Deborah Swift's Blog, page 10
April 4, 2023
Pagan Warrior by M J Porter – how do we know about the 7th Century? #coloursofunison #coffeepotbookclub
I’m thrilled to host M J Porter on my blog today with her new book Pagan Warrior and a fascinating guest post.
How do we know what we know about the seventh century?
There’s no way of truly knowing what transpired over 1400 years ago when the events on which I based the Gods and Kings trilogy, which begins with Pagan Warrior, took place. There are three main sources from this period which can be used. The first near-contemporary source available to the modern scholar is that of Bede in his The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, completed in c.731. The events that he recorded of the people and battles from 632/3 to 655 mean that even he is removed from the immediacy of what truly happened by up to a century. He was also a Northumbrian Christian monk writing about events before Saxon England was truly converted to Roman Christianity and trying to prove that only through God’s might could kings rule well.
The manuscript tradition of the surviving source material highlights another problem. We don’t have the original manuscript, written in Bede’s hand, to know exactly what he wrote. Our earliest surviving manuscript, known as Tiberius Bede, and held by the British Library, dates to around 737, so after Bede’s death, which is said to have occurred in 735.
The manuscript can be viewed online here https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/bedes-ecclesiastical-history-of-the-english-people, and it is a beautiful manuscript.
While Bede’s work was copied copiously during the Saxon era, each of these editions was an opportunity to edit or add or purposefully omit as the scribes went along. Historians have spent much time trying to devise the manuscript traditions that link one surviving text to another.
This problem isn’t restricted to Bede, but applies to all the source material written about the events of the seventh century. Not just Bede but also the Historia Brittonum, once assigned to Nennius. This provides information about the seventh century but is a later source, dated to the ninth century and only surviving in eleventh-century copies. It’s believed to be a British, or rather Welsh, account of events. It’s particularly well-known as a basis for much of the later Arthurian legend.
One of the versions, the earliest one that survives, can be viewed here https://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Harley_MS_3859
Our third near-contemporary source, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, was devised at the court of King Alfred of Wessex at some point before c.890. It, too, has a rich and varied manuscript tradition and survives in nine recensions, the earliest of which dates to the early eleventh century.
It can be viewed online via The Parker Library on the Web, https://parker.stanford.edu/parker/catalog/wp146tq7625
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle has a particularly complex history. It was first written utilising the words of Bede and possibly other, now lost, sources. It was also written even more distanced in time than Bede, and it has certainly been subject to additions and omissions throughout its history. For many years, attempts were made to incorporate all of the different recensions to provide a ‘rounded history’ of the period. However, the intricacies of the individual recensions are now appreciated, and instead, modern editors look for the reasons for these omissions and additions.
These various sources, written in Latin, or Old English, have been the subject of many studies, and of course, modern editions are available to read in English. But again, this is just another means by which the modern scholar is distanced from the intent and meaning of the original words. The modern scholar is far removed from the words devised by the religious men (but possibly also the religious women) who first put quill to vellum to offer a record of times before they lived.
Those writing of the period need to be aware of these limitations and restrictions, while an audience needs to appreciate that there are almost no definites. In many ways, our history of the period is entirely skewed by what others thought. It’s a sobering realisation.
From bestselling author, MJ Porter comes the tale of the mighty pagan king, Penda of Mercia.
Britain. AD 632.
Penda, a warrior of immense renown, has much to prove if he is to rule the Mercian kingdom of his dead father and prevent the neighbouring king of Northumbria from claiming it. Unexpectedly allying with the British kings, Penda races to battle the alliance of the Northumbrian king, unsure if his brother stands with him or against him as they seek battle glory for themselves, and the right to rule gained through bloody conquest. There will be a victor and a bloody loser, and a king will rise from the ashes of the great and terrible battle of Hædfeld.
Audiobook narrated by Matt Coles
BUY HERE :books2read.com/PaganWarrior
Image The Tiberius Bede – Tiberius Bede, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
#Audiobook narrated by Matt Coles
MJ Porter is the author of many historical novels set predominantly in Seventh to Eleventh-Century England, as well as three twentieth-century mysteries. Being raised in the shadow of a building that was believed to house the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia, meant that the author’s writing destiny was set.
Get in touch via M J’s Social Media Links:
Website: www.mjporterauthor.blog Twitter: https://twitter.com/coloursofunison Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjporterauthor
The post Pagan Warrior by M J Porter – how do we know about the 7th Century? #coloursofunison #coffeepotbookclub first appeared on Deborah Swift.
March 6, 2023
The Venice Secret by Anita Chapman Featured #NewRelease #Venice #DualTimeline
About The Venice Secret:
One hidden painting. Two women born centuries apart. A secret uncovered.
In 2019, Rachel is stuck in a rut when she discovers what appears to be a Canaletto painting in her
grandmother’s loft along with a note addressed to Philippa in 1782. With help from Jake at the local
art gallery, Rachel endeavours to find out if the painting is an original and uncovers a secret from the past.
In 1780, governess at Chipford Hall, Philippa is offered the role of mistress by Earl Rupert. She
escapes to Venice as companion to bluestocking, Lady Cordelia who reveals a secret that changes
both their lives. They do their best to keep the secret from Lady Cordelia’s social circle, but their
nemesis is determined to reveal all and ruin them.
About Anita Chapman
Anita Chapman enjoyed writing stories from a young age, and won a local writing competition when she was nine years old. Encouraged by this, she typed up a series of stories about a mouse on her mum’s typewriter and sent them to Ladybird. She received a polite rejection letter, her first. Many of Anita’s summers growing up were spent with her family driving to Italy, and she went on to study French and Italian at university. As part of her degree, Anita lived in Siena for several months where she studied and au paired, and she spent a lot of time travelling around Italy in her twenties. Anita likes to read journals and diaries from the past, and one of her favourite pastimes is visiting art galleries and country houses. Her first published novel, The Venice Secret is inspired by her mother taking her to see the Canalettos at The National Gallery in London as a child. Since 2015, Anita has worked as a social media manager, training authors on social media, and helping to promote their books. She’s run several courses in London and York, and has worked as a tutor at Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College.
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Connect with Anita
Website:
Twitter: @neetschapman
Facebook Page: Anita Chapman Author
Instagram: @neetschapman
TikTok: @neetschapman
February 26, 2023
The Scots of Dalriada by Rowena Kinread #Scotland #History #CoffeePotBookClub
About the Book
Fergus, Loarn and Angus, Princes of the Dalriada, are forced into exile by their scheming half-brother and the druidess Birga One-tooth.
THREE FATES
Fergus conceals himself as a stable lad on Aran and falls helplessly in love with a Scottish princess, already promised to someone else. Loarn crosses swords against the Picts. Angus designs longboats.
TOGETHER A MIGHTY POWER
Always on the run the brothers must attempt to outride their adversaries by gaining power themselves. Together they achieve more than they could possibly dream of.
Fergus Mór (The Great) is widely recognised as the first King of Scotland, giving Scotland its name and its language. Rulers of Scotland and England from Kenneth mac Alpín until the present time claim descent from Fergus Mór.
Full of unexpected twists and turns, this is a tale of heart-breaking love amidst treachery, deceit and murder.
Review
I bought this book on #KindleUnlimited and admit I knew nothing about early Scottish or Irish history, so this was really interesting. It is not for the faint-hearted as early on in the book it contains the sort of sex and violence you might expect from warring tribes of this era. Hand to hand fighting with sword and fists is a very different battlefield to that of today. Don’t let this put you off though, as it is extremely well-researched with episodes covering a vast swathe of history. The sort of hand to mouth existence is well-described, the flat-bottomed boats, the reliance on horses, the language of Brittonic, the burns and brochs, the rocks and seashore. I loved the travel between Scotland and Ireland, and the description of life in the Irish fort at Tara, Meath.
I enjoyed Fergus’ character as he grows and develops. The characters are rough men, used to fighting, manipulating, wielding threats and death to those that cross them. Erc was a great character – he dispenses the wisdom born of age, and came across as hard-headed but realistic. ‘If you receive favours instead of being a leader by merit, then your men will not trust you wholly, nor follow you blindly’.
There is a lot in this novel and you have to keep your wits about you as a reader as it zips from place to place. Rowena Kinread’s love of the history of these people shines through and for anyone interested in their Scottish or Irish origins, or early Christian and Druid history, it is a must read.
The post The Scots of Dalriada by Rowena Kinread #Scotland #History #CoffeePotBookClub first appeared on Deborah Swift.February 22, 2023
The Flying Scotsman Sings by Debbie Wastling #NewRelease #Railways #FlyingScotsman
New Release!
Congratulations to Debbie Wastling on the launch of The Flying Scotsman Sings.
Why today? This is the day the train went first into service from Doncaster with the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway.
In 2023 the train will tour the UK it all its steam (and electric) glory. If you live in the UK or want a trip on this magnificent train, which was driven by Debbie’s grandfather, you can find out more here. https://www.railwaytouring.net/the-edinburgh-flyer-2023.
For more information on the book, contact Debbie
The post The Flying Scotsman Sings by Debbie Wastling #NewRelease #Railways #FlyingScotsman first appeared on Deborah Swift.February 21, 2023
The Black Madonna by Stella Riley – Excerpt #CoffeePotBookClub @RileyStella
I am thrilled to welcome Stella Riley today with an Excerpt from The Black Madonna, Book 1 in the Roundheads and Cavaliers Series.
ABOUT THE BOOK: As England slides into Civil War, master-goldsmith and money-lender, Luciano Falcieri del Santi embarks on his own hidden agenda. A chance meeting one dark night results in an unlikely friendship with Member of Parliament, Richard Maxwell. Richard’s daughter, Kate – a spirited girl who vows to hold their home against both Cavalier and Roundhead – soon finds herself fighting an involuntary attraction to the clever, magnetic and diabolically beautiful Italian.
Hampered by the warring English, his quest growing daily more dangerous, Luciano begins to realise that his own life and that of everyone close to him rests on the knife-edge of success … for only success will permit him to reclaim the Black Madonna and offer his heart to the girl he loves.
From the machinations within Parliament to the last days of the King’s cause, The Black Madonna is an epic saga of passion and intrigue at a time when England was lost in a dark and bloody conflict.
BUY THE BOOK Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bPNKpd
EXCERPT
The start of Luciano’s quest and the significance of the black Madonna.
Vittorio scowled at him. ‘What makes you think I’d lend you the price of a hair-cut – let alone a sum of this size?’
‘Because you know I don’t fail,’ said the distant voice simply.
This was too much for his cousins. Carlo and Giuseppe burst into a torrent of impassioned speech and young Mario – who alone of the three had been born with a sense of humour – gave a long appreciative whistle. Then Carlo’s voice emerged triumphant.
‘Arrogant upstart!’ he spat. ‘You’ve already wormed your way far enough into this family’s intimate concerns to learn financial details that even I – the eldest son – don’t know!’
The ghost of a sardonic smile touched the lean mouth but its owner said nothing.
It was left to Vittorio to observe that, if Carlo had any interest in finance beyond having sufficient money to entertain his fine friends, it was the first he’d heard of it. Then, bidding him be silent or get out, he looked back at his nephew and said slowly, ‘Now, Luciano … let us know what we say. You are asking for a family favour? A massive loan on no better security than my faith in your abilities?’
‘Not at all,’ came the cool reply. ‘I am asking you to advance me fifty thousand in gold for a period of ten years, at a rate of interest in accordance with your normal transactions and to be repaid annually. Should I fail to meet this obligation, you are entitled to terminate our agreement and reclaim the whole. As to the matter of security …’ He paused and, moving for the first time, produced from the folds of his cloak a narrow, irregular-shaped package. ‘For security, I offer you this.’
Giuseppe looked up from buffing his fingernails long enough to snigger.
Carlo said derisively, ‘Some bauble you won in a dice game?’
With the same unshakeable impassivity that had maddened Carlo for eight years, Luciano ignored him and crossed the room to lay the parcel before his uncle. ‘I understand that you once held this in some esteem … but perhaps you no longer care to have it.’
Vittorio reached out a hand but, even before he touched the package, knowledge of its contents rushed in upon him and he said hoarsely, ‘You – you have it still?’
‘Of course.’ A vagrant smile flickered across the remote, finely-boned face. ‘Did you never suspect it?’
Without seeming to be aware of what he was doing, Vittorio rose from his chair saying, ‘You said everything was put under seal – confiscated by the English Crown. The house, land, money, papers … everything. I thought that this, too –’ He broke off, a surge of colour staining his skin. ‘You deceived me!’
‘No. You deceived yourself.’
The admission implicit in this speech caused Vittorio’s flush to assume choleric proportions and prompted sixteen-year-old Mario to say quickly, ‘Father? Won’t you open the packet?’
‘Yes,’ drawled Carlo. ‘By all means let us see if what our dear cousin offers us against several years’ profit is worth it.’
There was a long pause and then Vittorio said quietly, ‘It is worth it – and your cousin knows it very well. He has brought the Black Madonna home.’
The effect of this announcement on Carlo and Giuseppe was not prodigious but Mario said eagerly, ‘The Madonna? Truly? May we see it?’
And finally, with an odd reluctance, Vittorio sank back into his chair and, taking the parcel between his hands, slowly unwrapped it.
The Madonna was not large – nor did it possess any obvious feature to suggest that it was, in fact, a Madonna at all. There was no enamelling, no gilding, no jewels; only the slender form of a young girl, simply fashioned of dark, red-veined obsidian. Her hair was demurely covered, her hands clasped in the folds of her robe and her mouth curved in a sweet, secret smile.
For the first time in twenty years, Vittorio’s eyes caressed the smooth glossy surface of the stone and marvelled afresh at the mystery of it. He was not a sentimental man and nowadays he had a house full of beautiful, expensive things; but not one of them held a fragment of the lure contained in this austere and probably valueless piece.
All he knew of the lady was that she had been in his family for generations and had been treasured through years of obscurity and squalor since before the Falcieri had left their native village of Santi. He had been bred to revere her – as had his brother, Alessandro. But Alessandro had stolen her and, in doing so, brought about his own destruction. Or so Vittorio thought. Yet the wheel of Fate had ground on … and the Madonna was home at last.
‘Is that it?’ Carlo shattered the silence with three supremely disparaging syllables. ‘How dreary! It’s no more than a crudely-worked lump of stone.’
Vittorio came to his feet with a force that sent his chair grating back across the floor. For a long moment Carlo was subjected to a wave of intense, silent fury. Then, sweeping round to face his nephew, Vittorio said, ‘And you? Do you see only a lump of stone?’
‘No.’ Luciano looked on the Madonna with hooded eyes. ‘I see something which, once lost, I can never replace.’
Some of the wrath left Vittorio’s face and he growled, ‘Then you’d better be sure of what you do.’
‘I am sure. I’ve had eight years in which to plan it.’
‘And?’
‘And I propose, signor, that we gamble.’ Again that chilly, impersonal smile. ‘You hold the Madonna and advance me the money. If I use it successfully, you regain it in full and with interest – but return the lady. If not, you take what I have and keep her. Either way, you can’t lose.’
‘Very clever.’
‘Not particularly. It’s my only option.’
Unexpectedly, Vittorio laughed.
‘You don’t favour your father, do you? He hadn’t a calculating bone in his body.’
Luciano replied with the merest suggestion of a shrug, a gesture he rarely permitted himself because it emphasised the slight irregularity of his left shoulder. He said merely, ‘I have read Il Principe.’
‘Machiavelli? Yes. You would. But there’s more to this than a desire for your own enterprise. What is it? A girl?’
The dark, cobalt gaze filled with derision. ‘Hardly.’
‘Then what? I think I’ve a right to know what my money will be buying.’
It was a long time before Luciano spoke and, when he did, each word arrived sheathed in ice.
‘It will be buying justice, signor. I’m surprised that you needed to ask.’
‘Justice? From the English? After so long?’ Vittorio snorted. ‘You have no hope.’
‘Perhaps. Perhaps not.’ Another pause, and then, ‘But fortunately, if justice fails, one may look for revenge.’
KEEP READING! BUY THE BOOK. https://books2read.com/u/bPNKpd
About Stella Riley
Winner of three gold medals for historical romance (Readers’ Favourite in 2019, Book Excellence Awards in 2020, Global Book Awards in 2022) and fourteen B.R.A.G. Medallions, Stella Riley lives in the beautiful medieval town of Sandwich in Kent.
She is fascinated by the English Civil Wars and has written six books set in that period. These, like the seven-book Rockliffe series (recommended in The Times newspaper!) and the Brandon Brothers trilogy, are all available in audio, narrated by Alex Wyndham.
Stella enjoys travel, reading, theatre, Baroque music and playing the harpsichord. She also has a fondness for men with long hair – hence her 17th and 18th century heroes.
Website: https://stellarileybooks.co.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/RileyStella
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The post The Black Madonna by Stella Riley – Excerpt #CoffeePotBookClub @RileyStella first appeared on Deborah Swift.
The Last Great Saxon Earls by Mercedes Rochelle #CoffeePotBookClub #AngloSaxon
Delighted to host Mercedes Rochelle today with the fabulous LAST GREAT SAXON EARLS SERIES:
GODWINE KINGMAKER
THE SONS OF GODWINE
FATAL RIVALRY
They showed so much promise. What happened to the Godwines? How did they lose their grip? Who was this Godwine anyway, first Earl of Wessex and known as the Kingmaker? Was he an unscrupulous schemer, using King and Witan to gain power? Or was he the greatest of all Saxon Earls, protector of the English against the hated Normans? The answer depends on who you ask.
He was befriended by the Danes, raised up by Canute the Great, given an Earldom and a wife from the highest Danish ranks. He sired nine children, among them four Earls, a Queen and a future King. Along with his power came a struggle to keep his enemies at bay, and Godwine’s best efforts were brought down by the misdeeds of his eldest son Swegn.
Although he became father-in-law to a reluctant Edward the Confessor, his fortunes dwindled as the Normans gained prominence at court. Driven into exile, Godwine regathered his forces and came back even stronger, only to discover that his second son Harold was destined to surpass him in renown and glory.
EXCERPT: Conflict between Swegn Godwineson and his cousin Beorn
Swegn did not know where his father was, but he felt that only Godwine could help his cause now. He headed toward Dover first, thinking that was a good starting point. But he missed Godwine by half a day. His father had embarked with a small fleet and was sailing to Pevensey, which had been attacked by raiders.
Swegn rode hard on his trail. Arriving at Pevensey, he saw that Godwine was still present. There was no time to waste; Swegn leaped from his horse and ran to the great hall.
But he was too late. Beorn had already preceded him.
Swegn froze at the door, discovering Godwine in earnest conversation with his cousin. Despite himself, Swegn was overcome with that familiar surge of jealous rage, threatening to impair his badly needed judgment. Hoping for a happy reunion, he was greeted instead with a strained expression and a guarded smile.
“You are always welcome, son,” Godwine said, standing. “I hope you come in peace.”
“Father,” Swegn faltered, then glared at Beorn. “Will you leave us alone?”
“I think not,” Beorn retorted.
Godwine said nothing.
“Father, my brother and cousin seek to keep me from my earldom. Why do they need my lands, when they have their own?”
Godwine’s expression softened. “Swegn…”
“As I was making my peace with Edward, they came charging in and refused to cooperate. They turned him against me by their selfish bickering.”
Godwine swung on Beorn. “You did not tell me that. Is it true?”
“Partly. It would have happened anyway, in time.”
“How do you know that?” Swegn snarled.
“Because I know what kind of man you are.”
“Stop, both of you!” Godwine shook his head. “We are supposed to stick together. If our family is divided, our enemies will tear us to pieces.”
Shamed, the others stopped.
“And you, Swegn. Are you so selfish you didn’t take thought to ask about your son?”
Swegn’s eyes widened. “My son?”
“Yes, for all you care. He is at Winchester with Gytha.”
“What is his name?”
“Hakon.”
“And…Eadgifu?”
“Back at Leominster. They are no longer an Abbey, thanks to you, but the sisters continue to care for the poor.”
Swegn turned away to hide his feelings. Godwine swung on Beorn. “I am ashamed of you, and Harold, too. You should never have humiliated Swegn before the king. You have ruined all I worked for, these many months. I must start over again.
“What were you thinking of? Only your greed? If that’s what was so important to you, I could have given you compensation out of my own earldom.”
Beorn sighed. “Perhaps I can return to Edward, and change my position.” Swegn’s shoulders stiffened.
Godwine stared at Beorn, his eyes narrowing. “Do you mean that?”
“Yes, uncle. I would never willingly defy you.”
Swegn turned, incredulous. “What about Harold?”
Godwine said, “He has already taken some of the ships and headed west, after the raiders. But I think I can talk him into agreeing, as well.”
Swegn looked at Beorn. “You would do this for me?”
“I do it for your father.”
Satisfied, Godwine did not see the hate flow between the two.
Rather than return directly to the king at Sandwich, Swegn convinced Beorn that it was better to return overland to his ships. “Some of my crew are mercenaries,” he said. “I dare not leave them so long without a leader, or they may turn into pirates, in truth.”
Beorn looked him up and down. “It is in the opposite direction.”
“But then we can sail back to Sandwich, and make up for the lost time.”
Nodding uncertainly, Beorn agreed.
Their trip to Bosham was conducted in silence. The only thing Swegn said was to insist that Beorn sail on the same ship he did. Reluctantly, his cousin agreed.
Leaving their horses at Godwine’s estate, they had soon embarked on their way to Sandwich. The storms had passed to the west, and the sky was clear before them. Beorn stood at the bow of the ship, gazing forward, as if he could propel them faster toward their destination through sheer will. He heard rather than saw Swegn come up behind him.
“I suppose you think you have won,” Beorn said finally, turning distastefully to his cousin.
Swegn gave him a frown. “I will not have won until I have rid my family of your unwanted presence.”
Despite himself, Beorn was stung. “What makes you think your presence is so desirable?”
“I am the eldest. At least my father loves me.”
“Pah. He feels guilty, that’s all. Not that you deserve it.”
At first, Beorn didn’t realize the effect his words would have. But one look at Swegn told him he had gone too far.
His face flushed, Swegn was grabbing a knife from his belt. He snatched another from one of the crew and tossed it to his cousin.
“All right,” he growled, “let’s have it out once and for all.”
Beorn was ready. He caught the handle and crouched, point out.
They circled, feinting with the knives, left hands held out to block. Already several men were watching curiously.
Swegn looked eager, almost too anxious, while Beorn set his mouth, searching for an opening. The Dane lunged all of a sudden, flicking the point across Swegn’s face; then he smiled. A tiny line of red ran across the other’s cheek.
Swegn slowly touched the cut then crouched even lower, eyes deadly. He suddenly reversed the knife in his grip, drawing the blade backward across Beorn’s vision; the Dane threw up his arm for protection, taking a long slash across his forearm.
They had both drawn blood; both knew this was to the death. Swegn’s cut settled him down; he eased into a steely control, losing that edgy nervousness. Beorn lashed out at him; he ducked easily, responding with a thrust to the side. He missed his mark, only tearing the other’s tunic.
But Beorn was back again, feinting and striking, slashing again and again at his face. He was fast and effective, and Swegn had to step backwards, on the defensive; the blade cut into his right wrist, then slashed his other cheek.
Suddenly, Swegn switched the knife to his left hand, flying at his foe like a whirlwind. Caught off guard, Beorn tripped and fell, his knife flying. Somehow, Swegn couldn’t stop his thrust; before Beorn even hit the deck, the blade was buried in his chest. Gasping, Swegn looked at the witnesses. “You saw,” he said, wiping his bloody cheek. “It was a fair fight.”
Mumbling, the others turned away.
For a time, Swegn stared at his cousin, who sprawled awkwardly on a pile of ropes. He felt no relief, no satisfaction from the deed. Rather, he felt overwhelmed with self-pity. Now look what happened. Why couldn’t Beorn keep his mouth shut?
“Turn around,” he ordered. “We cannot go to Edward now.”
They proceeded west until Swegn decided what to do. By the time they reached Dartmouth, only two of the eight ships were with him; the rest had just sailed away. He put in at the town, so they could at least bury the body in the local church.
That done, the two ships sailed to Flanders.
CARRY ON READING – Read on #KINDLEUNLIMITED or BUY THE BOOK
ABOUT MERCEDES
Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history, and has channeled this interest into fiction writing. She believes that good Historical Fiction, or Faction as it’s coming to be known, is an excellent way to introduce the subject to curious readers. She also writes a blog: HistoricalBritainBlog.com to explore the history behind the story.
Born in St. Louis, MO, she received by BA in Literature at the Univ. of Missouri St.Louis in 1979 then moved to New York in 1982 while in her mid-20s to “see the world”. The search hasn’t ended!
Today she lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.
Social Media Links: Website: https://mercedesrochelle.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorrochelle
February 9, 2023
A Rip in the Veil by Anna Belfrage #Review #CoffeePotBookClub #Timeslip
This one had been on my kindle for ages and came highly recommended, but I’m not really a fan of timeslip novels so I had kept putting it to one side. I think I always find that the actual time shift moment stretches my disbelief a little too much – the moment when someone falls through a picture, or gets sucked into a vortex. However Anna Belfrage is an expert at making the most of that moment, so I need not have feared it was going to be ‘too cheesy’. Instead we are treated to a moment which tingles all the senses, and allows us to feel what such a moment might really be like.
Of course being transported back into the 17th century gives Anna Belfrage a chance to reflect on society both then and now. There is what you would expect – the repression of women, the narrowness of society, but also an understanding of just how violent society was before our modern judicial system, the importance of agriculture and land, and the lack of material possessions, all things that Alex Lind has to come to grips with in her new life in a new century.
More than just a romance, this will please readers who like accurate history, but also appreciate a passionate relationship that is realistically portrayed. I appreciated all the minor characters in the book too, such as Matthew’s bitter and vengeful brother, and Alex’s traumatised husband, as they each have a story to tell. Multi-layered and exciting, this is historical romantic fiction at its best.
MORE ABOUT THE BOOK
On a muggy August day in 2002 Alex Lind disappears. On an equally stifling August day in 1658, Matthew Graham finds her on a Scottish moor. Life will never be the same for Alex – or for Matthew.
Alexandra Lind is thrown three centuries backwards in time to land at the feet of escaped convict Matthew Graham
Matthew doesn’t know what to make of this strange woman who has seemingly fallen from the skies—what is she, a witch
Alex is convinced the tall, gaunt man is some sort of hermit, an oddball, but she quickly realises the odd one out is she, not he
Catapulted from a life of modern comfort, Alex grapples with her new existence, further complicated by the dawning realization that someone from her time has followed her here—and not exactly to extend a helping hand.
Potential compensation for this brutal shift in fate comes in the shape of Matthew, a man she should never have met, not when she was born three centuries after him. But Matthew comes with baggage of his own and on occasion his past threatens them both. At times Alex finds it all excessively exciting, longing for the structured life she used to have.
How will she ever get back? And more importantly, does she really want to?
GET THIS BOOK:
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited
BUY THE BOOK – http://myBook.to/ARIV1
Find out more about Anna, her books and enjoy her eclectic historical blog on her website,www.annabelfrage.com
Social Media Twitter: @abelfrageauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annabelfrageauthor Amazon Author Page: http://Author.to/ABG
The post A Rip in the Veil by Anna Belfrage #Review #CoffeePotBookClub #Timeslip first appeared on Deborah Swift.
January 31, 2023
White Sails by Emma Lombard – Hardback Collector’s Edition #CoffeePotBookClub
Blurb:
Award-winner, The White Sails Series, where icy winter storms, opportunistic mercenaries, uncharted lands, and a colourful crew of sailors are all lashed together by an epic love story. This collector’s edition includes all four books in the series.
Discerning Grace. London Town, 1826. Society life is stifling enough for Grace Baxter without worrying about finding true love or happiness. Enlisting with the Royal Navy, disguised as a lad, she is tossed into a watery world where mother nature is not the only threat to her life. Brazenly, she holds her own against a ship full of sailors—until her loud mouth lands her bare-bottomed over a cannon for insubordination.
Grace on the Horizon. Adrift on a raft of shame in the sea of 1830s London society, Grace’s desperation to leave London forces Seamus to accept a dubious commission on the private explorer, Clover. With the expedition financed by Colonel Hamilton, Seamus is tasked with mapping a round-the-world voyage. But Colonel Hamilton has an additional package that requires delivering—Father Babcock—a priest wanted for murder.
Grace Arising. The burgeoning 1840s New Holland wool market is irresistible to entrepreneurial souls like Seamus and Grace. Having survived unimaginable tragedy together, they plan a fresh start aboard their new ship, the Elias. When Seamus is gravely injured, Grace must assume command and see the ship’s souls to safety. Except First Mate, Lucius Chittenden, refuses to be commanded by a woman.
Christmas at Gilly Downs (A Novella). 1853, Colony of New South Wales. This Christmas Novella is a snapshot in time ten years after Grace Arising. It offers an intimate peek of the most popular characters from The White Sails Series as they navigate life in their newly adopted country.
Find out more here: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/01/blog-tour-white-sails-series-collectors-edition.html
January 11, 2023
Tyre – An ancient city reveals a hidden truth #Lebanon #history @EHBernardAuthor @cathiedunn
I’m delighted to be featuring award winning author Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard on my blog today. We are being treated to a trip to Lebanon at the turn of the 20th Century, via Constantinople and the Orient Express! Find out more about the ancient city of Tyre.
SISTERS OF CASTLE LEOD: A NOVEL: An Ancient City Reveals a Hidden Truth
Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard
Thanks, Deborah, for inviting my guest post about my latest historical novel, SISTERS OF CASTLE LEOD (release date: January 19, 2023). You asked me to talk about a particular object or place that plays a role in the story of my real-life characters, Sibell Mackenzie, who became the third Countess of Cromartie in 1895, and her younger sister Lady Constance. The obvious choice might be Castle Leod, where the sisters grew up and which Sibell inherited as part of the Cromartie estates, but today I want to explore with you and your readers a different place: the ancient Phoenician port of Tyre, along the Mediterranean coast of modern-day Lebanon.
There are several different geographical settings in my novel: the Scottish Highlands, London, Venice, New York City, Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey), and Tyre. I have personally visited all these locales except for Istanbul and Tyre. But then, few authors of historical fiction have the luxury of traveling to every place they write about. In this instance, there was no way to avoid the need for a bit of armchair research. In my novel, it is important that Sibell journeys to Tyre in search of her past and a path to the future she so desperately desires.
To understand Sibell’s journey, one must know a little bit about her. Inheriting her father’s titles and estates at the age of seventeen, she achieves the rare distinction of becoming a peeress in her own right and also one of the richest landowners in Scotland. A quiet, bookish young woman, she achieves fame as an author of mystical romance novels and becomes well-known as a spiritualist and a believer in reincarnation. All this, as well as her public claim of having a Phoenician spirit guide, is important to both the factual and fictional elements of the novel.
While most of the characters in SISTERS OF CASTLE LEOD are inspired by real people, one of the purely imagined characters is the young Arab who convinces Sibell that they were lovers in a past life—in Tyre, just before the brutal invasion of Alexander the Great in 332 BC. Though at first reluctant to believe him, Sibell eventually finds herself drawn to the historic city where, to her surprise, the site of an ancient ruin stirs what seem to be vague memories of the past. No, my book is not a time-travel romance! But Sibell often has brief flashes of an Unseen World that are key to her view of life, death, and destiny.
I loved researching the history of the Phoenicians and especially Tyre. One of the fascinating facts I discovered was that, in addition to being an important port city for Phoenician merchant vessels, Tyre was famous for its production of a rich purple dye made from snail shells. The downside to this flourishing enterprise was that collecting snails by the thousands and leaving them to decompose in huge vats created an awful stench. But these special dyes were highly prized and very expensive. Eventually, Tyrian purple became an official imperial color, and its use was restricted accordingly
When Sibell finally arrives in Tyre—after 80 hours of travel from Paris to Constantinople on the Orient Express, four days on a ship from Constantinople to Beirut, and two days of a bumpy carriage ride along the Mediterranean coast, escorted by armed guards—her first reaction is disappointment. There is little evidence of the Phoenicians. Most of what she can see from the main road into the city are relics of the Roman era—the towering stone arch and double colonnade of green-veined marble columns, and the remains of a hippodrome that once held twenty thousand spectators. Looking out across the water, she sees the land bridge connecting the mainland to the former island port, an enduring reminder of Alexander’s seven-month siege, and she is overcome with sadness for Tyre’s citizens, most of whom were killed or forced into slavery. But there is more awaiting Sibell in Tyre. She is soon to discover who she really is and make one of the most difficult decisions of her life.
The ancient city of Tyre plays a unique role in a novel that is a blend of historical biography and fiction. Narrated by Sibell, the story could not be told without a judicious touch of the supernatural. Sibell’s experiences of the Unseen World and her questioning of reality are part of what separates her from the world at large and especially from her sister Constance. The Mackenzie sisters are complete opposites in looks, talents, and temperament. But there is more to the conflict between them than these observable differences. SISTERS OF CASTLE LEOD is a story of two sisters torn apart by jealousy and superstition … and the impossible leap of faith that could finally bring them together.
ABOUT THE BOOK
**Finalist in the 2022 American Writing Awards**
Millions are fans of Diana Gabaldon’s popular Outlander books and television series, but few know that Gabaldon’s fictional Castle Leoch was inspired by a real Scottish castle, Castle Leod. The two sisters who lived there at the turn of the twentieth century were among the most fascinating and talked-about women of their era.
Lady Sibell Mackenzie is a spiritualist, a believer in reincarnation, and a popular author of mystical romances. Petite and proper, she values tradition and duty. Her younger sister Lady Constance, swimming champion and big game hunter, is a statuesque beauty who scandalizes British society with her public displays of Greek-style barefoot dancing. The differences between the sisters escalate into conflict after Sibell inherits their late father’s vast estates and the title 3rd Countess of Cromartie. But it is the birth of Sibell’s daughter that sets in motion a series of bizarre and tragic events, pitting sister against sister and propelling Sibell on a desperate mission to challenge the power of fate.
Sisters of Castle Leod, by award-winning author Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard, is the emotionally charged story of two sisters torn apart by jealousy and superstition, and the impossible leap of faith that could finally bring them together.
BUY THE BOOK https://books2read.com/u/3RzAJY #KindleUnlimited
CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH
Website: www.EHBernard.com Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/EHBernardAuthor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EHBernardAuthor
The post Tyre – An ancient city reveals a hidden truth #Lebanon #history @EHBernardAuthor @cathiedunn first appeared on Deborah Swift.December 12, 2022
Read all about the new release Minotaur’s Lair by Luciana Cavallaro #CoffeePotBookClub @ClucianaLuciana
Take a look at this new historical fantasy based on Greek Mythology!
The Minotaur stirs. Evan is drugged to forget the gods’ quest.
Evan and his companions are entrapped by the Amazon Queen Antioche and her warriors. Memories and allegiances are tested. The Dark Master’s victorious revenge over the gods is almost complete. The plight of the High Priestess is precarious, her health ailing, and unable to rescue her brother and fellow Atlanteans.
The last sacred relic, secreted in the lair of the Minotaur, must be recovered or the Dark Master’s succession plans of a new god are complete. The mystical lands of Krete, the final stage of Evan’s journey, are within his grasp. He must succeed so his father, Zeus, fulfills his promise. Then there is Queen Antioche, and the precious gifts she presents him.
Will Evan return home, and what will become of his future?
Minotaur’s Lair is the third and final book in the action-packed Servant of the Gods historical fiction series. If you enjoy well-researched landscapes, historic characters, excitement, mythical creatures and unique settings, then you’ll love Luciana Cavallaro’s heroic odyssey.
BUY THE BOOK: Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/minotaurs_lair_ebook
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1166228
Get in touch with Luciana: https://luccav.me
Luciana Cavallaro’s alter ego is a high school teacher where she plugs away educating teenagers the merits of reading and ancient history. She often looks for a brick wall to bang her head when faced with disinterested looks from her students. She’s also a historical fantasy and thriller/suspense author, who creates fast-paced, action-packed series for her readers.
Born and raised in Western Australia, residing in Perth, Luciana loves to travel and since getting her passport at the ripe old age of twenty-four has toured parts of Europe, a legacy of her Italian heritage. She enjoys being active, going out with friends, reading and tries to grow her own vegetables. She dreams of travelling again and visiting the ancient sites that inspired her stories, that is when she’s not spending time being an unofficial stunt person and knocking herself out in the process.
Social Media Links: Twitter @ClucianaLuciana Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Luciana-Cavallaro-Writer/304218202959903
The post Read all about the new release Minotaur’s Lair by Luciana Cavallaro #CoffeePotBookClub @ClucianaLuciana first appeared on Deborah Swift.
