Deborah Swift's Blog, page 6
June 3, 2024
The Skeleton Army by Alis Hawkins #Review #HistoricalFiction #CrimeFiction
Why should the devil have all the best tunes?
Themes of inequality, forbidden love and personal responsibility weave through a fast-paced narrative in which the location plays a key part. Nation Cymru
The Salvation Army has come prancing and singing from the slums of London to the poorest quarters of Oxford, but along with its red hot gospel preaching and music hall songs it brings a prohibition message which sparks immediate opposition and violence.
An Army soldier – an ex-drunk – is brutally killed and a note suggests that the Salvation Army’s shadowy enemy, the Skeleton Army, is responsible.
With the police unwilling to come between the two forces, Non Vaughan, aspiring journalist and great hope of the Oxford women’s college movement, and Basil Rice, Jesus College fellow and union-sanctioned guardian of the dead man’s family, are compelled to investigate.
But as the threats from both sides escalate, resulting in a second death, Non and Basil realise that they must stop the fighting before it results in an outright war. For with the University’s annual commemoration week fast approaching, the entire city could be engulfed in fire and blood.
Members of the Salvation Army being pursued by the Skeleton Army with its distinctive skull and crossbones banner c. 1882
Review
This is the second book in this series of Oxford Mysteries featuring the independently-minded Non, and Basil, a fellow of Jesus College. I really enjoyed the first book A Bitter Remedy, and the second one is just as interesting. I say interesting because I love history and this book is thoroughly researched with a level of detail that truly immerses the reader in Victorian Oxford. I knew nothing about the Salvation Army’s beginnings, and the fact that it was so much more militant than it is now – I suppose the clue is in the word ‘army’! But the fact it had an opposing faction – The Skeleton Army – was one I didn’t know. The clash of these two groups forms a great background for a murder mystery, with all the excitement of religious ‘glory fits’, the descending of the white dove of the Holy Spirit, and the opposite which is the spirits relied on by the Brewers who fear for their livelihood and are intent on closing down the whole shenanigans.
The second thread of the story is about Non’s attempt to batter her way into the male echelons of Academia, and again this is fascinating history. The lengths that women had to go to for acceptance as men’s intellectual equals, are carefully drawn in this novel. Basil’s struggle with his hidden homosexuality and how that affects his day to day dealings with the college and the crime create another layer to the novel, which is not only a murder mystery but a book about class, about the various freedoms we take for granted and how hard they were fought for and won.
Like all good murder mysteries, the plot keeps the reader guessing as to whodunnit, and there are several twists and turns along the way before the satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended.
May 31, 2024
The Jan Christopher Mysteries by Helen Hollick – A Memory of Murder #CosyMystery
A Memory of Murder – a new cosy murder mystery to solve – along with library assistant Jan Christopher, her fiancé, Detective Sergeant Laurie Walker and her uncle, Detective Chief Inspector Toby Christopher.
Set in the 1970s this easy-read cosy mystery series is based around the years when Helen was a north-east London library assistant, using many of her remembered anecdotes, some hilarious – like the boy who wanted a book on Copper Knickers. (You’ll have to read the first book, A Mirror Murder to find our more!)
The mysteries alternate between Jan’s home town, and where Laurie’s parents live – North Devon, (where Helen now lives.)
In this fifth episode, there’s a missing girl, annoying decorators, circus performers, and a wanna-be rock star to deal with. But who remembers the brutal, cold case murder of a policeman?
Easter 1973.
The North London library where Jan Christopher works is in upheaval because the decorators are in to spruce the place up, but there is more for her policeman uncle, DCI Toby Christopher and her fiancé, DS Laurie Walker, to worry about than a few inconvenient pots of paint.
An eleven-year-old girl has not returned home after school, and strange ‘gifts’ are being surreptitiously left for the detective chief inspector’s family to find. Could these items have anything to do with the unsolved murder, fifteen years ago, of Jan’s policeman father?
Buy Link:
Amazon universal: https://mybook.to/AMemoryOfMurder
Reader’s comments:
“Jan is a charming heroine. You feel you get to know her and her love of books and her interest in the people in the library where she works. She’s also funny, and her Aunt Madge bursts with character – the sort of aunt I would love to have had. I remember the 70s very well and Ms Hollick certainly gives a good flavour of the period.” Denise Barnes (bestselling romance author Molly Green)
“A delightful read about an unexpected murder in North East London. Told from the viewpoint of a young library assistant, the author draws on her own experience to weave an intriguing tale” Richard Ashen (South Chingford Community Library)
“An enjoyable novella with a twist in who done it. I spent the entire read trying to decide what was a clue and what wasn’t … Kept me thinking the entire time. I call that a success.” Reader’s Review
ABOUT HELEN
First accepted for traditional publication in 1993, 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 The Chosen King) being novels that explore the events that led to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Her Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy is a fifth-century version of the Arthurian legend, and she writes a nautical adventure/supernatural series, The Sea Witch Voyages. She has also branched out into the quick read novella, ‘Cosy Mystery’ genre with her Jan Christopher Mysteries, set in the 1970s.
Her non-fiction books are Pirates: Truth and Tales and Life of A Smuggler. She is currently writing about the ghosts of North Devon for Amberley Press, and another, Jamaica Gold for her Sea Witch Voyages.
She lives with her family in an eighteenth-century farmhouse in North Devon with their dogs and cats, while on the farm there are showjumper horses, fat Exmoor ponies, an elderly Welsh pony, geese, ducks and hens. And several resident ghosts.
Website: https://helenhollick.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helen.hollick
Blog: promoting good authors & good reads https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/
The post The Jan Christopher Mysteries by Helen Hollick – A Memory of Murder #CosyMystery first appeared on Deborah Swift.May 20, 2024
Berlin Duet by S W Perry #Review #WW2 #Berlin
UNITED BY WAR. DIVIDED BY A SECRET.
From silent era Hollywood and the nightclubs of pre-war Vienna to the ruins of Soviet Berlin, discover a moving, ambitious story of an enduring love amidst the devastation of war . . .
In 1938, English spy Harry Taverner and Jewish photographer Anna Cantrell spend the night dancing at Berlin’s most elegant hotel. Anna is married to another man, the Nazi shadow is rising over Europe and neither expects to ever meet again.
But once peace is declared, they reunite in the ruins of Berlin, where Anna is searching for her missing children. With the blockade tightening and the Soviets set on conquest, Harry and Anna walk a treacherous line between love and duty, integrity and survival, loyalty and betrayal. And as the Cold War dawns, they are bound together by a secret that will only be revealed decades later, when Berlin finds itself on the cusp of another transformation…
Berlin Duet is a sweeping, unforgettable historical epic from the Kindle-bestselling author of The Angel’s Mark. Perfect for fans of Sebastian Faulks and William Boyd.
REVIEW
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this from Corvus Books.
This is a novel spanning two time periods, both of which are convincingly drawn by S W Perry. The story is told partly by Harry Taverner looking back on his life and describing events of WW2 to his daughter Elly. The past contains a secret and to discover it, we have to go back and hear Anna’s story.
Anna Campbell is a photographer working as a kind of war correspondent, and through her eyes and through her lens we are able to experience the events of the past, including her disastrous marriage to Ivo, a man who turns out to be totally self-serving, and intent on his own advancement. In Germany in the 1930’s this means joining the Nazi Party, even though Anna has a Jewish background.
Stand-out parts of the book for me were Anna’s portrait of post-war Berlin, of the divisions between the sectors, and the difficulty of navigating a country divided. There are genuinely moving moments in this section, and in the one that follows as Anna searches the ruins for her children.
I was completely gripped by this story which has all the ingredients of the best WW2 fiction – believability, tension and a twist in the ending to satisfy the reader. I found myself thinking about the characters for days afterwards – they had become real – surely the sign of an excellent book.
Readers of historical and literary fiction will find this an unforgettable novel that sticks with them. Very highly recommended.
BUY THE BOOK UKThe post Berlin Duet by S W Perry #Review #WW2 #Berlin first appeared on Deborah Swift.May 10, 2024
A Rose in the Blitz by Ann Bennett #CoffeePotBookClub #WW2
Escape into the dramatic world of London during the Blitz in this sweeping family saga of love, war and betrayal.
Northamptonshire: 1980: Wealthy landowner, Hadan Rose, is dying. His daughter, May, rushes to his country estate, Rose Park, with her daughter, Rachel, to nurse him through his final days.
In the afternoons, while Hadan sleeps, May tells Rachel about her wartime experiences.
In 1940, Three of the four Rose sisters leave Rose Park to serve the war effort. May, the youngest is left behind. But she soon runs away from home to join an ambulance crew in London. She experiences the horrors of the Blitz first-hand but what happens to her there has remained secret her whole life.
In 1980, at Rose Park, Rachel wanders through the old house, looking at old photographs and papers, uncovering explosive family secrets from ninety years before. Secrets that her grandfather wanted to take to his grave.
At the local pub, Rachel meets Daniel Walters, a local journalist and musician who takes an interest in her. But can she trust him, or does he have an ulterior motive for seeking her company?
As the secrets of the past gradually reveal themselves, both Rachel and May realise that their worlds are forever changed.
Fans of Lucinda Riley, Dinah Jeffries and Victoria Hislop will love this escapist wartime saga, Book 1 in the Sisters Of War series.
(Previously published as A Kiss from a Rose)
Praise for A Rose In The Blitz:“Brilliant book… I couldn’t put it down.”
Amazon Reviewer
“I absolutely loved this book…”
Amazon Reviewer
“Fascinating dual time-line novel…”
Amazon Reviewer
“The tumultuous WWII period of Britain was deftly and poignantly rendered. The time lines were beautifully woven together and the tempo of the book was perfect.”
Amazon Reviewer
“This is a fast-paced plot with unexpected twists, fascinating characters, and a fresh look at life in London during the Blitz. I highly recommend it and look forward to reading more about the Rose sisters.”
Goodreads Reviewer
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
BUY THE BOOK Universal Buy Link
About Ann Bennett
Ann Bennett is a British author of historical fiction. Her first book, Bamboo Heart: A Daughter’s Quest, was inspired by researching her father’s experience as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway and by her own travels in South-East Asia. Since then, that initial inspiration has led her to write more books about the second world war in SE Asia.Bamboo Island: The Planter’s Wife, A Daughter’s Promise, Bamboo Road: The Homecoming, The Tea Planter’s Club, The Amulet and her latest release The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu are also about WWII in South East Asia. All seven make up the Echoes of Empire Collection.
Ann is also the author of The Lake Pavilion, The Lake Palace, both set in British India during the 1930s and WWII, and The Lake Pagoda and The Lake Villa, both set in French Indochina. The Runaway Sisters, bestselling The Orphan House, The Child Without a Home and The Forgotten Children are set in Europe during the same era and are published by Bookouture.
Ann is married with three grown up sons and a granddaughter and lives in Surrey, UK. For more details please visit www.annbennettauthor.com.
Find Ann
Website • Twitter • Facebook Author Page
Instagram • Amazon Author Page • Goodreads
The post A Rose in the Blitz by Ann Bennett #CoffeePotBookClub #WW2 first appeared on Deborah Swift.
April 25, 2024
A Splendid Defiance by Stella Riley #CoffeePotBookClub #17thCentury #Extract
I’m delighted to welcome Stella Riley today with an extract from her English Civil War novel, A Splendid Defiance.
Visit from a princeJustin spent the afternoon in the Globe Room at the Reindeer Inn. It was a pleasant room but, as far as Justin was concerned, it might as well have been a coal cellar. He sat broodingly in a corner and found a sardonic enjoyment in the wary glances accorded him by the other customers.
He did not, however, get drunk and this was fortunate because, at just past five o’clock, the door was flung wide to admit the King’s nephew. Silence engulfed the room.
Rupert strode across to push Justin unceremoniously back into his seat with a curt, ‘Are you sober?’
‘Yes, sir. I can’t afford to be anything else.’
With a derisive grunt, the Prince threw himself inelegantly into a chair and waved the pot-boy aside.
‘Then it’s not a completely ill-wind that keeps our pay in arrears. And at least you have boots. Two of my fellows were actually sharing a pair at one point. The whole army is living off the country and discipline is going to the dogs.’ He scowled at this thought for a moment and then looked back at Justin. ‘They told you I was coming?’
‘Yes. In order that we might ‘nurture our vices together’ was, I think the exact expression.’ Justin paused and then, with a brief, contemptuous gesture, ‘They think so, at any rate. Or is it that they’ve finally recognised you?’
‘Who cares?’ Rupert’s indifferent gaze skimmed the room and sent at least three stalwarts edging towards the door. ‘If I took to the bottle every time filth was thrown at me, I’d never be less than half-cut.’
‘No, sir. Point taken.’
‘I hope so.’ The dark eyes examined him shrewdly. ‘Do you want me to take you out of here?’
The blood rose under Justin’s skin and he said flatly, ‘There’s nothing I’d like better. But I’d be no use to you, sir. I can’t hold a sword yet, or even stay in the saddle more than a few hours. And I know the pace you set.’
‘Needs must,’ shrugged Rupert. ‘But when the Parliament fields their new army, I’ll need all my best captains – so get yourself fit.’
‘Yes, sir.’ Justin stared into his ale-cup. ‘What will you do now that Shrewsbury has fallen?’
‘Use Ludlow.’ Rupert scowled again. He’d depended on his brother Maurice to hold Shrewsbury and its loss was a sore point. He said tersely, ‘I’ve some news for you. Your father died at the end of last month.’
A muscle moved in Justin’s jaw. Then his eyes hardened and he said, ‘I see. Thank you for telling me.’
‘Well, no one else is in a position to, are they?’ observed the Prince trenchantly. ‘What will you do?’
A strange smile crossed the chiselled features.
‘The same as I’ve done these last ten years, Your Highness. Absolutely nothing. I won’t even get drunk.’
About A SPLENDID DEFIANCE
For two years England has been in the grip of Civil War. In Banbury, Oxfordshire, the Cavaliers hold the Castle, the Roundheads want it back and the town is full of zealous Puritans.
Consequently, the gulf between Captain Justin Ambrose and Abigail Radford, the sister of a fanatically religious shopkeeper, ought to be unbridgeable.
The key to both the fate of the Castle and that of Justin and Abigail lies in defiance. But will it be enough?
A Splendid Defiance is a dramatic and enchanting story of forbidden love, set against the turmoil and anguish of the English Civil War.
BUY THE BOOK Universal Buy Link
About Stella Riley
Winner of four gold medals for historical romance and sixteen Book Readers’ Appreciation 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 7 book Rockliffe series, the Brandon Brothers trilogy and, most recently The Shadow Earl, are all available in audio, performed 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.Author Links:
Website • Twitter • Facebook • InstagramAmazon Author Page • Pinterest • BookBub • Goodreads
The post A Splendid Defiance by Stella Riley #CoffeePotBookClub #17thCentury #Extract first appeared on Deborah Swift.
April 24, 2024
Try before you Trust by Connie Briones #Elizabethan #FemalePoet #HistoricalFiction
Today I’m highlighting Try Before You Trust, a novel about the fascinating early Elizabethan poet Isabella Whitney.
Try Before You Trust: To All Gentlewomen and Other Maids in Loveby Constance Briones
What if Taylor Swift found herself penning songs about love in Elizabethan England when women were required to be chaste, obedient, and silent?
Isabella Whitney, an ambitious and daring eighteen-year-old maidservant turned poet, sets out to do just that. Having risked reputation and virtue by allowing her passions for her employer’s aristocratic nephew to get the better of her, Isabella Whitney enters the fray of the pamphlet wars, a scurrilous debate on the merits of women. She’s determined to make her mark by becoming the first woman to write a poem defending women in love, highlighting the deceptive practices of the men who woo them. Her journey to publication is fraught with challenges as she navigates through the male-dominated literary world and the harsh realities of life in sixteenth-century London for a single woman. Loosely based on the life of Elizabethan poet Isabella Whitney, this is a compelling tale of a young woman’s resilience and determination to challenge the status quo and leave her mark in a world that was not ready for her.
Constance Briones has a Master’s in Woman’s History, which informs her writing. She first learned about the subject of her debut historical fiction novel, the sixteenth-century English poet Isabella Whitney, while doing research for her thesis on literacy and women in Tudor England. Isabella Whitney’s gusty personality to defy the conventions of her day, both in her thinking and actions, impressed Constance enough to imagine that she would make a very engaging literary heroine.
As a writer, Constance is interested in highlighting the little-known stories of women in history. She is a contributing writer to Historical Times, an online magazine. When not writing, she lends her time as an educational docent for her town’s historical society. She contently lives in Connecticut with her husband and maine coon sibling cats, Thor and Percy.
The post Try before you Trust by Connie Briones #Elizabethan #FemalePoet #HistoricalFiction first appeared on Deborah Swift.The Loose Thread by Liz Harris #WW2 #Review #Jersey
Anyone who enjoyed my book The Occupation will also enjoy this book by Liz Harris which gives a different and fascinating account of WW2 and how it affected the islanders of Jersey.
This is the first in a series of books about three sisters, and Rose, the first in the series is easy to warm to, as she makes the transition from urban life in England to a farm on the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands with her new husband Tom. Working on a farm before the advent of mechanisation is not easy, and through the book we learn more about farming life – the planting and harvesting of the famous Jersey potatoes and the work involved in maintaining the herds of Jersey cows.
Rose’s main antagonist is her new sister-in-law Kathleen who sets out to deliberately make Rose’s life hell. This is bad enough, but then Jersey is invaded by Nazi forces, and her life in Jersey begins to change. Kathleen gets a new boyfriend, one of the attractive young German soldiers stationed on the island, and this gives rise to much antagonism from other islanders. Things are made worse when Rose and Kathleen, sworn enemies, are taken to a camp in Germany because they are not native to Jersey. This for me was the best part of the book as it was something I knew nothing about and found interesting to discover. The novel is impeccably researched, and all the detail of life in Jersey and in the women’s internment camp, is brought brilliantly to life.
This is a book suitable for anyone who likes a romance with plenty of history. There are no graphic depictions of war or atrocities, and yet Liz Harris seems to keep them simmering in the background to give a shifting sense of unease. Highly recommended for lovers of romantic historical fiction.
ABOUT THE BOOK
From award-winning author Liz Harris comes the first in the sweeping epic series Three Sisters, in which each book tells the story of one of the three Hammond girls.
The Loose Thread is Rose’s story.
Early in 1938, with the threat of WW2 little more than a shadow on the horizon, Rose Hammond marries Tom Benest, whom she hardly knows, and leaves London to go to live with Tom on his family’s farm in Jersey. There, she’s welcomed by his parents as she attempts to adjust to her new life, but meets with open hostility from Tom’s sister, Kathleen.
Less than two years later, the lives of the family are turned upside down when Jersey is cut loose from British protection. The Germans move in and seize control of the island, forcing the islanders into a perilous situation that will test their endurance and resourcefulness.
As the German Occupation tightens its grip on life on the island, Tom and Rose are torn apart in a situation of unimaginable heartbreak, which calls for the greatest of courage, and a powerful determination to survive.
A gripping, heart-breaking story of life in occupied Jersey during WWII from the author of Darjeeling Inheritance and The Road Back. Perfect for readers of Kristin Hannah, Fiona Valpy, Santa Montefiore and Kate Furnivall.
ABOUT LIZ HARRIS
After graduating in Law in the UK, Liz moved to California where she led a varied life – from cocktail waitressing on Sunset Strip to secretary to the CEO of a large Japanese trading company. Upon returning to England, she completed a degree in English and then taught for a number of years before developing her writing career. Her most recent novels, DARJEELING INHERITANCE, COCHIN FALL, HANOI SPRING and SIMLA MIST comprise THE COLONIALS. Each is a standalone set in a different location, with different characters, in different years.
Liz’s latest series is a trilogy, THREE SISTERS, each of which tells the story of one of the daughters of John Hammond, owner of several haberdashery stores. THE LOOSE THREAD, published in 2024, will be followed in September 2024 by THE SILKEN KNOT.
THE WOVEN LIE will be published early in 2025.
Liz now lives in Windsor, Berkshire. She’s a member of The Romantic Novelists’ Association, The Historical Novel Society, and The Society of Authors. She gives talks and workshops at literary festivals and conferences. Her hobbies are theatre, cinema, reading and cryptic crosswords.
Website – www.lizharrisauthor.com
Twitter – https://twitter.com/lizharrisauthor
The post The Loose Thread by Liz Harris #WW2 #Review #Jersey first appeared on Deborah Swift.
March 31, 2024
Dartington Hall – Guest Post by Rosemary Griggs #Devon #Tudor #History #CoffeePotBookClub
I am delighted to host Rosemary Griggs today to tell us all about Dartington Hall – a place I know well, as I was a student there in the 1970’s!
Dartington Hall by Rosemary Griggs
Dartington Hall, known for its mellow grey stone walls, stunning gardens, and age-old trees, exudes an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. As I stroll through the grounds that surround the medieval buildings, I always feel a powerful connection to the people who have made this special place their home throughout the ages.
Dartington Hall
Since ancient times, people have settled in this favoured spot amongst rolling hills above a bend in the River Dart near Totnes in South Devon. As early as CE 833, a Royal Charter mentions the estate. After 1066, a long line of Norman lords held Dartington until King Richard II granted the property to his half-brother, John Holland. He built Dartington’s magnificent great hall and living quarters suitable for his lofty status, but did not have long to enjoy his country mansion. Holland met his end in 1400 after he supported Richard II in the Epiphany rising against Henry IV.
After that, the King restored the lands to the Hollands, who continued at Dartington until they backed the wrong side in the so called ‘Wars of the Roses’. A list of well-known figures then took the revenue from the estate, including Margaret Beaufort, Henry Courtenay, Katherine Howard, and Katherine Parr. However, none of them lived at Dartington.
Starting in 1559, a single family lived at Dartington for over four centuries. As time passed, their finances dwindled, and Dartington eventually fell into a state of disrepair. In 1925 Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst bought Dartington and made it the hub of a pioneering social, educational, and cultural initiative. It is now a historic visitor destination, an events venue, and a thriving community of businesses and colleges.
With such a rich history, Dartington holds a wealth of untold stories. Amongst all the remarkable people who have lived there, the Elizabethans have captured my imagination. They inspired me to write The Dartington Bride. Sir Arthur Champernowne, an intriguing character who deserves wider recognition, is a key figure in the narrative I have crafted to tell his daughter-in-law’s story.
Left: Sir Arthur Champernowne as he appears on monument in the lonely tower, all that remains of Old St Mary’s church that once stood so close to the hall ‘one could lean from the window and touch the church wall with an umbrella’ according to a nineteenth century Champernowne lady.
Sir Arthur received a knighthood for his role in suppressing the Western Rebellion in 1549 and served as an MP and Sheriff of Devon. He married Mary Norreys, the widow of his cousin Sir George Carew, who perished on the Mary Rose. Mary was a lady-in-waiting for Anne of Cleves and likely also fulfilled that role for other queens of King Henry. Arthur and Mary had seven children — six sons and one daughter named Elizabeth. She later married Edward Seymour of Berry Pomeroy.
Sir Arthur was a staunch Protestant. Under Mary Tudor, he flirted with conspiracy and almost came to grief. Mary detained him in the Tower of London for a few weeks while investigating his alleged involvement in the Wyatt rebellion. Upon release, the queen gave him permission to visit France for a few months. Instead of remaining in exile alongside the other protestants who fled from Queen Mary’s catholic rule, he came back. In 1559, with his wife, Mary, he gained Dartington through a property exchange with Polsloe Priory. They embarked on works to upgrade the old-fashioned buildings.
Elizabeth Tudor’s childhood governess, Katherine Astley, was one of Sir Arthur’s sisters. When she became Queen, Elizabeth made Mrs Astley First Lady of the Privy Chamber. Having a relative in such an influential post put Sir Arthur in a powerful position. The queen appointed him Vice-Admiral of the Fleet of the West. The records also show Sir Arthur was a participant in the coronation joust.
Gabriel de Lorges, Count of Montgomery, became famous for killing King Henri II of France in a tragic jousting accident in 1559. He fled France, travelling to the Channel Islands and Venice before making his way to England, There he met Sir Arthur as well as Robert Dudley and other prominent individuals. When he returned to France he converted to Protestantism, and became a Huguenot military leader.
Gawen, Sir Arthur’s eldest son, acted as an informant for Lord Burghley and Sir Francis Walsingham, making many trips to France. Following lengthy negotiations, in 1571, Gawen married Gabriel’s daughter, Lady Gabrielle Roberda Montgomery, known in the family as Roberda. Immediately after the wedding, Gawen left his new wife in Devon while he returned to France.
A few months later, Roberda’s father escaped the St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in Paris against all odds. Since Huguenots were still being persecuted in France, Sir Arthur offered the whole family refuge at Dartington. He became one of the first to welcome refugees to Elizabethan England. Amidst fears that Gabriel was being pursued by an assassin, records show that Sir Arthur placed an armed guard Dartington, ordering any Frenchman approaching the place to be apprehended. Gawen and Sir Arthur continued to support Gabriel when he returned to France to carry on the fight for freedom of worship for the Huguenots.
The Dartington Bride follows Roberda from her childhood in France, a country riven by war, to her new home in Devon. She arrives full of hope and determined to help others left destitute by war. But she will face resentment and suspicion.
Find out more : https://www.dartington.org/ and https://rosemarygriggs.co.uk/.
The Dartington Bride
1571, and the beautiful, headstrong daughter of a French Count marries the son of the Vice Admiral of the Fleet of the West in Queen Elizabeth’s chapel at Greenwich. It sounds like a marriage made in heaven…
Roberda’s father, the Count of Montgomery, is a prominent Huguenot leader in the French Wars of Religion. When her formidable mother follows him into battle, she takes all her children with her.
After a traumatic childhood in war-torn France, Roberda arrives in England full of hope for her wedding. But her ambitious bridegroom, Gawen, has little interest in taking a wife.
Received with suspicion by the servants at her new home, Dartington Hall in Devon, Roberda works hard to prove herself as mistress of the household and to be a good wife. But there are some who will never accept her as a true daughter of Devon.
After the St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, Gawen’s father welcomes Roberda’s family to Dartington as refugees. Compassionate Roberda is determined to help other French women left destitute by the wars. But her husband does not approve. Their differences will set them on an extraordinary path…
BUY THE BOOKAbout Rosemary Griggs
Author and speaker Rosemary Griggs has been researching Devon’s sixteenth-century history for years. She has discovered a cast of fascinating characters and an intriguing network of families whose influence stretched far beyond the West Country and loves telling the stories of the forgotten women of history – the women beyond the royal court; wives, sisters, daughters and mothers who played their part during those tumultuous Tudor years: the Daughters of Devon.Her novel A Woman of Noble Wit tells the story of Katherine Champernowne, Sir Walter Raleigh’s mother, and features many of the county’s well-loved places.Rosemary creates and wears sixteenth-century clothing, a passion which complements her love for bringing the past to life through a unique blend of theatre, history and re-enactment. Her appearances and talks for museums and community groups all over the West Country draw on her extensive research into sixteenth-century Devon, Tudor life and Tudor dress, particularly Elizabethan.Out of costume, Rosemary leads heritage tours of the gardens at Dartington Hall, a fourteenth-century manor house and now a visitor destination and charity supporting learning in arts, ecology and social justice.Connect with Rosemary:
Website • Facebook • Instagram • ThreadsAmazon Author Page • Twitter • GoodReads(All photos Rosemary’s own copyright, by kind permission of the Dartington Trust.)The post Dartington Hall – Guest Post by Rosemary Griggs #Devon #Tudor #History #CoffeePotBookClub first appeared on Deborah Swift.March 25, 2024
Find me in the Stars by Jules Larimore #CoffeePotBookClub Read an Excerpt
EXCERPT FROM FIND ME IN THE STARS
Chapter 4
Flee Like the Mist from the Tempest’s Might – Jehan
26 September 1697 ~ Early Evening
Chomérac, France
Immediately after sunset, Jehan and his companions moved out again in their usual order, this time on foot, following Massip along the tracks of a rutted farm road toward a river crossing near Le Pouzin. The soft melodies of a nightingale gave Jehan a moment to ponder all that had been revealed while at the farm. It was most impressive, what he had learned.
An entire network of people and places existed throughout the realm that were available to aid refugees from the King’s persecutions. Massip explained that funding for it came from the far reaches of the globe—from those who held compassion for the oppressed of any creed, or from those who wanted to strengthen the position of the Protestant faith. Mostly English and Dutch nobility competing for philanthropic pursuits.
All was quiet along the road until they arrived at the signpost for Le Pouzin. But as they turned onto the main road, hoofbeats and rattling clamored in the distance. They looked at each other in a quandary since they could not yet see who might be approaching from around the next bend in the road. Likely a quartet of horses pulling a carriage or coach, by the sound of it.
Daniel Isnard ran up to Massip and grasped his arm. “What do we do?”
“Nothing. Just keep walking but form groups. As though you are friends heading to the tavern. ‘Tis best you show no reaction.”
Jehan could feel his throat tighten and ran a hand through his hair. Moyse hesitated and swayed, appearing as though he were about to lose his balance, so Jehan gave him his arm. Stéphane lent a hand with Moyse, and Syeira and Manfri fell back to walk alongside them.
The noise grew louder until lantern lights emerged from around the bend, creating an aura of light around the three hatmakers and Massip as they led the way ahead.
Jehan inhaled deeply, trying to maintain an impassive expression, but Moyse’s trembling was unsettling. Within moments, a grand carriage rushed by them, horses at a full canter.
“Don’t turn around,” said Stéphane.
The blood pulsed through Jehan’s temples as they waited for the hoofbeats to fade into the night.
Once it was quiet again, Stéphane spoke out. “Whoever it is, they must find themselves too important, and this band of peasants too undignified, to bother with us. By the looks of that fanciful carriage, they surely don’t need any blood money.”
Jehan chuckled to himself at the good fortune in that. Allowing himself to find some humor eased the tension, and the pulsing that hammered through his head gradually ceased.
Massip veered off the main road down a moonlit path, and they all scurried to keep up. Soon they were deep in silvery reeds where a chorus of croaking frogs surrounded them, and the musky breath of marshland filled Jehan’s nostrils with the smell of fish and algae and wet earth.
In an abrupt movement, Massip stopped in a small clearing, then pulled a coil of rope from a satchel. “You may not desire your boots to get wet,” he said as tied the rope around his waist, “but keep them on. The marshes are home to the Vipère snake.”
Anne gasped and leaned her head around the others as if searching for Stéphane.
Syeira put a hand on Anne’s shoulder and said, “They are likely to slither away when they hear us.”
“Scared of us, they are,” added Manfri, animated hands and face aiding his limited grasp of the French language.
Tiny moonshadows formed across Syeira’s nose as she wrinkled it. “And the silly things don’t even know how to strike with their mouth open. The greatest danger they pose is their dreadful scent.”
As Massip began tying each of them to the rope, forming a long chain, he continued his instructions. “Ladies. ‘Twill be best if you bring your skirts up between your legs and tie them.”
Anne’s face pinched together, a gruesome look in the dim light, the shadows magnifying her dissatisfaction.
“Do not give me that look, Mademoiselle Broussard,” Massip grumbled as he cinched the rope about her waist with an abrupt tug. “If your skirts are caught in the current or snagged on a rock, it will pull us all under. Now . . . for those of you who do not have satchels with back straps, place them on your heads to keep them dry as we cross. And keep silent as we move out.”
Moyse clutched at Jehan’s arm and muttered. “You should go on without me.”
“Moyse,” Jehan said softly, looking deep into the old man’s eyes. The rising moon reflected there would give them light to see, but it also increased the risk of being spotted. He knew he had to give Moyse some courage, some hope. “As long as we take our time, it will be fine. As we cross, let us keep our minds on the warm hearth and splendid companionship we shall find in the company of my Uncle Barjon’s community.”
Moyse nodded again and again and again as though the motion would help him convince himself.
More about the book: “Larimore’s ability to engulf a reader into a tale… is brilliantly done.” 5-star Highly Recommended Award of Excellence ~ Historical Fiction Company Separated by miles, connected by the stars, two healers forge their destinies in a quest for a brighter tomorrow. Inspired by a true story, this refugee’s tale of sacrifice, separation, and abiding love unfolds in the Cévennes Mountains of Languedoc, France, 1697. A sweeping adventure during the time of Louis XIV’s oppressive rule and persecutions, this compelling narrative follows the intertwined destinies of two remarkable protagonists, Amelia Auvrey, a mystic holy-woman healer, and Jehan BonDurant, an apothecary from a noble Huguenot family, in a riveting tale of enduring love, faith, and the search for light in the darkest of times.Amelia and Jehan are fierce champions of tolerance and compassion in their cherished Cévenole homeland, a region plagued by renewed persecution of Huguenots. The escalated danger forces their paths to diverge, each embarking on their own dangerous journey toward survival and freedom. The Knights Hospitaller provide protection and refuge for Amelia and her ailing sage-femme grandmother, even as they come under suspicion of practicing witchcraft. And, to avoid entanglement in a brewing rebellion, Jehan joins a troupe of refugees who flee to the Swiss Cantons seeking sanctuary—a journey that challenges his faith and perseverance. Jehan arrives to find things are not as he expected; the Swiss have their own form of intolerance, and soon immigrants are no longer welcome. The utopian Eden he seeks remains elusive until he learns of a resettlement project in the New World.During their time apart, Amelia and Jehan rely on a network of booksellers to smuggle secret letters to each other—until the letters mysteriously cease, casting doubt on their future together. Jehan is unclear if Amelia will commit to joining him, or if she will hold fast to her vow of celibacy and remain in the Cévennes. Seemingly ill-fated from the start, their love is tested to its limits as they are forced to navigate a world where uncertainty and fear threaten to eclipse their unwavering bond.BUY THE BOOKAbout Jules Larimore
Jules Larimore is the author of emotive, literary-leaning historical fiction with a dose of magic, myth, and romance to bring to life hopeful human stories and inspire positive change. She is a member of France’s Splendid Centuries authors’ collaborative, a board member of the Historical Novel Society of Southern California, and lives primarily in Ojai with time spent around the U.S. and Europe gathering a rich repository of historical research in a continued search for authenticity.Author Links:Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • ThreadsAmazon Author Page • Pinterest • LinkedIn • BookBub • GoodreadsThe post Find me in the Stars by Jules Larimore #CoffeePotBookClub Read an Excerpt first appeared on Deborah Swift.
Spotlight on #NewRelease Riddle of the Gods by Eric Schumacher #Norway
Congratulations to Eric Schumacher, – his new book Riddle of the Gods is out today!
TITLE: Riddle of the Gods
RELEASE DATE: March 25, 2024
SALES LINK: https://mybook.to/Riddleofthegods
ABOUT THE BOOK
Riddle of the Gods is the riveting fourth novel in the best-selling series chronicling the life and adventures of one of Norway’s most controversial kings, Olaf Tryggvason.
It is AD 976. Olaf Tryggvason, the renegade prince of Norway, has lost his beloved wife to a tragedy that turns the lords of the land he rules against him. With his family gone and his future uncertain, Olaf leaves his realm and embarks on a decades-long quest to discover his course in life. Though his journey brings him power and wealth, it is not until he encounters the strange man in the streets of Dublin that his path to fame unfolds. And in that moment, he is forced to make a choice as the gods look on – a choice that could, at worst, destroy him and at best, ensure his name lives on forever.
EARLY REVIEWS:
“If you want to experience the Viking Age as it really must have felt, then read this book. I know of few novelists who can transport you there with greater skill and accuracy than Eric Schumacher. A gripping, intelligent novel of the Viking world.” – Theodore Brun, historical fiction author
“Full of rousing battles and journeys over land and sea, Riddle of the Gods sees the protagonists strained and broken in ways not encountered in the earlier volumes.” – Rowdy Geirsson, Viking author
“A truly well-written book which has the reader gripped and yearning for more.” – Stacy Townend, historical fiction author
“Lots of twists that will keep you turning pages until the end.” – Mercedes Rochelle, historical fiction author
ABOUT ERIC
Eric was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and has had a lifelong love affair with writing, history and Dark Age Europe. As a 20-year veteran of PR, marketing and copywriting, Eric has told the story of numerous companies, products and individuals. His first novel, God’s Hammer, tells the true story of King Hakon Haraldsson’s bitter fight against his ruthless brother Erik Bloodaxe for the High Seat of the Viking North. Eric currently resides in Santa Barbara,
Contact Eric – website Twitter @DarkAgeScribe
BUY RIDDLE OF THE GODS https://mybook.to/Riddleofthegods
