 1, 2024
Book Spotlight Madeline’s Boy Sara Powter #ChristianHistoricalRomance #HistoricalFiction #ConvictBirthstainCollection #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @SaraPowter @cathiedunn
I am pleased to spotlight the book, Madeline’s Boy (Convict Birthstain Collection), by Sara Powter in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held on December 2nd, 2024. Madeline’s Boy is a Historical Fiction / Christian Historical Fiction published by Pacific Wanderland Publications (through Amazon) on November 13th, 2024 (224 pages).
Below are highlights of Madeline’s Boy and Sara Powter’s author bio.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/11/blog-tour-madelines-boy-by-sara-powter.html
HIGHLIGHTS: MADELINE’S BOY
Madeline’s Boy
(Convict Birthstain Collection)
By Sara Powter
Blurb:
England 1830s to New South Wales 1840
The race to protect an orphaned Boy
All is not straightforward when money and titles are involved.
Orphaned, afraid and on the run, Chip must flee.
Madeline was his mother’s best friend. Maddie now needs to keep her charge safe and alive. She must give up her life to protect the boy she has loved since birth.
Months after Chip’s parents’ demise, Maddie sets out to deliver Chip to his Uncle Humphrey, who lives in Sydney. Through him, she meets Chip’s friend Tim, who falls for Maddie— but will they find happiness?
The menacing presence soon finds Chip, and Maddie needs to hide him again. They are moved from hidden farms to secret valleys, ending up in an aboriginal encampment.
Can Tim find a way to be with Maddie? And if so… Will Chip ever be safe?
Triggers: domestic violence, attempted murder
Buy Links:
Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/MadelinesBoy
Barnes and Nobel: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Sara%20powter
The Bookshop Org: https://bookshop.org/search?keywords=Sara+Powter
AUTHOR BIO: SARA POWTER
Sara Powter lives on the NSW Central Coast. Her childhood was spent with her parents, mainly travelling up and down the East Coast of Australia, fishing, shell collecting, and doing some of her education through correspondence schooling.
With a passion for science, she worked as a Scientific Assistant in the Entomology Department of the Department of Agriculture. She married Stephen soon after leaving there, and they spent 30 years in Ministry in the Newcastle Anglican Diocese in NSW, only retiring at the end of 2020.
When ‘Covid 19’ hit, time was available to pen some of the stories she’d wanted to write for some time. Within twelve months, eight stories were finished, and ideas for more were coming (after four years, she had recently completed her twenty-eighth book). These stem from her passion for Colonial Australia, her convict ancestors, and the fantastic country’s remarkable history!
Sara wrote these as she wished to complete one of her mother’s unfinished manuscripts. The series prequel, Dancing to Her Own Tune, is now completed and ties in Sheila Hunter’s Australian Trilogy with Sara’s Lockley series and many others. All are Clean Australian Historical Fiction.
But… Watch for more in The Hunter to Macquarie Collection and The Convict Birthstain Collection.
Author Links:
Website Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram
Book Bub Amazon Author Page Goodreads YouTube channel
Twitter: @cathiedunn
Instagram & Threads: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Bluesky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
November 28, 2024
Book Spotlight The Paris Portrait Heidi Eljarbo #HistoricalMystery #ArtHistory #DualTimeline #CozyMystery #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub
I am pleased to spotlight the book, The Paris Portrait (A Fabiola Bennett Mystery), by Heidi Eljarbo in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held on November 29th, 2024. The Paris Portrait is a Historical Mystery / Dual-timeline / Historical Fiction that was independently published on 12th November 2024 (222 pages).
Below are highlights of The Paris Portrait and Heidi Eljarbo’s author bio.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/10/blog-tour-the-paris-portrait-by-heidi-eljarbo.html
HIGHLIGHTS: THE PARIS PORTRAIT
The Paris Portrait
(A Fabiola Bennett Mystery)
by Heidi Eljarbo
Blurb:
Fabiola stumbles upon a clue that indicates a royal portrait went missing almost two hundred years ago. Is this true, or is there substance to the rumor?
Paris, France, 1973.
After an enjoyable but dusty road trip, Fabiola and her friends, Pippa and Cary, arrive in a small village on the outskirts of Paris to spend a few days with Fabiola’s brother Eivind and his family.
On their first evening there, Eivind shows Fabiola an ancient recipe book he bought at an auction. The book is filled with old writing, and he asks Fabiola to decipher the pages. After the others have gone to bed, she spends hours reading and is gripped by the last pages that have nothing to do with recipes for baked goods and stews. Certain the author was a famous portrait artist at the time of the French Revolution, Fabiola and her friends set out on a treacherous investigation, dodging murderers and thieves to learn the truth.
Versailles, France, 1789.
Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun— portraitist and close friend of the extravagant queen of France, Marie Antoinette—has already painted thirty portraits of the queen. Her contemporaries compare her to the old Dutch masters, calling her one of the greatest portrait painters of her time.
But outside on the streets, Paris is becoming more perilous with every day that passes. Madame Le Brun would be a fool to think the rumors of a revolution will pass, and aristocratic life will continue as before.
Amid the turmoil, she paints one final portrait of Marie Antoinette, knowing well her association with the queen could cause her to be arrested or executed. As chaos and riots in Paris turn to violence, Madame Le Brun flees with her young daughter, hoping her royal friend and the portrait will be safe.
This is Heidi Eljarbo’s third dual timeline novel about Norwegian art historian Fabiola Bennett—a captivating spin-off from her much-loved Soli Hansen Mysteries.
Buy Links:
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/3nPAjB
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
AUTHOR BIO: HEIDI ELJARBO
HEIDI ELJARBO grew up in a home full of books, artwork, and happy creativity. She is the author of historical novels filled with courage, hope, mystery, adventure, and sweet romance during challenging times. She’s been named a master of dual timelines and often writes about strong-willed women of past centuries.
After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She lives with her husband on a charming island and enjoys walking their Wheaten Terrier in any kind of weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history.
Author Links:
Website Twitter Facebook Instagram Pinterest
Book Bub Amazon Author Page Goodreads Newsletter
Twitter: @cathiedunn
Instagram & Threads: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Bluesky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
November 26, 2024
Book Review The Immigrant Queen Peter Taylor-Gooby #HistoricalFiction #AncientGreece #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @cathiedunn
I’m delighted to welcome Peter Taylor-Gooby as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour, being held between November 5th – November 26th, 2024. He is the author of the Historical Fiction, The Immigrant Queen, published on 28th October 2024 byTroubador (312 pages).
Below are highlights of The Immigrant Queen, Peter Taylor-Gooby’s author bio, and my 5-star review of his novel with powerful themes of political corruption, social inequity, and redemption in the newly formed democracy in ancient Athens.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/10/blog-tour-the-immigrant-queen-by-peter-taylor-gooby.html
HIGHLIGHTS: THE IMMIGRANT QUEEN
The Immigrant Queen
By Peter Taylor-Gooby
Blurb:
Hated as a foreigner, despised as a woman, she became First Lady of Athens.
Aspasia falls passionately in love with Pericles, the leading statesman of Fifth Century Athens. Artists, writers and thinkers flock to her salon. She hides her past as a sex-worker, trafficked to the city, and becomes Pericles’ lover.
Her writings attract the attention of Socrates, and she becomes the only woman to join his circle. She is known throughout the city for her beauty and wit and strives to become recognised as an intellectual alongside men.
Pericles’ enemies attack him through Aspasia and charge her with blasphemy. As a foreigner she faces execution, but her impassioned address to the jury shames the city and saves her. Pericles is spellbound, they marry, and she becomes First Lady of Athens.
Sparta besieges the city; plague breaks out and Pericles is once again in danger.
THE IMMIGRANT QUEEN tells the true story of how Aspasia rose to become the First Lady of Athens and triumphed against all the odds.
Buy Links:
Paperback Buy Links:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Immigrant-Queen-Peter-Taylor-Gooby/dp/1836280602/
https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-immigrant-queen/peter-taylor-gooby/9781836280606
https://troubador.co.uk/bookshop/historical/the-immigrant-queen
AUTHOR BIO: PETER TAYLOR-GOOBY
Peter Taylor-Gooby is an academic who believes that you can only truly understand the issues that matter through your feelings, your imagination and your compassion. That’s why he writes novels as well as research monographs. He worked in India as a teacher, in a Newcastle social security office and as an antique dealer.
Now he’s professor of social policy at the University of Kent, a Fellow of the British Academy, loves playing with his grandchildren and writes novels in what time is spare.
Author Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peter.taylorgooby/
Troubadour Author Page: https://troubador.co.uk/author/glndwnle
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Taylor-Gooby
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B001HD2YWQ
BOOK REVIEW: THE IMMIGRANT QUEEN
The Immigrant Queen by Peter Taylor-Gooby provides a glimpse into one of the foremost Greek women, Aspasia, mentioned by historians and philosophers in fifth-century Athens. Born in Melitus, she moved to Athens and became a courtesan, then the wife of Pericles, a foremost general and statesman in the era. The story is told from the first-person perspective of an educated bard, Limander, who was recently captured during a Greek assault on his city and sold as a slave to Aspasia.
Limander slowly wins the trust of his mistress, Aspasia, who has him sing epic poems at functions attended by Greek philosophers and politicians. He soon learns that the newly formed democracy only applies to a minority of Athenian male citizens whereas the rights of outsiders (immigrants), women, and slaves are relegated to inferior roles in a caste system. He witnesses the growing attraction between Aspasia and Pericles and her influence on the statesman to treat her as an equal in a society where women have few legal rights. She converses with philosophers such as Socrates. At one of the functions held by Aspasia, Limander meets and falls in love with a nobleman from a disgraced family. Both he and Aspasia face challenges and possibly deadly consequences as a result of their forbidden relationships with people of higher status.
Author Taylor-Gooby has masterfully written a story that resonates with powerful themes that are relevant today. The story centers around Limander, a slave whom Greeks view as not having a soul. He is an engaging witness to the exploits of Aspasia and the social injustices in a newly formed democracy. He tramps through the various areas of the city from the extravagant dwellings of the aristocrats, into the crammed makeshift dwellings of outsiders, and to a hidden cavern where Ananke, the goddess of necessity, is worshipped.
One of the most poignant scenes is when Limander saves Pericles from drowning after a shipwreck. Pericles asks why a slave would save him, a general who had destroyed his city. Limander answers, “Because I am also a man, my Lord. Prometheus brought the fire from heaven for both of us…I would have done it for anyone, a general or another slave.” In essence, men and women of all classes share a common humanity and deserve to be treated with dignity.
I highly recommend The Immigrant Queen to anyone interested in ancient historical fiction with powerful themes of political corruption, social inequity, and redemption that are relevant to modern times. The characters from all levels of the caste system in the story are well-developed and engaging, their stories weaving together to show how humanity binds us together despite our social class.
Twitter: @cathiedunn
Instagram & Threads: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Bluesky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
November 20, 2024
Book Spotlight Georgia’s Folly Deborah Chase #HistoricalRomance #AmericanCivilWar #SplitTimeRomance #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub@cathiedunn
I am pleased to spotlight the book, Georgia’s Folly, by Deborah Chase in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held on November 21st, 2024. Georgia’s Folly is a Dual-Timeline / Split Time Historical Romance published by Historium Press on September 11th, 2024 (319 pages).
Below are highlights of Georgia’s Folly and Deborah Chase’s author bio.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/10/blog-tour-georgias-folly-by-deborah-chase.html
HIGHLIGHTS: GEORGIA’S FOLLY
Georgia’s Folly
by Deborah Chase
Blurb:
For fans of “Antiques Roadshow” and “American Pickers” – this is the one for you!
Beginning at a cluttered flea market and ending at a glittering art auction, Georgia’s Folly tells the compelling story that blends past and present and the search for a valuable and elusive antique. Chloe Bishop grew up in foster care. She loves shopping at flea markets, picking up family heirlooms like old pottery or vintage furniture to fill in for the family and home she never had.
As Chloe walks through the Brooklyn Flea Market, she stumbles upon the diary of Miss Georgia Potter, a young woman who had lived in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during the Civil War. The yellowed pages reveal the impact of the war on daily life and spotlights the role of women including Harriet Tubman, Clara Barton and Louisa May Alcott.
Like Chloe, Georgia Potter was a passionate collector and her diary lists her collection of valuable antiques—including the Holy Grail of 18th century furniture—a Chippendale settee. Well versed in antiques, Chloe is aware that there are only five known examples and a sixth settee would be worth more than $4 million.
Chloe immediately contacts Ben Thompson, the man who sold her the diary. Ben is a picker who drives his RV across America, searching for collectibles to sell to dealers. He is estranged from his wealthy, prominent family who cringe at his chosen career. Ben agrees to take her along to search for the valuable and iconic settee. As Ben and Chloe head to Gettysburg, they are unaware that Gregor Petrov, a shady antiques dealer and Harrison Kent, a respected but unscrupulous art expert are trailing them.
The search for the settee takes Chloe and Ben on fast paced journey from the Gettysburg battlefields to the 18th century street of artisans in Philadelphia to a historic mansion on the banks of the Hudson River. Traveling together in the small RV, Ben and Chloe draw closer. In the confines of the RV, embroiled in an unimaginable quest, Chloe confides that she is also in search for the father she never knew while Ben struggles to explain his complicated family to a woman who never had one.
In a thrilling ending, the rare Chippendale settee is not Chloe’s only valuable discovery.
Buy Link:
Universal buy link: https://books2read.com/u/4DkY0g
AUTHOR BIO: DEBORAH CHASE
Deborah Chase grew up in a family filled with art and antiques. On the high end, her uncle, William Lincer, lead violist at the New York Philharmonic, was an art lover whose collection was sold at Sotheby’s. On the low end, her father, writer Allen Chase took her to flea markets and estate sales. He sparked a lifelong fascination with tales of lost treasures that ranged from plundered Egyptian tombs to trainloads of art stolen by the Nazis. It was this love of history and antiques that inspired her first novel, Georgia’s Folly
She was a founding editor of the Berkeley Wellness Newsletter and the author of 12 books including The Medically Based No-Nonsense Beauty Book (Alfred Knopf), Extend Your Life Diet (Pocket Books), Fruit Acids for Fabulous Skin (St Martin’s Press), Every Bride is Beautiful (Morrow), and with her husband Dr Neil Schachter co-author of Life and Breath (Doubleday) and The Good Doctor’s Guide to Colds and Flu (Harper). The books have been a selection of the Book of the Month Club and her articles have appeared in Ladies Home Journal, Self, Glamour, Redbook, Family Circle, Parents and Good Housekeeping.
She is a graduate of Bronx High School of Science and a winner of the Westinghouse Science Talent Search. A graduate of New York University she earned a degree with a duel major in journalism and history.
A native New Yorker, Deborah like to spend her weekends at an upstate home where a big kitchen and an endless supply of estate sales indulge her duel passions for cooking and collecting.
Author Links:
Website: Deborahchase.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.chase.5
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewritinglife2/
AmazonAuthor Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Deborah-Chase/author/B0DHHK95KV
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/536062.Deborah_Chase
Twitter: @cathiedunn
Instagram & Threads: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Bluesky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
Tis The Season To Be Jolly Audiobook Giveaway December 12-13 #audiobook #giveaway @TaylorLeeWrites @libraryoferana @ann_swann @CSMcDonald7 @CynthiaWoolf @ngeGoss @kevinklehr @moranbishop @authorrochelle @HollowManSeries @sarahmallery1 @SandraNikolai @Susan
DEC 12-13, 2024
A select group of authors has joined forces
to bring you amazing audiobooks in time for Christmas.
Join us as a GOING guest for a chance to win them!
Check out the audiobook prizes: AUTHORS/BOOKS
Invite your friends for a chance to win our audiobooks
CLICK: TIS THE SEASON
Award-winning author of alchemical dark fantasy, historical fantasy, short stories, and twisted verses.
Addison Michael
“If you like complex heroines, paranormal twists and turns, and gripping suspense,
then you’ll love this mystery thriller series.”
Author of ghost stories with heart
“I create relatable and humorous characters my readers love.”
“Cynthia Woolf writes historical western romance, specializing in mail-order brides.”
Award-winning multi-genre author. “In my former life I was a CPA
and now I love the journeys where my characters take me.”
A little fantasy * A little sci fi * A little love
“An Epic Celtic Tale Weaving Forbidden Love, Sorcery,
and Political Intrigue in Ancient Rome and Britannia.”
“I walk in the shoes of my characters and weave the tapestry
of their lives with the threads of my dreams.“
“Forging relationships with our historical legends”
“Multi-award winning, true stories of an average guy tracking terrorists across Europe, written for the big screen.”
“History is woven into my stories with a delicate thread.”
“I write mysteries that weave characters into extraordinary and dangerous situations.”
“Award-winning author who goes wherever her muse takes her, penning Romance & Humor.”
“Dangerous men and women in dangerous times. Love, scorching passion,
and ridding the world of evil? What’s not to like?”
“I paint with my pen and write with my paintbrush.”
November 7, 2024
Nicolette Croft The Curse of Maiden Scars Audiobook Blog Tour Tour #HistoricalFiction #GothicFiction #WomensFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @croft_nicolette @cathiedunn
I‘m pleased to welcome Nicolette Croft as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Audiobook Blog Tour being held between November 6th – 8th, 2024. Nicolette Croft is the author of the Romance / Women’s Fiction / Coming-of-age / Gothic novel, The Curse of Maiden Scars (Maiden Mother Crone), released by Historium Press on June 4, 2024 (288 pages).
Below are highlights of The Curse of Maiden Scars, Nicolette Croft’s author bio, and an audiobook sample narrated by Liz May Brice.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/10/blog-tour-the-curse-of-maiden-scars-audiobook-by-nicolette-croft.html
HIGHLIGHTS: THE CURSE OF MAIDEN SCARS
The Curse of Maiden Scars
(Maiden Mother Crone)
by Nicolette Croft
Narrated by Liz May Brice
Blurb:
A Yorkshire orphan struggling for opportunity against 18th-century odds reluctantly transforms into a Venetian courtesan during the Empire’s last days.
Sixteen-year-old Renna Covert toils away in the shadows of a Yorkshire workhouse, her days filled with the mundane task of shelling cotton and the dangerous duty of scouting for punters. One fateful night, she crosses paths with two sailors and finds herself thrust into the heart of a chilling encounter at the local asylum.
These harrowing experiences catalyze Renna’s journey, promising newfound opportunities and revealing long-buried family secrets. Yet, at every turn, powerful forces conspire to thwart her quest for truth, forcing her to abandon her scullery work and embark on a daring escape to Venice alongside her steadfast companions.
In the labyrinthine alleys of Venice, Renna’s fate takes yet another twist. She is ensnared by a cunning Madam who trains her as a Venetian courtesan. But beneath the veneer of luxury lies a world fraught with danger, where Renna must rely on her witts and resilience to navigate the treacherous waters of deceit and betrayal.
Set against the backdrop of Venice’s tumultuous Napoleonic invasion of 1797, this is a tale of a girl’s struggle for survival. It is a story of resilience, defiance in the face of adversity, and, ultimately, one young woman’s determination to reclaim her identity.
THE CURSE OF MAIDEN SCARS is a coming-of-age, women’s fiction novel with gothic flair set in the tradition of Victoria Mas’ THE MADWOMAN’S BALL, and Sarah Dunant’s IN THE COMPANY OF THE COURTESAN, with the sensuality of LADY CHATTERLEY’S LOVER.
Triggers: Scenes of coercion, physical and sexual abuse, references to drugs and alcohol
*Listen to Sample*Audiobook Sample
Listening Length: 11 hours 50 minutes
B uy Links:
Universal Ebook Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mgDEOq
Audible US Buy Link: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Curse-of-Maiden-Scars-Audiobook/B0D9R4BCHX
Amazon US Audiobook Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/The-Curse-of-Maiden-Scars/dp/B0D9R32NN9/
AUTHOR BIO: NICOLETTE CROFT
Nicolette Croft can’t remember a time when she was not creating imaginary worlds inspired by her Hungarian and American ancestors. As a neuro-divergent learner, however, putting those stories to paper proved more challenging than imagining them. Because her determination would not allow her to settle, she pursued an English B.A. to improve her writing.
Young motherhood also brought unexpected challenges, which motivated her to pursue graduate work in twice-exceptional learners and education. She would later add an M.A. degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, specializing in neurodivergent people, trauma, and grief. Nicolette uses her natural gift of storytelling as an exploratory method for her clients.
The Curse of Maiden Scars is also an outgrowth of her personal journey and marks her first publication as a novelist, having previously published short fiction. When not at her counseling practice or researching historical facts for her latest story, Nicolette shares treasured time with family, friends, and her husband. Whether writing, cooking, traveling, or learning, the act of creation is always at the center of her colorful life.
Author Links :
Website Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram
Threads Amazon Author Page Goodreads
Twitter
: @cathiedunn
Instagram
&
Threads
: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Bluesky
: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
October 28, 2024
Book Review The King’s Intelligencer Elizabeth St.John #TheKingsIntelligencer #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalMystery #TheLydiardChronicles #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @ElizStJohn @cathiedunn
I’m delighted to welcome Elizabeth St.John again as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour, being held between October 21st – November 1st, 2024. She is the author of the Historical Fiction, The King’s Intelligencer: Discovering the Missing Princes in the Tower, published on 15th October 2024 by Falcon Historical (494 pages).
Below are highlights of The King’s Intelligencer, Elizabeth St.John’s author bio, and my 5-star review of her impeccably researched book.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/09/blog-tour-kings-intelligencer-by-elizabeth-stjohn.html
HIGHLIGHTS: THE KING’S INTELLIGENCER
The King’s Intelligencer: Discovering the Missing Princes in the Tower
By Elizabeth St.John
Blurb:
London, 1674: When children’s bones are unexpectedly unearthed in the Tower of London, England’s most haunting mystery—the fate of the missing princes—is reignited.
Franny Apsley, trusted confidante to Charles II’s beloved niece and heir, Lady Mary Stuart, is caught up in the court’s excitement surrounding the find. Yet, as a dark family secret comes to light, Franny realises the truth behind the missing princes is far more complex—and dangerous—than anyone suspects. Recruited by her formidable cousin Nan Wilmot, Dowager Countess of Rochester, to discover the truth behind the bones, Franny is thrust into the shadowy world of intelligencers. But her quest is complicated by an attraction to the charismatic court artist Nicholas Jameson, a recent arrival from Paris who harbours secrets of his own.
Pursued by Nicholas, Franny searches for evidence hidden in secret family letters and paintings, and uncovers a startling diplomatic plot involving Lady Mary, which causes Franny to question her own judgment, threatens the throne, and sets England on a course for war. With only her courage and the guidance of an enigmatic spy within the royal household, Franny must decide how far she will go to expose the truth—and whether that truth will lead to England’s salvation or her own heartbreak.
In a glittering and debauched society where love is treacherous and loyalty masked, Franny must navigate a world where a woman’s voice is often silenced and confront the ultimate question: What is she willing to risk for the sake of her country, her happiness, and her family’s safety?
A captivating historical novel of conspiracy, passion, and courage, The King’s Intelligencer is one woman’s quest for a truth that could change the fate of a nation. A companion to the critically acclaimed best-selling novels The Godmother’s Secret and The Lydiard Chronicles, The King’s Intelligencer weaves together beloved characters and actual events to bring a suspenseful mystery to life.
Buy Links:
This title is available to read on #Kindle Unlimited.
Universal Buy Link: https://geni.us/KingsIntelligencer
AUTHOR BIO: ELIZABETH ST.JOHN
Elizabeth St.John’s critically acclaimed historical fiction novels tell the stories of her ancestors: extraordinary women whose intriguing kinship with England’s kings and queens brings an intimately unique perspective to Medieval, Tudor, and Stuart times.
Inspired by family archives and residences from Lydiard Park to the Tower of London, Elizabeth spends much of her time exploring ancestral portraits, diaries, and lost gardens. And encountering the occasional ghost. But that’s another story.
Living between California, England, and the past, Elizabeth is the International Ambassador for The Friends of Lydiard Park, an English charity dedicated to conserving and enhancing this beautiful centuries-old country house and park. As a curator for The Lydiard Archives, she is constantly looking for an undiscovered treasure to inspire her next novel.
Elizabeth’s works include The Lydiard Chronicles, a trilogy set in 17th-century England during the Civil War, and The Godmother’s Secret, which unravels the medieval mystery of the missing princes in the Tower of London. Her latest release, The King’s Intelligencer, follows Franny Apsley’s perilous quest to uncover the truth behind the sudden discovery of the princes’ bones. In Charles II’s court of intrigue and deceit, Franny must decide what she’ll risk—for England’s salvation, her family’s safety, and her own happiness.
Author Links:
Website Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram
Threads Bluesky Book Bub Amazon Author Page Goodreads
BOOK REVIEW: THE KING’S INTELLIGENCER
The fate of Prince Richard V and his younger brother, Prince Richard, Duke of York, both last seen in 1483, is explored in The King’s Intelligencer by Elizabeth St.John. The story begins almost two centuries later in 1674, when workmen unexpectedly unearth children’s bones in the Tower of London. As a result, the mystery of what happened to the missing princes is reignited.
Franny Apsley, a confidante to Mary Stewart, heir to King Charles’s throne, is drawn into a secret mission by her cousin, Nan Wilmot, to investigate the truth behind the exhumed bones. Franny covertly becomes the king’s intelligencer, a secret spy, to gain access to locations where stored relics and documents might provide clues for solving the mystery. Her quest is complicated by her attraction to the court artist, Nicholas James, and a royal spy with cautionary warnings that a Catholic-driven plot in France could threaten the monarchy.
Author Elizabeth St.John’s impeccable research is demonstrated by her vivid descriptions of historical figures, structures, and landscapes at various locations—from London to the Lydiard residence then to Bolton Castle. The culture and the difficulties that Franny faces as a woman remain true to the period. Despite her limitations, she uses her cunning to mask her mission and to gain access to forbidden royal chambers. She bravely ventures into the glamorous façade of royal palaces and the debauchery of the king’s brothels to deliver messages to co-conspirators. Secret discoveries in castles and cathedrals provide her clues that help connect the past with the present.
The story focuses on a woman’s journey to discover how ancestral lines impact future generations. Franny’s investigation takes place over several months, the pacing often slower as she unveils clues. Although there are some beautifully written passages, there was a repeated grammatical error in which there was not a conjunction joining two verbs (e.g., “Franny glanced at Papa, frowned.”). Nonetheless, the overall storyline is intriguing and the unexpected ending is poignant and thought-provoking. The author’s notes gave helpful insight into the historical background of events and characters in the book.
I recommend The King’s Intelligencer for its suspenseful political intrigue and historical detail during the restoration of the British monarchy following the chaotic and destructive governance of Oliver Cromwell.
Twitter: @cathiedunn
Instagram & Threads: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Bluesky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
