Heather Osborne's Blog, page 2
March 28, 2024
Blog Tour: Exsilium by Alison Morton
Title: Exsilium
Author: Alison Morton
Blurb:
Exile – Living death to a Roman
AD 395. In a Christian Roman Empire, the penalty for holding true to the traditional gods is execution.
Maelia Mitela, her dead husband condemned as a pagan traitor, leaving her on the brink of ruin, grieves for her son lost to the Christians and is fearful of committing to another man.
Lucius Apulius, ex-military tribune, faithful to the old gods and fixed on his memories of his wife Julia’s homeland of Noricum, will risk everything to protect his children’s future.
Galla Apulia, loyal to her father and only too aware of not being the desired son, is desperate to escape Rome after the humiliation of betrayal by her feckless husband.
For all of them, the only way to survive is exile.
Review:
At a time when Rome was at a conflicted crossroads, two families are faced with unfathomable choices…
A beautifully written and well-researched piece by Alison Morton. I really enjoyed Maelia’s character the most, I think. I was able to relate to her struggles, trying to secure her son’s legacy, while also making sure her family was provided for. I liked how the book began with a nod to the gods. I certainly will read more of Alison Morton in the future.
Buy Links:
Universal Amazon Link: https://mybook.to/EXSILIUM
All retailers (including Amazon) Universal Link: https://books2read.com/EXSILIUM
About the Author:
Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. Her ten-book Roma Nova series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but use a sharp line in dialogue. The latest, EXSILIUM, plunges us back to the late 4th century, to the very foundation of Roma Nova.
She blends her fascination for Ancient Rome with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.
Alison now lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her two contemporary thrillers, Double Identity and Double Pursuit.
Author Links:
Connect with Alison on her World of Thrillers site: https://alison-morton.com
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AlisonMortonAuthor
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/alison_morton @alison_morton
Alison’s writing blog: https://alisonmortonauthor.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisonmortonauthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5783095.Alison_Morton
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@alisonmortonauthor
Alison’s Amazon page: https://Author.to/AlisonMortonAmazon
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/alisonmorton.bsky.social
Newsletter sign-up: https://www.alison-morton.com/newsletter/
March 4, 2024
Blog Tour: Dude or Die by Lynn Downey
Title: Dude or Die
Author: Lynn Downey
Blurb:
It’s 1954, and San Francisco writer Phoebe Kelley is enjoying the success of her first novel, Lady in the Desert. When Phoebe’s sister-in-law asks her to return to Tribulation, Arizona to help run the H Double Bar Dude Ranch, she doesn’t hesitate. There’s competition from a new dude ranch this year, so the H Double Bar puts on a rodeo featuring a trick rider with a mysterious past. When accidents begin to happen around the ranch, Phoebe jumps in to figure out why, and confronts an unexpected foe. And a man from her own past forces her to confront feelings long buried. Dude or Die is the second book in the award-winning H Double Bar Dude Ranch series.
Buy Link:
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/b5BVwp
About the Author:
Lynn Downey is an award-winning novelist, short story writer, historian of the West, and native Californian.
She was the Historian for Levi Strauss & Co. in San Francisco for 25 years. Her adventures as ambassador for company history took her around the world, where she spoke to television audiences, magazine editors, and university students, appeared in numerous documentaries, and on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She wrote many books and articles about the history of the company and the jeans, and her biography, Levi Strauss: The Man Who Gave Blue Jeans to the World, won the Foreword Reviews silver INDIE award.
Lynn got interested in dude ranches during her time at Levi’s. Her debut historical novel, Dudes Rush In, is set on an Arizona dude ranch in the 1950s; Arizona because she’s a desert rat at heart, and the 1950s because the clothes were fabulous.
Dudes Rush In won a Will Rogers Medallion Award, and placed first in Arizona Historical Fiction at the New Mexico-Arizona book awards. The next book in this series, Dude or Die, was released in 2023. And just for fun, Lynn wrote a screenplay based on Dudes Rush In, which is currently making the rounds of reviewers and competitions.
She pens short stories, as well. “The Wind and the Widow” took Honorable Mention in the History Through Fiction story contest, and “Incident at the Circle H” was a Finalist for the Longhorn Prize from Saddlebag Dispatches. The story “Goldie Hawn at the Good Karma Café,” won second place in The LAURA Short Fiction contest from Women Writing the West, and is based on her experiences in a San Francisco religious cult in the 1970s. (That will be another book one of these days.)
Lynn’s latest nonfiction book is American Dude Ranch: A Touch of the Cowboy and the Thrill of the West, a cultural history of the dude ranch. It was reviewed in The Wall Street Journal, True West, Cowgirl, and The Denver Post, and was a Finalist for the Next Generation INDIE Award in Nonfiction. Kirkus Reviews said the book is “…deeply engaging and balances accessible writing style with solid research.”
When she’s not writing, Lynn works as a consulting archivist and historian for museums, libraries, cultural institutions, and businesses. She is the past president of Women Writing the West, a member of the Western Writers of America, and is on numerous boards devoted to archives and historic preservation.
Lynn lives in Sonoma, California, where she sometimes makes wine from the Pinot Noir grapes in her back yard vineyard.
Author Links:
Website: https://www.lynndowney.com
Tumblereads blog: https://tumblereadsblog.com/blog-sg/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WriterLynnD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynndowney/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynn-downey-b82460249/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynn.downey.historian/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/westernhistorygal.bsky.social
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/WesternHistoryGal/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lynn-Downey/author/B001IXQ2N2
February 29, 2024
Book Blast: The Trail to Crooked Creek by MK McClintock
Title: The Trail to Crooked Creek
Author: MK McClintock
Blurb:
Everyday heroes who find the courage to believe in extraordinary love.
Two years after the devastations of war left their mark on a country torn apart, Wesley Davenport, a former soldier haunted by his experiences on the battlefield crosses paths with Leah Tennyson, a teacher who helps him heal his emotional wounds—and discovers unexpected love in the most unlikely place.
The Trail to Crooked Creek, a novella, is a tale of resilience, compassion, and the triumph of the human spirit set in the breathtaking and sometimes unforgiving landscape of post-Civil War Montana Territory.
About the Crooked Creek Series:
“MK McClintock knows what readers want.” ~ Readers’ Favorite
Set in post-Civil War Montana Territory, in the small town of Crooked Creek, it all started with Emma. Her story was written for a contest, but I soon realized there were more women whose tales needed to be written. The war is over between the North and the South, but the battles at home are just beginning. If you love stories of bravery and courage with unforgettable women and the men they love, you’ll enjoy the Crooked Creek series.
Also Available:
The Women of Crooked CreekChristmas in Crooked CreekBuy Links:
This title is available to read in #KindleUnlimited, and also in paperback and large print.
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bM2N08
About the Author:
MK McClintock is an award-winning author who writes historical romantic fiction about chivalrous men and strong women who appreciate chivalry. Her stories of romance, mystery, and adventure sweep across the American West to the Victorian British Isles with places and times between and beyond.
Her works include the following series: Montana Gallaghers, Crooked Creek, British Agents, Whitcomb Springs, and the stand-alone collection, A Home for Christmas. She is also the co-author of the McKenzie Sisters Mysteries.
MK enjoys a quiet life in the northern Rocky Mountains. Visit her at www.mkmcclintock.com, where you can learn more about her books, explore extras, view her blog, and subscribe to receive news.
Author Links:
Website: https://www.mkmcclintock.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mkmcclintockbooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mkmcclintock
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mkmcclintock
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mk-mcclintock
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/MK-McClintock/e/B006UV5PPI
February 1, 2024
Book Blast: Imperatrix by S.P. Somtow
Title: Imperatrix
Author: S.P. Somtow
Blurb:
Captured by pirates and sold to a Roman aristocrat as a sex slave, Sporus attracted the attention of no less a personage than the Emperor Nero, ruler of the known world. Would-be poet, patron of the arts, aesthete, and brutal autocrat, the Divine Nero saw in the boy a startling resemblance to the Empress Poppaea – and made him an empress as well.
Suetonius, Tacitus, and other Roman historians have given tantalizing glimpses into the incredible life story of the boy who became twice an empress to two emperors, and was condemned to die in the arena by a third.
In this meticulously researched trilogy, World Fantasy Award winning author S.P. Somtow lays bare the darkest secrets of Imperial Rome – its triumphs and its nadirs, its beauty and its cruelty. Through this chaos, a contorted mirror of our contemporary world, this figure of Sporus moves, all too knowing yet all too innocent, providing a worm’s eye view of one of the wildest periods in ancient history.
Imperatrix, the second volume of the tale, takes us into the heart of the Imperial palace with all its intrigue, depravity, and splendor.
Excerpt:
III
I had got up from my dining couch and was circulating among other triclinia laid out in the garden, and I heard those exact sentiments from an old drunk man; I recognized him as Pontius Pilatus, and I recognized the stories, too — the orgiastic love-feast cults, the baby-eating and what not — from the last banquet I’d seen the old general at. But the way he told the stories was more … I would say, more mechanical, like a schoolboy reciting Homer, trying to get through the lines while avoiding the tutor’s quirt.
“Ah,” he said, greeting me, “Poppaea. Or are you Poppaea’s evil twin? You’ve lost your baby belly.”
“Still telling the same tall tales, General,” I said. “But the telling isn’t the same; this time, your tales are literally lighting up the banquet.”
“It’s a good thing they’re using the display crosses,” said Pilatus, “so we can get the light without the smell.”
A woman sitting next to him said, “And without the guilt, Pontius.”
“I daresay if they were marinated in garlic and garum instead of being coated with pitch, the smell would be quite pleasant,” another guest piped up.
“The guilt,” the woman said again, grimly lifting a honeyed mouse by the tail and popping it her mouth, then spitting out the tiny bones.
“My wife, the Lady Procula,” said Pilatus. “She used to have nightmares about it. Now, I have the nightmares.”
“Because, my dear,” said the Lady Procula, “you know they don’t actually have baby-eating orgies.”
“Blood rites, dear. They do have blood rites.”
“Metaphorical, husband! They are a completely harmless cult. The Jews don’t worship the Emperor either, and they’re not lighting up his dinner parties.”
“They will be soon,” said another voice. Tigellinus, also making the rounds. “I hear they are revolting again.”
Buy Links:
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mV2EaJ
About the Author:
Once referred to by the International Herald Tribune as ‘the most well-known expatriate Thai in the world,’ Somtow Sucharitkul is no longer an expatriate, since he has returned to Thailand after five decades of wandering the world. He is best known as an award-winning novelist and a composer of operas.
Born in Bangkok, Somtow grew up in Europe and was educated at Eton and Cambridge. His first career was in music and in the 1970s, his first return to Asia, he acquired a reputation as a revolutionary composer, the first to combine Thai and Western instruments in radical new sonorities. Conditions in the arts in the region at the time proved so traumatic for the young composer that he suffered a major burnout, emigrated to the United States, and reinvented himself as a novelist.
His earliest novels were in the science fiction field and he soon won the John W. Campbell for Best New Writer as well as being nominated for and winning numerous other awards in the field. But science fiction was not able to contain him and he began to cross into other genres. In his 1984 novel Vampire Junction, he injected a new literary inventiveness into the horror genre, in the words of Robert Bloch, author of Psycho, ‘skillfully combining the styles of Stephen King, William Burroughs, and the author of the Revelation to John.’ Vampire Junction was voted one of the forty all-time greatest horror books by the Horror Writers’ Association.
In the 1990s Somtow became increasingly identified as a uniquely Asian writer with novels such as the semi-autobiographical Jasmine Nights and a series of stories noted for a peculiarly Asian brand of magic realism, such as Dragon’s Fin Soup, which is currently being made into a film directed by Takashi Miike. He recently won the World Fantasy Award, the highest accolade given in the world of fantastic literature, for his novella The Bird Catcher.
Returning to Thailand in 2001, he became artistic director of Opera Siam and has had more than a dozen operas produced around the world including The Snow Dragon and The Silent Prince, premiered in the United States, Helena Citronova, an opera set during the Holocaust, and the ten-part DasJati: Ten Lives of the Buddha.
In the last few years he has made a return to writing novels with the Nero and Sporus trilogy and the young adult series, Club X.
In 2021 the film he produced and wrote, The Maestro: Symphony of Terror received over forty awards at international festivals and in 2023 the Thai government officially elevated him to the status of National Artist.
Read S.P. Somtow’s interview on Literary Titan about Imperatrix on https://literarytitan.com/2024/01/21/the-core-of-innocence/.
Author Links:
Website: www.somtow.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/somtow
Facebook: www.facebook.com/somtow
Instagram: www.instagram.com/somtow
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/s-p-somtow
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APBJXC
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/81037.S_P_Somtow
January 23, 2024
Book Blast: Bound in Roses by Katherine Kayne
Title: Bound in Roses
Author: Katherine Kayne
Blurb:
A red-hot Hawaiian romance blooms for a buttoned-up botanist who must learn to let go and embrace the ancient voice within her.
After a failed engagement to a high-society suitor in San Francisco, Lokelani “Lucky” Letwin returns home to Hawaii, leaving her beloved rosebushes behind. She’s desperate to establish a life of her own-a daunting task for any unmarried female in the early twentieth century but particularly for one passionate about the science of plants. A stubborn, song-filled girl now grown into an accomplished woman Lokelani is haunted by a family tragedy. She is as reluctant to acknowledge her past as she is to accept the supernatural force building inside her, strong and inevitable. She is a mākāhā, a Gate, ever connected to the power of the islands . . . if only she will admit it.
In her quest to retrieve her roses, Lokelani is reunited with Artemus Chang, a childhood friend, who’s now a handsome and successful lawyer. As the spark between them grows, Artemus agrees to help her recover her roses, only to discover her kisses leave him literally breathless. When a mystical teacher enters her life, Lokelani’s embrace of the voice of ancient power bubbling up within her takes on new urgency and new apprehensions.
Will Lokelani continue to be bound by guilt and fear? Or will she learn to reconcile her gifts – as both a practical botanist and a mystical Gate – to sing once more and claim her love?
Buy Links:
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/47R5VL
About the Author:
Award winning author Katherine Kayne writes deeply romantic historical fantasy set in old Hawaii. Her critically acclaimed debut novel BOUND IN FLAME delivers myth, magic and all the sparks promised by the title. The next installment in her Hawaiian Ladies’ Riding Society series, BOUND IN ROSES, is available for preorder now.
Katherine’s novels are filled with horses and history and happily ever after . . . and heroes strong enough to follow their heroine’s lead. She spends a part of each year on Hawaii Island immersing herself in Hawaii’s past. Aided of course by the occasional mai tai. Katherine created the world of the Hawaiian Ladies Riding Society to tell the stories of the fearless horsewomen of the islands’ ranches. Because who doesn’t love a suffragist on horseback? With a bullwhip? Wearing flowers?
If you come along for the ride, be prepared for almost anything to happen. Katherine can promise you fiery kisses, charming cowboys, women who ride like the rainbow to save the day, and that rarest of beasts-handsome men who like to dance.
Author Links:
Website: https://www.katherinekayne.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatherineKayneAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k2writesbooks/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@k2writesbooks
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/katherine-kayne
Amazon Author Page: Amazon.com: Katherine Kayne: books, biography, latest update
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19231806.Katherine_Kayne
January 7, 2024
Blog Tour: Precious Burdens by Avery Sterling
Title: Precious Burdens
Author: Avery Sterling
Genre: Historical Romance
Blurb: Sarafina di Ramonicci sets sail for America as the promised bride in an arranged political marriage. Taken prisoner at sea, she clashes with her captor and demands freedom, only to discover he is planning her future husband’s demise, with her as a pawn in their deadly feud. The challenge of escape tests her loyalty to family, human decency, and love.
Captain Nye Tarquin is a dangerous man. Left to die on the streets of New Orleans, he swears retribution on the man responsible. When he makes Sarafina part of his plan, he isn’t prepared for the fiery vixen aboard his ship, nor his desire to claim her as his own. When passion overtakes honor, he’s torn between his heart and his need for justice.
Review:
An exciting novel with two fiery main characters, Precious Burdens reminds me very much of the works of Bertrice Small, once of my favorite historical romance authors. I really enjoyed the tension and chemistry between Sarafina and Nye, and I will certainly look for future novels by Avery Sterling!
Excerpt:
“I’m doing her a great service,” he said calmly, leaning on the arm of his chair.
“She has no idea the kind of life she would have been subjected to.”
“What’s best isn’t for you to decide,” she shot back. “You’re so blinded by vengeance you’ve deceived yourself into thinking you’re doing something noble. Maybe there was a plan greater than her own happiness in all of this.”
“Like what?”
“Diplomacy,” she said. “An alliance between Malta and Britain.”
“There are other ways to form alliances, mistress,” he said. “I’m afraid Sarafina’s marriage was just an easier route. An excuse, even. She needn’t have sacrificed herself to the devil for benefits her people most likely wouldn’t acquire.”
“Are you her savior now?”
The captain pushed off his chair, straightening to his full height. She kept her glare locked with his, but keeping it steady was becoming as difficult as her breathing.
“Maybe,” he said.
“That’s an absurd notion,” she scoffed.
“Is it?” he asked.
He took a step toward her, and she stepped back in unison.
Her legs hit the chair. She closed her eyes, praying he would just step aside and let her leave.
About the Author:
Avery Sterling’s love for the romance genre began in her teen years when she picked up her first novel. She was captivated by the sweeping scale of emotions brought about by the words. The experience catapulted her towards learning the art of wielding a breathtaking adventure, with a love that felt authentic. Wanting to inspire people with her own thoughts and words, she finished her first novel at sixteen. It was a step towards understanding the essence of what she wished to create. Most of her youth was spent traveling, searching out the romance and beauty in her everchanging world. From the waves that crashed against the rocky shores of Downeast, Maine, to the warm breezes of the Caribbean, she discovered that love was universal, apparent in its grandest and simplest of forms. Her goal is to write novels an audience can relate to, one that conveys the truth and nature of love… with all that steamy romance.
Links/website:
https://www.avery-sterling.com
https://www.facebook.com/avery.sterling.125
https://www.instagram.com/avery.sterling17/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19674760.Avery_Sterling
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/avery-sterling
https://twitter.com/averysterling17
https://www.amazon.com/author/averysterling
Giveaway:
Avery Sterling will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
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October 19, 2023
Book Blast: The Highland Heir by Allison B. Hanson
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Allison B. Hanson will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Kieran has spent his life living in the shadow of his late older brother. Brody had been the heir his father had loved and wanted, while Kieran was born to a woman his father despised for her betrayal. Kieran has only ever felt the bond of family with his best friend, Ella.
Ella knew one day Kieran would be called on to do his duty to his clan and marry for an alliance. But she never expected his engagement would suddenly force her to see him in such a different way. They’d known each other all their lives, but aside from one exploratory kiss, she had never been attracted to him as a woman is to a man. Until now.
As the time comes for Kieran to marry, he realizes he has feelings he shouldn’t have for the lass who’s been by his side all his life.
When the marriage contract is breached, Kieran hopes it means freedom for them to be together, but instead, it leads to war and a secret that will change their lives forever.
Read an Excerpt
But now, he was expected to sit at the high table and take part in clan business.
Not that he had any idea what kind of business had brought the MacKenzie laird to their lands. His father told him little.
“How is your family?” Rolfe asked, making it sound as if he cared.
“Well, thank ye.” Neil glanced at Kieran and gave a nod. “Your son looks hearty.”
Hearty? Was that the word used to describe a man who stood at least four inches over his father’s tall frame and was wider in the shoulder than the laird as well? Kieran might have sniffed in offense except he knew how much the sound bothered his father, and he didn’t want to be scolded like a lad in front of the MacKenzie.
“Aye. He will make a fine husband to your Isla. Shall we sign the contract and then celebrate with a dram?” Rolfe suggested.
Perhaps Kieran wasn’t as hearty as he’d thought, for he felt the world had just tilted as the words echoed about in his mind. Kieran would make a fine husband? A husband to this man’s daughter?
“Marriage?” The word escaped Kieran’s dry throat.
Rolfe lifted a brow and frowned at Kieran.
“Why do you look so surprised?” his father asked.
Kieran might have answered if he thought he could get the words out. The truth was he looked surprised because he was, in fact, quite surprised. Why did his father act as if it were something they’d just discussed earlier in the day?
It surely wasn’t as if Kieran would have forgotten such a thing as being shackled to a wife he didn’t know.
“You’ve known for as long as you can recall that, as my heir, you would one day be joined in an advantageous marriage when an alliance was required.”
Yes. One day. He didn’t realize it would be so soon and with a complete stranger.
About the Author:
One very early morning, Allison B. Hanson woke up with a conversation going on in her head. It wasn’t so much a dream as being forced awake by her imagination. Unable to go back to sleep, she gave in, went to the computer, and began writing. Years later it still hasn’t stopped.Allison’s historical romances are filled with kilted heroes. She lives near Hershey, Pennsylvania, and enjoys candy immensely, as well as long motorcycle rides, running and reading.
Website: https://allisonbhanson.wordpress.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AllisonBHanson
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Highland-Heir-Allison-B-Hanson-ebook/dp/B0CHSJ27WN/
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September 27, 2023
Blog Tour: The Sight of Heather by Ally Stirling
Title: The Sight of Heather
Author: Ally Stirling
Blurb:
For centuries, the fae folk and spae women of Scotland were feared – and persecuted.
Life in the 1800s countryside, with its unforgiving climate, was both magnificent and harsh – testing cultures, beliefs and the loyalties of crofters.
The first in this series, The Sight of Heather, begins a journey of allegiance, sacrifice, and fortitude in a land of bold, resilient women.
Jessie’s ideal life spirals when she learns she is a first daughter in a biological line of ‘spaes’ endowed with unique gifts of spiritual sight and healing, aided by powerful ancestral stones.
Backed by a vindictive priest intent on charging Jessie with murder and witchcraft, the new owner of the Cruachan Manor plots to rout the spaes and destroy their beloved forest.
Despite grave warnings and family conflict, Jessie determinedly pursues her skills and powers, plunging her family and village into danger.
Resolute in uplifting her fellow women, Jessie consults her stones.
Faced with those who deem her evil, she must choose to relinquish her craft, or sacrifice herself to protect her culture and kin – and Lily, the next first daughter – the future of the spaes.
Buy Links:
Universal Link: https://mybook.to/The_Sight_Of_Heather
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CFVV28FV
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFVV28FV
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CFVV28FV
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CFVV28FV
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144046886?ean=2940167577664
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/fr/en/ebook/the-sight-of-heather
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/fr/book/the-sight-of-heather/id6465249946
Snippet:
“We have warned you. Your sister has gone too far and she will pay the price. If you have any sense, you’ll save yourself.”
His mother’s words rang in his ears:
“Be careful when you reach for grander things. You may lose your soul along the way. Even the moon has its dark side.”
About the Author:
Ally Stirling is a Fiction writer of Scottish origin, currently living in Cape Town with her Braveheart husband, awesome children, the happiest dog in the world, and her menacing cat (aka ‘Devil Cat’).
An unexpected gift resulting in a prophetic message prompted Ally to give her passion for writing the time it demanded, and in 2018 she joined Cathy Eden’s Working with Words writers group. She credits the love, support, and inspiration of this group of talented women, her ‘writing tribe’ for encouraging her to put words on paper. She also joined (ROSA,) and while Romance is not her genre, this association has been an invaluable source of knowledge and insight into the indie publishing world.
Allowing her imagination freedom to roam resulted in various short stories, before one in particular rooted itself, evolving into her first full-length novel. This book has now become first in a series, with the second and third ready to follow, four and five in the planning stage. Who knew her characters would be so demanding.
Her love of writing fiction stems from her belief that it transports us to magical places when life gets too real.
Addicted to her friends, coffee, every colour of wine, and any type of chocolate, she describes her clan as the family and friends who have built her castle and keep her sane, without whom she’d be short on humour and drinking games.
Author Links:
Website: https://www.authorallystirling.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorAllyS
Facebook: https://facebook.com/authorallystirling
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorallystirling
July 20, 2023
Blog Tour: The Godmother’s Secret (audiobook) by Elizabeth St. John
Title: The Godmother’s Secret
Author: Elizabeth St. John
Audiobook narrated by: Elizabeth St. John
Blurb:
“An extremely well-written book with depth and complexity to the main characters. The author says she wanted to write a book about family love and tolerance, and a woman’s loyalty and courage. She has done so. This is the best book I’ve read in ages!”
The Ricardian Bulletin, Richard III Society
“The authenticity and historical research displayed within this story is immense and exquisite. Ms. St. John is sure to be a newfound favorite for fans of not only this fractious time in English history, but of all historical fans who adore rich, immersive prose.”
Historical Fiction Company 2022 Book of the Year
“A very enjoyable read. The historical veracity is impeccable, and Elysabeth is a likeable, admirable character who faces interesting dilemmas with love and courage.”
Historical Novel Society
If you knew the fate of the Princes in the Tower, would you tell? Or forever keep the secret?
May 1483: The Tower of London. When King Edward IV dies and Lady Elysabeth Scrope delivers her young godson, Edward V, into the Tower of London to prepare for his coronation, she is engulfed in political turmoil. Within months, the prince and his brother have disappeared, Richard III is declared king, and Elysabeth’s sister Margaret Beaufort conspires with her son Henry Tudor to invade England and claim the throne.
Desperate to protect her godson, Elysabeth battles the intrigue, betrayal, and power of the last medieval court, defying her Yorkist husband and her Lancastrian sister under her godmother’s sacred oath to keep Prince Edward safe. Bound by blood and rent by honour, Elysabeth is torn between King Richard and Margaret Beaufort, knowing that if her loyalty is questioned, she is in peril of losing everything—including her life.
Were the princes murdered by their uncle, Richard III? Did Margaret Beaufort mastermind their disappearance to usher in the Tudor dynasty? Or did the young boys vanish for their own safety? Of anyone at the royal court, Elysabeth has the most to lose–and the most to gain–by keeping secret the fate of the Princes in the Tower.
Inspired by England’s most enduring historical mystery, Elizabeth St.John blends her family history with known facts and centuries of speculation to create an intriguing story about what happened to the Princes in the Tower .
Sneak Peek!
Official Tantor Media Audio Link: https://tinyurl.com/2lrbp2tv
Buy Links:
Audiobook Buy Link: https://geni.us/TGSAudible
The ebook is available to read on Kindle Unlimited.
Universal Buy Link: https://geni.us/GodmothersSecret
Promotional Link: https://www.audiobooks.com/promotions/promotedBook/680002/godmothers-secret
About the Author:
Elizabeth St.John’s critically acclaimed historical fiction novels tell the stories of her ancestors: extraordinary women whose intriguing kinship with England’s kings and queens brings an intimately unique perspective to Medieval, Tudor, and Stuart times.
Inspired by family archives and residences from Lydiard Park to the Tower of London, Elizabeth spends much of her time exploring ancestral portraits, diaries, and lost gardens. And encountering the occasional ghost. But that’s another story.
Living between California, England, and the past, Elizabeth is the International Ambassador for The Friends of Lydiard Park, an English charity dedicated to conserving and enhancing this beautiful centuries-old country house and park. As a curator for The Lydiard Archives, she is constantly looking for an undiscovered treasure to inspire her next novel.
Elizabeth’s books include her trilogy, The Lydiard Chronicles, set in 17th Century England during the Civil War, and her newest release, The Godmother’s Secret, which explores the medieval mystery of the missing Princes in the Tower of London.
Social Media Links:
Website: http://www.elizabethjstjohn.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElizStJohn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethJStJohn
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethjstjohn/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethjstjohn/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elizabeth-st-john
Amazon Author Page: https://geni.us/AmazonElizabethStJohn
Goodreads: https://geni.us/GoodreadsElizStJohn
July 11, 2023
Blog Tour: The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight by Jennifer Ivy Walker
Title: The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight
Author: Jennifer Ivy Walker
Genre: Paranormal fantasy medieval romance
Blurb:
Wielding a trio of enchanted Elven weapons to battle a dark wizard and a legion of diabolical dwarves, Tristan is faced with the impossible choice between saving the woman he loves or defending his endangered kingdom. Inexplicably compelled to remain in the sacred forest where he hears the voice of her heart, the heir to the throne of Cornwall incurs the wrath and scorn of his army when he decides to hunt for his captive mate.
Her verdant magic greatly enhanced by the mystical Morgane la Fée, Issylte must summon a coalition of Naiad nymphs and celestial fairies to destroy a nascent evil as she fights to reclaim her rightful crown.
When the Black Widow Queen unites with a malignant menace and a ghost from Tristan’s haunted past, the Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight must ally with a triad of shapeshifting warrior tribes to defeat a Viking Trident and defend their trinity of Celtic kingdoms.
Interwoven fates. Otherworldly mates. Destiny awaits.
Review:
A simply stunning conclusion to a series that has been a feast for the senses. I loved every page of these books, each setting and character painted so vividly. I fought beside each character, especially Issylte, as she battled to regain her rightful place. All I can say is if you love Arthurian legends, beautiful descriptions, and engaging characters, this series is certainly for you!
Excerpt:
She held the églantine to her nose, inhaling the delicate fragrance with a smile of wonder. “Thank you, my love. It reminds me of the nightingale in the woods of Avalon. You never cease to amaze me.” Gratitude shifted to empathy as she intently searched his face. “How does it feel to come home?”
Tristan looked out at the cerulean sea. The blue waters of Lyonesse. His home. “I feel…conflicted. Tremendous guilt and grief, mingled with incredible joy.” He raised the hand in which she held the wild rose, lifting the pink blossom to his nose. He inhaled its soothing floral fragrance—Issylte’s essence—to ease his heavy heart. “When I saw the edge of the forest where Goron held me that day…I relived the horrors…” A violent shudder shook his body.
Issylte wrapped her arms around his waist and nestled her head against his thundering chest.
He kissed the top of her head, cocooning her in loving arms. “But now…with you here…I remember the love.” He rocked her in his arms as fond memories flowed, washing away the sadness and sorrow. “My mother’s tender touch…my sister’s beautiful smile…my father’s noble face. All the happiness we shared here. All the laughter. All the love.”
Issylte raised her tear-stained face to beam at him. “Love conquers hate. It is the Goddess’ greatest gift. And I am eternally grateful that She has healed your broken heart.”
He kissed her. His Wild Rose. His green golden goddess. His Emerald Fairy. “Aye, my love. She has. Through you.”
About the Author:
Enthralled with legends of medieval knights and ladies, dark fairy tales and fantasies about Druids, wizards and magic, Jennifer Ivy Walker always dreamed of becoming a writer. She fell in love with French in junior high school, continuing her study of the language throughout college, eventually becoming a high school teacher and college professor of French.
As a high school teacher, she took her students every year to the annual French competition, where they performed a play she had written, “Yseult la Belle et Tristan la Bête”–an imaginative blend of the medieval French legend of “Tristan et Yseult” and the fairy tale “Beauty and the Beast”, enhanced with fantasy elements of a Celtic fairy and a wicked witch.
“The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight”—the conclusion of “The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven” trilogy—is a blend of her love for medieval legends, the romantic French language, and paranormal fantasy. It is a paranormal fantasy adaptation of the medieval legend of “Tristan et Yseult” (Tristan and Isolde), interwoven with Arthurian myth, dark fairy tales from the enchanted Forest of Brocéliande, and otherworldly elements such as Avalonian Elves, Druids, forest fairies and magic.
Explore her realm of Medieval French Fantasy. She hopes her novels will enchant you.
Website: https://jenniferivywalker.com/
Goodreads Author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22671046.Jennifer_Ivy_Walker
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferIvyWalker
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bohemienneivy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferivywalkerauthor/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jenniferivywalker
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Emerald-Fairy-Dragon-Knight-Raven/dp/1509249508
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-lady-of-the-mirrored-lake-jennifer-ivy-walker/1142600233
Giveaway:
Jennifer Ivy Walker will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
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