Jean M. Roberts's Blog, page 8

Tho I Be Mute by Heather Miller

 

Welcome to a stop on the Coffee Pot BlogTour for ‘Tho I Be Mute, by Heather Miller, the prequel to the wonderful YellowBird’s Song. We have a great excerpt to whet your appetite! 

 The Details:

Book Title: ‘Tho I Be Mute (2ndedition)

Series: Prequel to Yellow Bird’s Song

Author: Heather Miller

Publication Date: 09/10/2024

Publisher: Historium Press, HistoricalFiction Company

Pages: 345

Genre: Historical Fiction / HistoricalRomance

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blurb: 

Clarinda faces a moment of profoundreality—a rattlesnake bite, a harbinger of her imminent mortality—andundertakes an introspective journey. In her final days, she immortalizes notonly her own story but that of her parents—a narrative steeped in her family’sinsights into Cherokee heritage during the tumultuous years preceding theforced removal of Native communities.
In 1818, Clarinda’s father, Cherokee John Ridge, embarks on a quest for a youngman’s education at the Foreign Mission School in Cornwall, Connecticut. Amidstsickness, he finds solace and love with Sarah, the steward’s quiet daughter.Despite enduring two years of separation, defamatory editorials, and societalupheaval due to their interracial love affair, the resilient couple weds in1824. This marks the inception of a journey for Sarah as she delves into aworld both cherished and feared—Cherokee Territory. As John Ridge advocates forthe preservation of his people’s land and that of his Muskogee Creek neighborsagainst encroaching Georgia settlers and unscrupulous governmental officials,the stakes are high. His success or failure hinges on his ability to balancehis proud Cherokee convictions with an intricate understanding of American law.Justice remains uncertain.
Grounded in a true story, ‘Tho I Be Mute resonates with a compellinghistorical narrative, giving an intimate voice to those heard, those ignored,those speechless, urging readers to not only hear but to truly listen.

The Excerpt: 

Chapter 31, “Fly,” Clarinda Ridge Skili

 Iawoke to shaking floors from the successive beats of wooden-heeled bootsagainst the hardwood. The vibrations were weighty, not the same as those madeby my skinny brothers running through the house with calloused feet. The shakescame from intrusive brutes gathering strength from their unified purpose.

 Inour room, ten-year-old Susan woke and picked up a crying Flora from her palleton the floor. She swayed with Flora, listening at the door. I rose and broughtboth to my bed. We scurried under the covers and curled into one another, whileI held onto their shaking shifts. We were too frightened to go outside; we weretoo frightened to move anything more than our eyes, staring at the lighted gapunder the door.

 Susan’sbody shook when bare feet followed the boots. The first were Mama’s. Anotherpair followed. My brother Rollin was at her heels.

 Susan’sbody jolted at another sound I couldn’t know. Then, she covered her face withthe quilt and held it against her ears with her hands. She heard what I couldnot. Mama was screaming.

 Susan’sfirst tear ushered in sobs when stillness and sunlight peered under the crack.‘Tho I be mute, I knew then that more than the morning sun slid under ourbedroom door. The Angel of Death arrived with no warning, like a Passoverghost, and cast us in mourning night with its light.

Papa flew to the Nightland,June 22, 1839. Twenty-five men drug him from his pallet on the floor and triedto kill him, but the gun misfired. So, they unsheathed their knives and drughim outside. Mama and Rollin ran after them, but the warriors, still wieldingpistol and rifle, surrounded her and my brother, crossed the barrels, and heldthem back.

Mama’s hysterical tears didnothing to deter the assassins.

 

Buy Link:

 

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bPGpPz

 

 

Author Bio:

 

History is better than fiction.
We all leave a legacy.

As an English educator, Heather Miller has spenttwenty-four years teaching her students the author’s craft. Now, she’s writingit herself, hearing voices from the past. Heather earned her MFA in creativewriting in 2022 and is teaching high school as well as college compositioncourses.

Miller’s foundation began in the theatre,through performance storytelling. She can tap dance, stage-slap someone, andsing every note from Les Miserables. But by far, her favorite role has been asa fireman’s wife and mom to three: a trumpet player, a future civil engineer,and a RN. Alas, there’s only one English major in her house.

Heather continues writing the Ridge Family Saga.Her current work-in-progress, Stands, concludes the Ridge Family Saga.

 

Author Links:

 

Website: https://www.heathermillerauthor.com

Twitter: https://x.com/HMHFR

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HMillerAuthor

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/heathermillerauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21805281.Heather_Miller

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heathermillerauthor

 

A Most Unsettled Man by Lily Style

 

Welcome to a stop on the Coffee Pot Blogtour for A MOST UNSETTLED MAN by Lily Style. We have an excerpt to share, hope you like it! Here are the details:

 

Book Title: A Most Unsettled Man

Author: Lily Style

Publication Date: July 23rd,2024

Publisher: Historium Press

Pages: 362

Genre: Historical Biography

 

 

Blurb: 

George Matcham, dubbed the most unsettledman alive, was born in East India Company controlled Bombay and undertook threeepic overland treks between Asia and England before marrying the favouritesister of the not yet famous Horatio Nelson. Intimate details about George'slife have been preserved because of his close relationship with Nelson and hisfamous paramour Emma Hamilton, whose rises and falls he observed first-hand. 

Packed with period press clippings andeyewitness accounts, A Most Unsettled Man provides an unprecedentedglimpse into the private life of a modest 18th century English gentleman, aswell retelling the enduring love story of Nelson and Emma from an entirely newperspective. 

Buy Links: 

Universal Ebook Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/3nQveB 

Amazon US (paperback): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1962465489

 

Amazon UK (paperback): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1962465489

 

 

Author Bio: 

Lily Style is the directdescendant of famed lovers Admiral Lord Nelson and Emma Hamilton and alsoNelson's sister, Kitty Matcham (because their grandchildren married).

 

Lily is the founder of EmmaHamilton Society and writes regularly for Nelson-related publications. She isalso a keen genealogist with an interest in piecing together real human storieslying behind dry facts.

 

One of these stories is ofher 4th great-grandfather, George Matcham, whose story she's traced from hismid eighteenth-century birth in East India Company controlled Bombay through tohis intimate involvement with Nelson and Emma's rise and fall.

 

 Excerpt:

 

George –accompanied by unnamed friends– had no post-chaise and, likely,few pairs of silk stockings stowed in his baggage, for he travelled light, withonly a small Persian rug to sleep on.

It surely must have been worrying to traverse the Middle Eastern desert infull awareness of how murderously brutal the Arabs could be to Englishtravellers, but George pressed ever onwards, seemingly undaunted. 

He noted in his journal that he was “compelled to ride on untam’d horsesat a rate of sixty or seventy miles aday, sometimes exposed to a burning sun”.  With inland temperatures on the Arabianpeninsula reaching over 40°C/105°F, the near-thousand-mile crossing would havetaxed anyone, let alone an inexperienced, single-lunged traveler whose doctorthought him already as good as dead.

Author Links:

 

Website: https://www.lilystyle.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilystyleauthor

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lily-Style/author/B088BZRK4Y

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12584044.Lily_Style

Hollow Out The Dark: James Wade

 

HOLLOW OUT THE DARKby James Wade

Literary Fiction / Southern Gothic / Rural Fiction

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

Pages: 328

Publication Date: August 20, 2024

SYNOPSIS

Award-winning author James Wade blends atmospheric prose with soul-stirring themes in Hollow Out the Dark, a gothic adventure set against a Depression-era landscape where a whiskey war threatens to decimate a small Texas town.

A veteran of the Great War, Jesse Cole is grateful for the quiet life he now leads. But when his closest friend runs afoul of local criminals Frog and Squirrel Fenley, Jesse is forced to spin his moral compass and enter a violent and volatile underworld. There he encounters corrupt lawmen, hired assassins, and a dark family secret that will upend all he once knew.

Complicating matters are Texas Ranger Amon Atkins—who arrives to investigate the Fenleys just as their empire is threatened by a deadly new competitor—and the green-eyed, raven-haired Adaline, a love Jesse thought he’d lost forever.

With resources scarce and winter falling hard on the town, a desperate Jesse must choose between the law and the lawless and find a way to survive while still protecting the people he loves.

A heart-pounding tale full of plot-twisting revelations, Hollow Out the Dark brings readers into a whiskey-fueled world where everyone has a secret, and love everlasting balances on the edge of a knife.

CLICK TO ORDER

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BOOK TRAILER


ABOUT THE AUTHOR James Wade is the award-winning author of Beasts of the Earth, All Things Left Wild, and River, Sing Out. He is the youngest novelist to win two Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America, and the recipient of the MPIBA’s prestigious Reading the West Award. James’s work has appeared in Southern Literary Magazine, the Bitter Oleander, Writers’ Digest, and numerous additional publications. James lives and writes in the Texas Hill Country with his wife and children.

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REVIEW

It’s 1932 in East Texas. Thedepression has a firm hold on the area and crime is rife. Bootleg whiskeystills pepper the land and the bad guys are called Squirrel and Frog Fenley.Jesse Cole, a veteran who’s struggling financially and mentally, is trying tosupport his dead brother’s wife and child. He’s fighting the pull of easy moneyand keeping his friends out of trouble. Into the mix rides a Texas Ranger,intent on solving a murder, dealing with crooked cops, reluctant witnesses anddeciphering his boss’ motives for sending him into the devil’s den.

HOLLOW OUT THE DARK is a complexstory full of morally gray characters. It is violent and shocking and exudesthe gritty atmosphere of the time. I found it hard to read and hard to putdown. I enjoyed the Texas setting and the time period, set during the greatdepression with flashbacks to WWI. There is little, if any relief from thegrimness of the story which made it more believable. Hard times, hard people,hard decisions.

The characters are complex andwell-drawn; the story has a few surprises I didn’t see coming. The setting isso well drawn, you’d swear you could taste the rotgut whiskey, feel thepervasive cold and shiver in the rainy woods.

This is the second James Wadebook I’ve read and enjoyed. I recommend his novels to readers who appreciatehard hitting books with an immersive setting.

Lethal Standoff by DiAnn Mills

 

 

LETHAL STANDOFF By DiAnn Mills

Contemporary Fiction / Christian Mystery & Suspense / Christian RomancePublisher: Tyndale House PublishersPages: 368Publication Date: September 3, 2024

SYNOPSIS

Hostage negotiator Carrington Reed faces her most dangerous challenge yet in Lethal Standoff. Called to a tense situation in South Texas, Carrington must save fifteen hostages held by the armed Kendrix brothers, who demand justice for their father's unsolved murder. 
Teaming up with investigative reporter Levi Ehrlich, Carrington delves into a web of secrets and lies. As they uncover startling truths, the stakes soar, and so does their undeniable attraction. 
Can Carrington solve the mystery and prevent a deadly outcome? A riveting blend of romance and suspense, this is a must-read for fans of high-stakes thrillers.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning author DiAnn Mills is known for her gripping romantic suspense novels where readers can Expect An Adventure. With multiple Christy Awards and numerous bestsellers, her stories captivate readers with their depth and intensity. A passionate storyteller and dedicated mentor, DiAnn is also a coffee connoisseur and proud grandmother living in Houston, Texas.
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REVIEW
Thanks to author DiAnn Mills for the opportunity to read and review her latest book! This is at least the third of fourth book I've read by her and as usual, it does not disappoint. This outing takes us along with hostage negotiator Carrington Reed and reporter Levi Ehrlich. When two brothers Will and Boyle take a group of illegal aliens hostage, the pair are throw together and find themselves caught up in an intricate plot that goes deep into the tight-knit rural community outside Victoria, Texas. When Carrington and Levi go beyond the call of duty, they get sucked into the dangerous world of human smuggling. But who is the ringleader? 
Lethal Standoff is another character driven story, heavy on dialogue which drives the action. Both Carrington and Levi have complex family issues. Attracted to each other, Carrington's emotional and potential health issues make her throw up roadblocks and keep Levi at arms length. As well as a twisty-turny plot, a budding romance, the author dives into the Christian beliefs of her characters. 
I really enjoyed this fast paced thriller. The plot kept me guessing and I did not see the ending coming. Kudos to DiAnn Mills for another excellent book. 


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The Saxon Sword by Laura Gwendolyn Hill

 

Congratulations to author Laura Hill on her debut novel, THE SAXON SWORD! This will be part of a series and I cannot wait to read it! I love the Saxon period and part of my next book will also be set in Saxon England! Be sure to check out Laura's new book!

 

Here is the blurb:

 Theyear is 603 AD. Seven Saxon kingdoms dominate the east of Britain while thebeleaguered British plot to reclaim their land.

 

On aremote Scottish island, a baby girl, Artemis, is born. As a child, she isdetermined to unravel the mystery of her father’s identity. As a young womanwith the heart of a warrior, she leaves home to find her father and faces manydangers on the road.

 

Fateleads Artemis into the kingdom of Northumbria where Edwin reigns as High Kingof Britain. In the turbulent court of King Edwin, Artemis is oath-bound toprotect a princess, but can she prove her worth in a man’s world? Is she worthyof wielding the Saxon Sword?

 

‘Gorgeous writing and a captivating story.’

Alina Rubin (author)

 

‘A glorious journey through early-medievalBritain.’

Edoardo Albert (author andhistorian)

 

Book One in‘The Song of Artemis’ series.

 

 

Deus Tex Machina: Rob Witherspoon

 

DEUS TEX MACHINA:

The Second Calamity of QED Morningwood by Rob Witherspoon

Science Fiction / Humor / Satire

Pages: 163

Publication Date: June 13, 2022

SYNOPSIS

QED "Kid" Morningwood is back with bigplans to create a death tourism industry. Working with his old Metaphysicsprofessor from Texas Alchemical and Metaphysical University, he delves thepurgatorial realms gathering data for his venture. Standing in their way isuniversity president T. Smedley Stalwart and his band of religious zealots -the Ancient and Loyal Order of the Holy Armadillo. FBI agents Flockham andMorales return to infiltrate and monitor ALOHA.

With the help of brilliant metaphysicalengineer Yong Mi Hernandez, safety inspector Conrad Dopplebock, and guided bythe wisdom of Cotton Widdershins, the Deus Tex Machina is a success. Sort of.

CLICK TO PURCHASE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rob Witherspoon was born andraised in rural Texas. He earned a BA in Physical Education, UT Arlington 1985and a BS in Aerospace Engineering, UT Arlington 1990. He lives in north centralTexas with his wife and youngest daughter and has spent much of his life inrural communities and on the ranch.

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The Agincourt King by Mercedes Rochell

 

Welcometo a stop in the Coffee Pot Book Tour of THE AGINCOURT KING  by Mecedes Rochelle. This is the second bookI’ve read by her and enjoyed them both.

The Details:

BookTitle:  The Agincourt King

Series:The Plantagenet Legacy

Author:Mercedes Rochelle

PublicationDate: April 8, 2024

Publisher:Sergeant Press

Pages: 260 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction, English History, MilitaryHistory

 

 

Blurb:

 

From the day he was crowned, Henry Vwas determined to prove the legitimacy of his house. His father's usurpationweighed heavily on his mind. Only a grand gesture would capture the respect ofhis own countrymen and the rest of Europe. He would follow in hisgreat-grandfather Edward III's footsteps, and recover lost territory in France. 

Better yet, why not go for thecrown? Poor, deranged Charles VI couldn't manage his own barons. The civil warbetween the Burgundians and Armagnacs was more of a threat to his country thanthe English, even after Henry laid siege to Harfleur. But once Harfleur hadfallen, the French came to their senses and determined to block his path toCalais and destroy him.

 

By the time the English reachedAgincourt, they were starving, exhausted, and easy pickings. Or so the Frenchthought. Little did they reckon on Henry's leadership and the stout-heartedEnglish archers who proved, once again, that numbers didn't matter when God wason their side.

My Review:

 The Short Story:A highly detailed, well researched story of King Henry V and his quest for the FrenchThrone. 

Author MercedesRochelle spins the story of King Henry V of England, he of Shakespeare fame andhis ‘Band of Brothers’ speech and his quest for the French Throne. The story istold through various POVs including the French which makes for a moreinteresting read. You can tell immediately that this story is so well researchedand I like the way the author imagines the various characters think about theroles they are playing in supporting or opposing the incredible strength ofwill that was Henry V. The book takes us through the battle of Agincourt andthe relief of Harfleur. 

I highlyrecommend this book and the series. A great way to read history!

 

 

 

Buy Links:

 

Thistitle is available to read on #KindleUnlimited. 

UniversalBuy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mq70Ze

 

 

Author Bio:

 

MercedesRochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history, and has channeled thisinterest into fiction writing. Her first four books cover eleventh-centuryBritain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. The next seriesis called “The Plantagenet Legacy” and begins with the reign of Richard II. 

She also writesa blog: www.HistoricalBritainBlog.comto explore the history behind the story. Born in St. Louis, MO, she received byBA in Literature at the Univ. of Missouri St.Louis in 1979 then moved to NewYork in 1982 while in her mid-20s to "see the world". The searchhasn't ended!

 Today she livesin Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.

 

 

Author Links:

 

Website:https://mercedesrochelle.com/

Blog:  https://historicalbritainblog.com/

Twitter/ X: https://x.com/authorrochelle

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/mercedesrochelle.net

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mercedes-rochelle

AmazonAuthor Page:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mercedes-Rochelle/author/B001KMG5P6

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1696491.Mercedes_Rochelle

Courage of the Conquered: Anna Chant

 

Welcometo The Book’s Delight and a stop on the Coffee Pot Book Tour for Courage of theConquered by Anna Chant.

 

The Details

BookTitle: Courage of the Conquered

Series:Quest for New England

Author:Anna Chant

PublicationDate: December 28th, 2019

Publisher:Independentlypublished

Pages:431

Genre:Historical Fiction

 

 

 

Blurb:

 

All the wonders of the Mediterranean have notprepared the English for the splendours of Constantinople. As Siward ofGloucester settles into the city, he is grateful to have finally found what hewas looking for: A fine, god-fearing lord he is proud to serve and a safe placewhere he and Oswyth can await the birth of their child.

 

But as the months pass, doubts creep in. EmperorMichael proves to be a weak ruler, continually threatened with rebellion.Determined to keep the English army close, his promises of reward growincreasingly vague.

 

With tension in the city rising, Siward and hisfriends are caught up in the power struggle. While Bridwin maintains hisloyalty to the emperor and Siward continues to trust in the friendship of thecunning Alexios Komnenos, Frebern grows close to John Bryennios, a man whoseambitions may include the imperial throne itself. With the friends drawn indifferent directions, Siward fears they could find themselves fighting onopposing sides.

 

Desperate to escape, he renews his efforts to findthe home the English have so long craved. But the beauty of Constantinopleconceals dangers that go far beyond Siward’s fears as sordid secrets andruthless betrayal stalk the lives of those he holds dear.

 

As the English prepare for battle yet again, willSiward’s quest for New England end in heart-breaking tragedy?

 

 

Buy Links: 

This title isavailable to read on #KindleUnlimited. 

Universal Buy Link:https://mybook.to/CourageoftheConquered

  

Author Bio: 

Anna Chant grew up in Essex, with herfirst home a tiny medieval cottage. Aged 18 she moved to Yorkshire to studyhistory at the University of Sheffield. In 2015, inspired by her love of medievalhistory and her Scottish ancestry, Anna started writing her first book withKenneth’s Queen, the tale of the unknown wife of Kenneth Mac Alpin, publishedthe following year. Taking inspiration from both history and legend, sheparticularly enjoys bringing to life the lesser known people, events andfolklore of the past. When not writing, Anna enjoys walking the coast andcountryside of Devon where she lives with her husband, three sons (if they’rehome) and a rather cheeky bearded dragon. 

 

Author Links: 

Website:https://darkagevoices.wordpress.com/

Twitter:https://twitter.com/anna_chant

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/darkagevoices

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-c-b60690182/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annachant_writer/

Threads:https://www.threads.net/@annachant_writer

Pinterest:https://www.pinterest.co.uk/annachant/

AmazonAuthor Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Anna-Chant/author/B01E46V162

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15188873.Anna_Chant

 

The Sea Witch Vovages Series: Helen Hollick

 

Welcome to The Book’s Delight and a stop onthe Coffee Pot Book Tour for Helen Hollick’s brilliant series, The Sea WitchVoyages!

 

 The Details:

Book Title: The Sea Witch Voyages

Series: 6 in the series & 1 prequel novella

Author: Helen Hollick

Publisher: Penmore Press & Taw River Press

Genre: Nautical Adventure with a touch ofSupernatural Fantasy

Note: Containsadult language and behaviour.

 

Blurb:

 

Trouble followsCaptain Jesamiah Acorne like a ship’s wake...

 

The early 1700s: from the sun of theCaribbean to the eerie mists of England’s Exmoor in Devon, the Sea WitchVoyages follow the adventures (misadventures?) of Captain Jesamiah Acorne.Orphaned at almost fifteen Jesamiah escaped his home in Virginia and thebullying of his half-brother to join with his father’s old friend, CaptainMalachias Taylor – a kindly man, but also a rogue of a pirate.

 

Jesamiah eventually captains his own ship,but at Cape Town, South Africa, he is to meet the girl who becomes the love ofhis life – Tiola Oldstagh, a midwife, healer... and a White Witch with the giftof Craft.

 

Accepting amnesty from Governor Woodes Rogersof Nassau, Jesamiah turns to a legal, married, life, except various governors,ex-lovers, bad-tempered pirates, lingering ghosts and other non-human entitiesseem to have different ideas.

 

Jesamiah Acorne: a swashbuckling amalgamationof Hornblower, Jack Aubrey and Jack Sparrow mixed with Indiana Jones, JamesBond and Bernard Cornwell’s Richard Sharpe.

 

Voyage with Jesamiah aboard Sea Witchand sail into the ocean realm of fast-paced, exciting nautical adventures...

 

 

Buy Links: 

Titles on #KindleUnlimited: When theMermaid Sings and Gallows Wake 

Universal AmazonAuthor Page Link: https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick 

IndividualUniversal links:

Sea Witch – Voyage 1: https://viewbook.at/SeaWitch

Pirate Code – Voyage 2: https://viewbook.at/PirateCode

Bring It Close – Voyage 3: https://viewbook.at/BringItClose

Ripples In The Sand – Voyage 4: http://viewbook.at/RipplesInTheSand

On The Account – Voyage 5: https://viewbook.at/OnTheAccount

Gallows Wake – Voyage 6: https://mybook.to/GallowsWake

When The Mermaid Sings – a prequel novella: https://viewbook.at/WhenMermaidSings

 

 

Author Bio:

 

First accepted for traditional publication in1993, Helen became a USA Today Bestseller with her historical novel, The Forever Queen (titled A Hollow Crown in the UK) with the sequel, Harold the King (US: I Am TheChosen King) being novels that explore the events that led to the Battle ofHastings in 1066. Her Pendragon’s BannerTrilogy is a fifth-century version of the Arthurian legend, and she writesa nautical adventure/supernatural series, TheSea Witch Voyages. She has also branched out into the quick read novella,'Cosy Mystery' genre with her Jan Christopher Mysteries, set in the1970s, with the first in the series, A Mirror Murder incorporating her,often hilarious, memories of working as a library assistant. The fifth in theseries, A Memory Of Murder, was published in May 2024.

 

Her non-fiction books are Pirates: Truth and Tales andLife of A Smuggler. She iscurrently writing about the ghosts of North Devon for Amberley Publications,and Jamaica Gold for her Sea Witch Voyages.

 

Recognised by her stylish hats, Helen attendsconferences and book-related events when she can as a chance to meet herreaders and social-media followers, although her ‘wonky eyesight’ as shedescribes her condition of Glaucoma, and severe arthritis is becoming a littleprohibitive for travel.

 

She lives with her family in aneighteenth-century farmhouse in North Devon with their dogs and cats, while onthe farm there are showjumper horses, fat Exmoor ponies, an elderly Welsh pony,geese, ducks and hens. And several resident ghosts.

 

 

Author links:

 

Website: https://helenhollick.net/

Amazon Author Page: https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helen.hollick

X/Twitter: https://x.com/HelenHollick

Blog: https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/ supporting authors& their books

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/helenhollick/

Monthly newsletter: Thoughts from aDevonshire Farmhouse

https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/2024/01/thoughts-from-devonshire-farmhouse.html

 

 

Optional content from Helen:

 

What Amazon readers say about Sea Witch: 

“WOW! I was mesmerised from the very firstwords in the very first chapter. I felt I was actually there with Jesamiah andhis fellow pirates; such was the reality of the story. I could almost smell thesea, feel the wind blowing and hear the sounds of the creaking ship.”

 

“I was very impressed with the attention tohistorical detail and the alluring descriptions of the sea and its sailingships. The author confesses that she has taken a few liberties with history tomake her story neat and tidy, but I think these are entirely justified for thesake of such a compelling tale.”

 

“I thoroughly enjoyed this well-told tale.Helen Hollick has created a terrific, likable rogue in Jesamiah Acorne; a youngman with a dark past and very bright future - if he survives to enjoy it.Details about the age of sail, life on board and ashore, and the sense that seahas a special, sinister life of its own added to the pleasure of reading. Ishall be following this series from now on. Great stuff!”

 

“Helen Hollick's forte is her ebullientimagination. Everything is original, from her writing, which is vivid and yetas economical as conversational French, where unnecessary words (‘the’, ‘and’)are dropped for fluency. Notable is the lavish use of the color blue, soexpensive and cherished at the time, that the cheeky blue of Jesamiah's ribbonsis almost eclipsed by the sheer arrogance of painting his ship -- Sea Witch --the same blue that was the prerogative of monarchs and prelates! And there arewonderful jokes, snitched from real history, such as the raid of a merchantship by a crew of pirates who merely needed a haul of hats. This book isstrongly recommended for young adults who want a rousing story, and also forthose who are older who want a thought-provoking new approach to thetraditional pirate yarn.”

 

Authors’endorsements:

 

“Helen Hollick has it all! She tells a greatstory, gets her history right and writes consistently readable books!” ~ BernardCornwell

 

“A wonderful swashbuckler of a novel. Fans ofPirates of the Caribbean will love this to pieces of eight.” ~ ElizabethChadwick

 

“In the sexiest pirate competition Cpt.Jesamiah Acorne gives Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow a run for his money.” ~ SharonK. Penman

The Virgins of Venice: Gina Guonaguro

Welcometo The Book’s Delight and stop on the Coffee Pot Book Tour for The Virgin ofVenice by Gina Buonaguro! Who doesn’t love a book set in 16th CenturyVenice!

 

The Details:  

BookTitle: The Virgins of Venice

Author:Gina Buonaguro

PublicationDate: December 13, 2022

Publisher:Harper Avenue

Pages:432

Genre:Historical Fiction

 

 

 

Blurb:  

In sixteenth-century Venice, one youngnoblewoman dares to resist the choices made for her

 

Venicein 1509 is on the brink of war. The displeasure of Pope Julius II is acontinuing threat to the republic, as is the barely contained fighting in thecountryside. Amid this turmoil, noblewoman Justina Soranzo, just sixteen, hopesto make a rare love marriage with her sweetheart, Luca Cicogna. Her hopes aredashed when her father decides her younger sister, Rosa, will marry in astrategic alliance and Justina will be sent to the San Zaccaria convent, in thetradition of aristocratic daughters. Lord Soranzo is not acting only to protecthis family. It’s well known that he is in debt to both his trading partners andthe most infamous courtesan in the city, La Diamante, and the pressure isclosing in.

 

Afterarriving at the convent, Justina takes solace in her aunt Livia, one of thenuns, and in the growing knowledge that all is not strictly devout at SanZaccaria. Justina is shocked to discover how the women of the convent findtheir own freedom in what seems to her like a prison. But secrets and scandalsbreach the convent walls, and Justina learns there may be even worse fates forher than the veil, if La Diamante makes good on her threats.

 

Desperateto protect herself and the ones she loves, Justina turns to Luca for help. Shefinds she must trust her own heart to make the impossible decisions that maysave or ruin them all.

 

 

Buy Links: 

UniversalBuy Links:

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https://ginabu.com/the-virgins-of-venice/ 

 

Author Bio:

 

Gina Buonaguro is the co-author of The Wolves of St. Peters, Ciao Bella and The Sidewalk Artist,as well as several romance titles under the name Meadow Taylor. The Virgins ofVenice is her first solo novel.

 She has a BA in English from Villanova University inPennsylvania and earned an MA in English from the University of BritishColumbia while on a Fulbright Scholarship. Born in New Jersey, Gina Buonagurolives in Toronto.

 

Author Links: 

Website:https://ginabu.com/

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-buonaguro-35318934/

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AmazonAuthor Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Gina-Buonaguro/author/B002LAAF9I

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/219059.Gina_Buonaguro