Heather Osborne's Blog, page 3
May 31, 2023
Blog Tour: The Devil’s Glove by Lucretia Grindle
Title: The Devil’s Glove
Author: Lucretia Grindle
Blurb:
Northern New England, summer, 1688.
Salem started here.
A suspicious death. A rumor of war. Whispers of witchcraft.
Perched on the brink of disaster, Resolve Hammond and her mother, Deliverance, struggle to survive in their isolated coastal village. They’re known as healers taught by the local tribes – and suspected of witchcraft by the local villagers.
Their precarious existence becomes even more chaotic when summoned to tend to a poisoned woman. As they uncover a web of dark secrets, rumors of war engulf the village, forcing the Hammonds to choose between loyalty to their native friends or the increasingly terrified settler community.
As Resolve is plagued by strange dreams, she questions everything she thought she knew – about her family, her closest friend, and even herself. If the truth comes to light, the repercussions will be felt far beyond the confines of this small settlement.
Based on meticulous research and inspired by the true story of the fear and suspicion that led to the Salem Witchcraft Trials, THE DEVIL’S GLOVE is a tale of betrayal, loyalty, and the power of secrets. Will Resolve be able to uncover the truth before the town tears itself apart, or will she become the next victim of the village’s dark and mysterious past?
Praise for The Devil’s Glove:
“From its opening lines this historical novel from Grindle (Villa Triste) grips with its rare blend of a powerfully evoked past, resonant characters, smart suspense, and prose touched with shivery poetry.”
~ BookLife Reviews Editor’s Pick
Review:
An absolutely stunning and well-researched novel, I was captivated from page one. I really enjoy American historical fiction, especially surrounding the Salem witch trials, so this was an absolute treat to read. The descriptions and characters were so engaging, and I felt like I was there alongside them. I love how the author build suspense and suspicion, much like how the people of the time would have felt during witch accusations. It must have been a very tense environment to live in if you were a woman who practiced healing arts. I would certainly recommend this book to fans of the witch trials and also American historical fiction. I’ll be looking for other books by this author, too!
Buy Links:
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/4EN58l
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BWSD5SVL/
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BWSD5SVL/
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0BWSD5SVL/
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0BWSD5SVL/
About the Author:
Lucretia Grindle grew up and went to school and university in England and the United States. After a brief career in journalism, she worked for The United States Equestrian Team organizing ‘kids and ponies,’ and for the Canadian Equestrian Team. For ten years, she produced and owned Three Day Event horses that competed at The World Games, The European Games and the Atlanta Olympics. In 1997, she packed a five mule train across 250 miles of what is now Grasslands National Park on the Saskatchewan/Montana border tracing the history of her mother’s family who descend from both the Sitting Bull Sioux and the first officers of the Canadian Mounties.
Returning to graduate school as a ‘mature student’, Lucretia completed an MA in Biography and Non-Fiction at The University of East Anglia where her work, FIREFLIES, won the Lorna Sage Prize. Specializing in the 19th century Canadian West, the Plains Tribes, and American Indigenous and Women’s History, she is currently finishing her PhD dissertation at The University of Maine.
Lucretia is the author of the psychological thrillers, THE NIGHTSPINNERS, shortlisted for the Steel Dagger Award, and THE FACES of ANGELS, one of BBC FrontRow’s six best books of the year, shortlisted for the Edgar Award. Her historical fiction includes, THE VILLA TRISTE, a novel of the Italian Partisans in World War II, a finalist for the Gold Dagger Award, and THE LOST DAUGHTER, a fictionalized account of the Aldo Moro kidnapping. She has been fortunate enough to be awarded fellowships at The Hedgebrook Foundation, The Hawthornden Foundation, The Hambidge Foundation, The American Academy in Paris, and to be the Writer in Residence at The Wallace Stegner Foundation. A television drama based on her research and journey across Grasslands is currently in development. THE DEVIL’S GLOVE and the concluding books of THE SALEM TRILOGY are drawn from her research at The University of Maine where Lucretia is grateful to have been a fellow at the Canadian American Foundation.
She and her husband, David Lutyens, live in Shropshire.
Social Media Links:
Website: http://LucretiaGrindle.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookWhisperer.ink
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bookwhisperer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookwhispererink/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/lucretiagrindle
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/827521.Lucretia_Grindle
May 8, 2023
Blog Tour: The Lady in the Mirrored Lake by Jennifer Ivy Walker
Title: The Lady in the Mirrored Lake
Author: Jennifer Ivy Walker
Genre: Paranormal Medieval Romance
Blurb:
Hunted by the Black Widow Queen, Issylte–a healer with the verdant magic of the forest–must flee Avalon with the two finest knights in the Celtic realm, both wrongly accused of treason. The trio travels to Bretagne, where Issylte heals a critically injured wolf and obtains fiercely loyal, shapeshifting allies.
In mystical Brocéliande, Issylte becomes a warrior priestess of the Tribe of Dana and otherworldly mate of the Blue Knight of Cornwall, discovering with Tristan a passion that transcends all bounds. When she becomes the Lady of the Mirrored Lake, sworn to defend the sacred waters of the Goddess, Issylte must undertake a perilous quest to discover what priceless object lies hidden in its murky depths.
As a nascent evil emerges in a fetid cave, Issylte and Tristan must face a diabolical trio that threatens their lives, their love, and their kingdoms.
Enchanted. Enflamed. Entwined. Can their passion and power prevail?
Review:
Tristan and Issylte’s journey continues in the second book of the Wild Rose and the Sea Raven series. Beautifully crafted, we are instantly taken to where the first book ended, following Tristan and Issylte as they flee Avalon. I won’t say much more so as to prevent spoilers, but I thoroughly enjoyed this second installment. The passion between these two destined characters intertwines perfectly with the Arthurian myths and legends. I cannot wait for the final book!
Excerpt:
The Mating Bond
Their bodies sated—at least for now—they lay together, a tangle of limbs, reluctant to leave their enchanted realm. Tristan propped himself onto his elbow to unabashedly appreciate her nudity, worshipping her beauty with admiring eyes. He kissed her softly.
“I love you, Issylte. With every breadth of my soul. With every beat of my heart. I am yours. Now, and forever.” His sea raven heart soared in the love light shining in her forest fairy eyes.
“And I love you, Tristan. You are my warrior. My friend. My teacher. The only one who ever believed in me. Who promised to fight for me. Beside me.”
Rising onto her knees, she took both of his hands in hers and kissed them. Her eyes glistening, she whispered, “You gave me weapons. Trained me to fight. To defend myself. And that…” she choked, gazing up at him, “is not only the greatest gift I have ever received. It also saved my life.”
She kissed his hands again. “You are helping me to grow, Tristan. To believe in myself. To face the wicked queen who denies me my birthright. Who killed so many of those I loved. Whose evil threatens us all.” Lying down at his side, she laid her head over his pounding heart. He softly stroked her long blond hair. “You have made me strong, whole, and complete, Tristan. I am totally, utterly, undeniably yours. “
He held her for a few moments. His wild rose. Then, rising to his feet, Tristan took her hands, and pulled her close. He wrapped his arms around her waist, gazing intently into the deep green eyes of his Muse.
“Toi et moi. So it shall be. You and I are entwined. Eternally.”
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.
Her debut novel, “The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven”–the first of a trilogy– is a blend of her love for medieval legends, the romantic French language, and paranormal fantasy. It is a retelling of the medieval French romance of “Tristan et Yseult”, 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
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-wild-rose-and-the-sea-raven-by-jennifer-ivy-walker
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferIvyWalker
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bohemienneivy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferivywalkerauthor/
Series Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9QFJX94
Giveaway:
The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly chosen winner.
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May 3, 2023
Book Blitz: Alaskan Blaze by LoLo Paige
Alaska Blaze
LoLo Paige
(Blazing Hearts Wildfire Series, #3)
Publication date: April 30th 2023
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense
Can an Alaskan firestorm lead to true love under a midnight sun?
Alaskan firefighter Raynie Atwood thinks she know what she wants—until a walking encyclopedia disguised as a hotshot firefighter storms into her life. Grieving loss and betrayal by the man she once loved, Raynie sets her sights on a top command post for wildland fire. But when an extended drought, a high heat, and beetle-killed forests add up to the perfect firestorm, Raynie’s leadership is put to the test.
To add fuel to the fire, Cohen Tremblay tests Raynie at every turn as she works to save sled dogs and Iditarod mushers dog kennels in a deadly Alaskan conflagration…and to make matters worse, a deadly threat from Raynie’s past has her fearing for her life.
But when Raynie’s world goes up in flames, Cohen may be the only one Raynie can rely on…hard to do when she no longer trusts any man, let alone a bullish co-worker. Instead, she constructs a rock-solid containment line around her heart. But fire is unpredictable, and so is love. Will their chance for love be snuffed before it ignites?
Romance, fire, and betrayal…another deadly mix!
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo
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EXCERPT:
Saving himself and these dogs would be a tricky maneuver. Cohen had no time to lose. Ash and embers scorched his tongue as if the devil was licking it. Hot air pressed down on him. He couldn’t swallow—no saliva.
I’m out of time! Time to deploy my fire shelter. How will I fit three adult dogs, me, and a sack load of puppies inside my shelter?
Cohen stuck the neck of the burlap sack in his teeth, as he couldn’t set the puppies down in the water. He reached behind and retrieved his fire shelter. He tugged it from the case, yanked the cords, and shook it out.
“Rooby! Wacko! Come here!” he commanded, spitting around the burlap clenched in his teeth. The terrified dogs sidled in next to him, and he crouched down, spreading the fire shelter over them. He tied the end of Madonna’s rope around the neck of the sack and draped it around his neck, so the sack hung on his left side. As long as Madonna sat in front of him and wouldn’t bolt, this might work. He wrapped a corner of the shelter around Rooby and another around Wacko and held the corners with each hand.
This has to work. He had no other choice. They couldn’t outrun this fast-moving wildfire. He tasted ash, a bitter mixture of wood and dirt. The fire bellowed like a savage dragon, hellbent to destroy in the blink of an eye what took decades to grow and mature.
Don’t panic! Keep it together. If I panic, the dogs will, and we’ll all go up in smoke.
Cohen held the shelter down over the dogs and himself as best he could, pressing the dogs close to him. Flames swept the clearing from all directions, obliterating all sound except their tornadic roar. Crouching low in the water, he did his best to keep the puppies above the boggy surface—and prayed the dogs wouldn’t panic and run—or they’d all die.
A dog barked; Cohen didn’t know who. Another yipped and cried. Madonna howled and Cohen felt her tense and brace, as if ready to run. “Whoa, Madonna, whoa Madonna…” He didn’t know how many times he repeated the husky’s name as the raging fire whipped around them. The natural water barrier certainly helped, but the winds tore at his shelter. He gripped it so tight he worried his hands would cramp and lose their hold. Despite his layers of protective Nomex, heat encased his fire shelter and pierced him as if he was the delicacy cooking on a closed outdoor grill.
The hot destructive flames licked at the very edges of his shelter. He prayed it wouldn’t melt and collapse on him. A burning tree crashed into the bog in front of them, and Madonna yelped. The husky yanked away from their huddle, and Cohen watched helplessly as the sled dog bolted, jerking the burlap sack from around his neck and dragging the bundle of puppies through the water—straight toward the destructive flames.
Author Bio:
LoLo Paige is an award-winning author and former wildland firefighter whose debut novel, Alaska Spark, has received several awards for best indie romance. Her second book, Alaska Inferno, was a finalist for best indie romance in the 2022 Kindle Book Review Awards.
LoLo writes strong female firefighters and hunky smokejumpers who battle wildland fire in Alaska. She loves writing about the trust, friendships, and pitfalls of falling in love in the action-packed, perilous world of wildfire in her action adventure romances in The Blazing Hearts Wildfire Series. The characters in her stories are battling more than just fires, they’re struggling to stay alive—and they’re willing to risk it all for love.
Alaska Spark and Alaska Inferno have ranked No.1 on the Amazon Bestseller Lists for action adventure and romantic suspense in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. The true story about LoLo’s fire crew escaping a runaway wildfire won an Alaska Press Club award and inspired her debut novel, Alaska Spark. The third book in her wildland fire series, Alaska Blaze, drops this spring.
In addition to her action-adventure romance firefighter series, LoLo also writes romantic suspense thrillers and romantic comedies. Other books under her romance umbrella are, Hello Spain, Goodbye Heart, a recently released travel romance, and Irish Thunder, to be released later in 2023, by The Wild Rose Press.
Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Twitter
GIVEAWAY!
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April 25, 2023
Blog Tour: Inceptio by Alison Morton
Title: Inceptio
Author: Alison Morton
Blurb:
“It’s about Roman blood, survival and money. Mostly yours.”
In an alternative New York, Karen Brown is running for her life. She makes a snap decision to flee to Roma Nova – her dead mother’s homeland, the last remnant of the Roman Empire in the 21st century. But can Karen tough it out in such an alien culture? And with a crazy killer determined to terminate her for a very personal reason?
Stifled by the protective cocoon of her Roma Novan family, deceived by her new lover, she propels herself into a dangerous mission. But then the killer sets a trap – she must sacrifice herself for another – and she sees no escape.
A thriller laced with romance and coming of age, this first in series is Roman fiction brought into the 21st century through the lens of alternative history and driven by a female protagonist with heart and courage.
This 10th Anniversary hardback edition includes bonus content: Three character ‘conversations’, two short stories and the story behind INCEPTIO.
Review:
A fantastic alternate historical fiction novel, Inceptio kept my attention from page one. I absolutely adored the characters as well as the play on the old Roman traditions and names. The evolution of Karen’s character made the novel that much more enjoyable. I highly look forward to exploring the next in the series.
Buy links:
INCEPTIO 10th Anniversary special edition hardback:
International Buy Link: https://mybook.to/INCEPTIOHardback
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BTXR81DZ
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXR81DZ
Amazon AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0BTXR81DZ
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0BTXR81DZ
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/inceptio-alison-morton/1143030797
Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Inceptio/9791097310363
Your local bookshop or library
All other formats (ebook, paperback, audio): https://www.alison-morton.com/books-2/inceptio/where-to-buy-inceptio/
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 ancient Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but with a sharp line in dialogue. INCEPTIO starts the adventure…
She blends her fascination for Ancient Rome with six years’ military service and a life of reading historical, crime and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.
Six full-length Roma Nova novels, including INCEPTIO, have won the BRAG Medallion, the prestigious award for indie fiction. SUCCESSIO, AURELIA and INSURRECTIO were selected as Historical Novel Society’s Indie Editor’s Choices. AURELIA was a finalist in the 2016 HNS Indie Award. The Bookseller selected SUCCESSIO as Editor’s Choice in its inaugural indie review. The Historical Novel Society recently selected JULIA PRIMA, the first Foundation story set in the 4th century, the accolade of Editors’ Choice.
Alison lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her two contemporary thrillers, Double Identity and Double Pursuit. Oh, and she’s writing the next Roma Nova story.
Social media links:
Connect with Alison on her Roma Nova site: https://alison-morton.com
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AlisonMortonAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/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
Alison’s Amazon page: https://Author.to/AlisonMortonAmazon
Newsletter sign-up: https://www.alison-morton.com/newsletter/
April 9, 2023
Blog Tour: The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven by Jennifer Ivy Walker
Title: The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven (Book 1)
Author: Jennifer Ivy Walker
Genre: Paranormal Medieval Romance
Blurb:
In this dark fairy tale adaptation of a medieval French legend, Issylte must flee the wicked queen, finding shelter with a fairy witch who teaches her the verdant magic of the forest. Fate leads her to the otherworldly realm of the Lady of the Lake and the Elves of Avalon, where she must choose between her life as a healer or fight to save her ravaged kingdom.
Tristan of Lyonesse is a Knight of the Round Table who must overcome the horrors of his past and defend his king or lose everything. When he becomes a warrior of the Tribe of Dana, a gift of Druidic magic might hold the key he seeks.
Haunted and hunted. Entwined by fate. Can their passion and power prevail?
Review:
Taking the reader back to the myths of Arthurian England, this medieval paranormal romance was a lovely read. I appreciated the added magical elements which didn’t overpower the overarching storyline. The characters were relatable and the theme of the battle between good and evil gave the novel a comforting feel. I especially liked the scenes in the Hazelwood forest and Issylte’s storyline. I felt some parts did drag on and take away from the immersion, however I would certainly read other novels from this author in the future!
Excerpt:
Healing the Wounded Warrior
With all her verdant magic as a forest fairy, the Emerald Princess poured her spirit as a guérisseuse celtique into healing the wounded warrior from Cornwall.
Finally, on the fourth day, when the morning sun glistened in the sparkling waters of the fountain, Tristan’s eyelids fluttered. Issylte leaned over him, his brow cool now that the fever had broken. He opened the brilliant blue eyes that she’d seen in the vision.
As she gazed into them, the earth tilted. Her heart raced; her bearings were lost. In the depths of his eyes, she glimpsed a fountain in a forest. The turquoise waters of the ocean. An underground well encased by sacred stones. She, the forest fairy, was immersed in the blue waters of the warrior’s eyes, the waves emanating from him flowing through her, cleansing her. Beckoning her.
In Tristan’s eyes, Issylte glimpsed a black bird—a sea raven—soaring over an open sea, hovering now before her. A small dove fluttered in her breast, called forth from her soul. White wings unfurled as she took flight, rising into the azure sky alongside the black seabird—-floating together through the diaphanous clouds scattered over the vast ocean.
In the breadth of an instant, Issylte was bound to this warrior, the Blue Knight of Cornwall, as if fate had indeed entwined them. Through the windows of his eyes, she peered into his soul, her own blending with his, as if they were the forest and the ocean, encircled now within the three layers of protective stones, the holy trinity of sacred elements of the Goddess.
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.
Her debut novel, “The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven”–the first of a trilogy– is a blend of her love for medieval legends, the romantic French language, and paranormal fantasy. It is a retelling of the medieval French romance of “Tristan et Yseult”, 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
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-wild-rose-and-the-sea-raven-by-jennifer-ivy-walker
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferIvyWalker
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bohemienneivy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferivywalkerauthor/
Series Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9QFJX94
Giveaway:
The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly chosen winner.
a Rafflecopter giveawayhttps://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.jsMarch 26, 2023
Blog Tour: The Hartford Manor series by Marcia Clayton
Title: The Mazzard Tree
Series: The Hartford Manor Series
Author: Marcia Clayton
Blurb:
1880 North Devon, England
Annie Carter is a farm labourer’s daughter, and life is a continual struggle for survival. When her father dies of consumption, her mother, Sabina, is left with seven hungry mouths to feed and another child on the way. To save them from the workhouse or starvation, Annie steals vegetables from the Manor House garden, risking jail or transportation. Unknown to her, she is watched by Robert, the wealthy heir to the Hartford Estate, but far from turning her in, he befriends her.
Despite their different social backgrounds, Annie and Robert develop feelings they know can have no future. Harry Rudd, the village blacksmith, has long admired Annie, and when he proposes, her mother urges her to accept. She reminds Annie, that as a kitchen maid, she will never be allowed to marry Robert. Harry is a good man, and Annie is fond of him. Her head knows what she should do, but will her heart listen?
Set against the harsh background of the rough, class-divided society of Victorian England, this heart-warming and captivating novel portrays a young woman who uses her determination and willpower to defy the circumstances of her birth in her search for happiness.
Buy Links:
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited
Universal Link: http://mybook.to/TheMazzardTree
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08R65BLQV
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R65BLQV
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08R65BLQV
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08R65BLQV
Barnes and Noble: Barnes & Noble: The Mazzard Tree
Allauthor: https://allauthor.com/author/marciaclayton/
All the books in The Hartford Manor Series can be ordered from any bookshop.
Excerpt:
Sabina dried her hands and signalled Annie to do the same, and then they followed Hannah into her house. Chickens ran in and out, leaving a mess all over the floor. Tommy, the youngest child, was crawling around in all the filth, for although he was two, he had rickets and could not walk. His face was covered in sores, and his nose was running. Rachael, at four, was sitting by her sick sister’s bed, tugging her hand.
“Come an’ play with me, Mary.”
Annie picked up Rachael and settled her on her knee. Rachael loved the attention and Tommy crawled up to sit on the other knee. Annie wiped his nose, brushed his brown curly hair out of his eyes, and gave them both a cuddle. She wondered if her own hair would be crawling with lice by the time she went home.
Sabina put her hand on Mary’s forehead, which was hot, and the child was pale and listless. “What’s the matter, Mary? Where does it hurt?”
Mary pointed to her throat and whispered hoarsely, “It hurts in there, and my head, and everywhere.”
“Never mind, we’ll soon have you better, don’t worry. Could you eat some stew?”
Mary shook her head miserably. She was six years old, but small for her age, and Sabina could see many clusters of nits stuck to her wispy brown hair.
“Sabina, I could eat some stew if you’ve any to spare, and I’ll bet Rachael and Tommy could manage some too.”
Hannah, and her husband, John, were both fat and lazy, but the children were thin, dirty, and ill-kempt. Sabina’s eyes flashed with anger.
“I’ve plenty of food in my kitchen, Hannah because I work hard. I’ll take Rachael and Tommy home with me to have some, and I’ll bathe them too because they’re filthy. I know you’re poor but look at the state of this place. When did you last clean up, or do any cooking? Or does all your money go on that bloody scrumpy? I’m sorry, but it’s time someone told you a few home truths; you should be ashamed of yourself. Now, I could leave Annie here with you, if she’ll stay, to help you clean up. I’ll come back at teatime, and if the place is clean, I’ll bring rabbit stew for all of you. Just this once though, for you have a man to provide for you, which is more than I have.”
“How dare you! It’s none of your business how I keep my house. Things have got on top of me a bit, that’s all.”
“Please yourself then; it’s no odds to me. Mary certainly isn’t well, but it might just be a nasty cold. Now, do you want Annie’s help, or not? It’s up to you.”
“Aye, I suppose the place could do with a bit of a clean, and you’ll bring enough supper for all of us?”
“Yes, I’ll bring some later, and see how Mary is. Annie, would you mind helping Hannah?”
Annie, facing away from Hannah, pulled a face and screwed up her nose, but she nodded. Sabina grinned as she left with the two children. As she entered her own cottage, Sabina called to Liza.
“Liza, could you put a couple of pans of water on the fire, please? I want to bathe these two. I don’t suppose they’ve ever had a bath, so they may not think a lot to it, but they certainly need one.”
Sabina explained about Mary, and how Annie was helping Hannah to clean up.
“She’s a lazy slut, that woman, and it will soon be like it again, you know. She’s too lazy to lift a finger to care for that family properly, and her mother was just the same. They don’t deserve to have children, and they don’t deserve your help either, Sabina. Goodness, you’ve enough to do to feed and look after your own.”
“Aye, you’re right, of course, but I felt so sorry for the children. It isn’t their fault, and Mary, poor little thing, she was so poorly.”
Liza pulled the old tin bath in front of the fire and filled it with warm water. Rachael and Tommy sat wide-eyed, anxiously watching the activity around them. Sabina decided to start with Rachael and sat her on her knee.
“Now, Rachael, I’m going to take off these dirty clothes and bathe you. You’ll like it in that lovely warm water, and afterwards, you’ll feel much better. Then we’ll see if we can find you something clean to wear, while I wash your clothes.”
Sabina gently undressed the little girl, chatting all the time as she lowered her into the bath. Rachael went stiff with fright and kept her legs rigid. She started to thrash about and scream.
“No, no, don’t. I don’t wanna get wet. No, don’t. Let me go! Mummy, I want my mummy. Don’t.”
Sabina held her gently, but firmly. “Come on, Rachael, I want you to show Tommy what a big, brave girl you are. You’ll like it in the water when you sit down, and if you let me wash you, I’ll find you a bowl of rabbit stew, with a big slice of bread. Are you hungry?”
At the mention of food, Rachael immediately became more cooperative and sat down gingerly. She still seemed frightened, but as Sabina began to splash the warm water gently over her tiny body, she began to relax. It saddened Sabina to see that she was covered in flea bites, and her hair was crawling with lice. There were also a few suspicious bruises. Gently, Sabina soaped the grime from the child’s body, cut her hair short, and then washed what was left to get rid of the lice. Rachael began to enjoy herself and suddenly grinned at Sabina.
“This is nice like you said. I like it in here. Can I stay a bit longer?”
Sabina let her stay a few minutes longer, then lifted her out and dried her. She reached for an old blue dress and popped it over Rachael’s head.
“There, you look beautiful now. Liza will give you some stew for being so brave. Right then, Tommy, it’s your turn now, but I think we’ll need some clean water first.”
About the Author:
Marcia Clayton was born in North Devon, a rural and picturesque area in the far South West of England. She is a farmer’s daughter and often helped to milk the cows and clean out the shippens in her younger days.
When Marcia left school she worked in a bank for several years until she married her husband, Bryan, and then stayed at home for a few years to care for her three sons, Stuart, Paul and David. As the children grew older, Marcia worked as a Marie Curie nurse caring for the terminally ill, and later for the local authority managing school transport.
Now a grandmother, Marcia enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She’s a keen researcher of family history, and it was this hobby that inspired some of the characters in her books. A keen gardener, Marcia grows many of her own vegetables. She is also an avid reader and mainly enjoys historical fiction, romance and crime books.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://marciaclayton.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarciaC89111861
Facebook: Marcia Clayton – Author | Facebook
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marciaclayton97/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marcia-clayton
Amazon Author Page: Amazon: Marcia Clayton
Goodreads: Marcia Clayton: Goodreads
February 13, 2023
Book Blast: Deadly Betrayal by Sheila Kell
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Sheila Kell will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
When trusting the wrong person can be deadly.
From Romantic Suspense BEST-SELLING and AWARD-WINNING Author • What happens when a former FBI analyst quits her job to become a PI and ends up partnering with the man who left her fourteen years earlier? In Sheila Kell’s riveting novel of secrets, deceit, and romance, two people rush to find a killer while reckoning with their growing attraction.
Cassie McKay was tired of being passed over as a FBI field agent. She quits her job as a FBI analyst, moved back home with her mother, and takes a job as a PI. Only she hadn’t expected her partner to be the one man who’d left her years before.
Jack “JD” Walker had done a lot wrong in his life, but he hadn’t killed the mother of his child as the police believed, nor had he expected the only women he’d ever loved to come to his rescue. The two work diligently to prove JD’s innocence while someone is determined to make JD pay.
Deadly Betrayal is the first book in the Coastal Investigations series. If you enjoy a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat read, you’ll love this installment of Sheila Kell’s new romantic suspense series.
Read an Excerpt
“Well, it’s late. I’m going to get some sleep,” Cassie said.
Sleep? What? He planned to seduce her, and here she was kicking him out before he even had the chance. So, he did the only thing he could. He stood and strode toward his room. “Goodnight, my sweet Cassie.” He left the double doors separating their rooms open.
He listened to her shower, wishing he could jump in there with her and soap her body down. Thoughts whizzed through JD’s head as he clenched his eyes shut: 60.2 average passes per game, 328.2 average passing yards, second in the season, twelve weeks in. 52.9 average—he looked down. His erection still hadn’t subsided.
When she climbed into bed, he couldn’t take it anymore. He walked to the door separating their rooms and asked, “Are you coming to my bed, or am I coming to yours?”
About the Author:
Sheila Kell writes about the romantic men who leave women’s hearts pounding with a happily ever after built on memorable, adrenaline-pumping stories. Or, (since her editor tries to cut down on her long-windedness) simply “Smokin’ Hot Romance & Intrigue.” Her debut novel, His Desire (HIS Series #1), launched as an Amazon #1 romantic suspense bestseller and Top 100 overall, later winning the Readers’ Favorite award for best romantic suspense novel.As a Southern girl who traveled the world with the United States Air Force, she remembers all the embarrassing moments of her fellow veterans to include in her books and laughs every time she does it. Having left behind her days as a College President, she can usually be found nestled in the Mississippi woods, where she lives with her cats and all the strays that magically find her front door. When she isn’t writing, you can find Sheila with her nose in a good book, dealing with the woodland critters who enjoy her back patio, or wishing she had a genie to do her bidding.
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January 23, 2023
Book Blitz: Hello Spain, Goodbye Heart by LoLo Paige
Hello Spain, Goodbye Heart
LoLo Paige
(The Wandering Hearts Series, #1)
Published by: The Wild Rose Press
Publication date: January 23rd 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Travel writer Dayna Benning tours Europe to write a feature story for a travel magazine. Along the way, she helps her bestie scatter her husband’s ashes. When Dayna accidentally sprinkles Alex Mendes with dried rose petals intended for the deceased, she senses a chemistry with the silver fox airline pilot. Just one catch—he wears a wedding band. Embittered by her divorce, Dayna refuses to be a homewrecker, like the woman who ruined her marriage. Alex and Dayna go their separate ways, but she’s mystified when serendipitous signs point her toward him at every turn. Determined to find out why, she learns Alex is a widower. Dayna hopes for a second chance at love…but her resentful heart stops her. Can she forgive those that broke her heart the first time? And for that matter, can she forgive herself for her failed marriage? Unless she finds a way to piece together her fragmented heart, Alex will forever remain a fantasy.
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EXCERPT:
Romance was the last thing Dayna trolled for, but if it rolled in her direction, she wouldn’t rule out a casual fling. But not with a married guy.
Mariko elbowed Dayna. “I’ve heard a lot of hot older guys hang out on this side of the Atlantic,” she murmured, eyeing another tall, juicy morsel passing by on his way out the restaurant door.
Dayna wrinkled her nose. “Alex is married, in case you haven’t noticed.”
“Oh, I noticed. No law against enjoying eye candy.” Mariko grinned. “You should write a sidebar for your magazine article, ‘How To Meet Cute Guys on a Beach.’ Tessa would love it.”
“Ha, that’d spice up my travel piece.” Dayna’s editor would love it.
“Sprinkling a handsome guy with dead rose petals would be a fresh angle,” reasoned Mariko.
“You think?”
“You’ve had a sniper dot on Alex the whole time. You may as well write about him.”
Alex strolled toward them, and Dayna fantasized a slow-motion movie scene: Arms swinging, he moves toward me, wind teasing his hair, with an I-Want-You-So-Bad expression on his face. His arms scoop me up and he plants a hot, moist kiss on my quivering lips, dissolving me—
The seating hostess snapped Dayna back to reality. “This way, please.”
“Oh!” In her haste to follow, Dayna’s foot caught a chair leg and she tripped. After a sloppy recovery, she limped after the hostess with heated cheeks, to a table for three.
Mariko jerked her head toward Dayna, smiling sweetly at the hostess.
“Don’t mind her. Her name’s Grace.”
Author Bio:
LoLo Paige is an award-winning author who has a passion for writing romantic comedies after decades of theatre experience acting in stage comedies. While comedy is her first love, she also writes the pitfalls of falling in love in the action-packed, perilous world of wildfire. As a former wildland firefighter who married her hot firefighter husband, she lives her HEA, spending glorious Alaskan summers at her oceanfront cabin on Kachemak Bay, with her husband and two golden retrievers.
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January 4, 2023
Blog Tour: Sisters of Castle Leod by Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard
Title: Sisters of Castle Leod: A Novel
Author: Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard
**Finalist in the 2022 American Writing Awards**
Blurb: 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 Links:
This title will be available on #KindleUnlimited.
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/3RzAJY
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sisters-Castle-Elizabeth-Hutchison-Bernard-ebook/dp/B0BG36NZK5/
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Sisters-Castle-Elizabeth-Hutchison-Bernard-ebook/dp/B0BG36NZK5/
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Sisters-Castle-Elizabeth-Hutchison-Bernard-ebook/dp/B0BG36NZK5/
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Sisters-Castle-Elizabeth-Hutchison-Bernard-ebook/dp/B0BG36NZK5/
Barnes and Noble:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sisters-of-castle-leod-elizabeth-hutchison-bernard/1142204809?ean=9781685130626
Excerpt:
PAST MEETS PRESENT
The count and Mama, their eyes glued to each other like long-lost lovers, began making their way through the crowd, no doubt assuming we were behind them. But neither the man I’d been invited to call Demetrius nor I had moved from where we stood.
“Lady Cromartie,” he said quietly, “I admire your choice of costume. We make somewhat of a pair, do we not?”
I steeled myself for a long night of small talk. I had hoped to let Mama do the socializing for both of us, but that was not to be. “I told the costume-maker I wished to come as an ancient Phoenician. She said a modern Indian would have to do.”
“Ha! Well, no one here would know the difference. To most Westerners, an Arab is the same as a Persian or an Indian. And the Phoenicians?” He gave a little snort. “A shame that one of the greatest civilizations in human history is largely forgotten. Rarely a topic of drawing room conversations, is it? None I have heard.”
From his comment, I gathered he was as bored by vacant chatter as was I. “You have a fondness for the Phoenicians?”
His lip curled slightly. “You might say that.”
“I’ve done some research about them myself. You see, I’m a writer—or I once aspired to be,” I added, reminding myself that nothing in my life was as it used to be. “I thought I might someday write a novel set in Tyre, just before the invasion of Alexander.”
There was a glint in his eyes, which I took as a sign that he found my idea compelling. “I could tell you many things about the ancient island port of Tyre. Things not in any of the books you have read. I used to study archeology,” he said, again with that enigmatic smile.
“But there aren’t many traces left of the Phoenicians, are there?”
“Lady Cromartie—” He raised a finger to his lips. “Hold your questions. I am happy to answer them all, but this is not the place. Allow me to take you for a moonlight ride along the winding canals of Venice, and you can ask me whatever you like about the Phoenicians. Yes?”
Beneath the veil, my cheeks warmed. He must have assumed I was unmarried. “You’re very kind, but I couldn’t. My mother has the expectation that I’m to be her companion for the evening.”
“Your mother seems more than content to be in the count’s company.” He gave me a sly wink. “Did you see the way he looked at her? Of course, one could not expect any man to resist a woman as beautiful as your mother. I doubt they’ll remain at the party too much longer.”
His insinuation was hardly subtle. “Count de Minerbi is a gracious host, but I’m sure he has duties besides seeing to my mother’s amusement.”
“Gracious he is, but Lionello always has time for what delights him. Please … forget your mother for a little while. Come with me, and I promise to take your mind off what troubles you.”
“What makes you think I’m troubled?” Did the veil do such a poor job of hiding my melancholy, even from a total stranger?
“We are all troubled, Lady Cromartie—by our struggle to know what is real and what is not.” His eyes locked with mine. “And why we must lose what we most love.”
About the Author:
A former touring musician/songwriter and public relations professional, Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard is the author of two Amazon bestsellers: THE BEAUTY DOCTOR, “a compelling historical novel steeped in mystery with strong elements of a medical thriller” (Readers’ Favorite, 5 stars), and TEMPTATION RAG: A NOVEL, a “resonant novel … about the birth and demise of ragtime … luxuriously crafted” (Publishers Weekly). Her books have been finalists for the Eric Hoffer Book Award, National Indie Excellence Awards, and Arizona Literary Contest; they have received 5-star ratings from Readers” Favorite, Book Readers Appreciation Group, and historical fiction Discovered Diamonds. Elizabeth and her family live near Phoenix, Arizona.
Social Media Links:
Website: www.EHBernard.com
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/EHBernardAuthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EHBernardAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EHBernardAuthor
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elizabeth-hutchison-bernard
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Hutchison-Bernard/e/B072N681MZ?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1659992216&sr=8-1
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16953486.Elizabeth_Hutchison_Bernard
December 13, 2022
Blog Tour: The Fortune Keeper by Deborah Swift
Title: The Fortune Keeper
Author: Deborah Swift
Blurb:
Count your nights by stars, not shadows ~ Italian Proverb
Winter in Renaissance Venice
Mia Caiozzi is determined to discover her destiny by studying the science of astronomy. But her stepmother Giulia forbids her to engage in this occupation, fearing it will lead her into danger. The ideas of Galileo are banned by the Inquisition, so Mia must study in secret.
Giulia’s real name is Giulia Tofana, renowned for her poison Aqua Tofana, and she is in hiding from the Duke de Verdi’s family who are intent on revenge for the death of their brother. Giulia insists Mia should live quietly out of public view. If not, it could threaten them all. But Mia doesn’t understand this, and rebels against Giulia, determined to go her own way.
When the two secret lives collide, it has far-reaching and fatal consequences that will change Mia’s life forever.
Set amongst opulent palazzos and shimmering canals, The Fortune Keeper is the third novel of adventure and romance based on the life and legend of Giulia Tofana, the famous poisoner.
‘Her characters are so real they linger in the mind long after the book is back on the shelf’ – Historical Novel Society
Trigger warnings:
Murder and violence in keeping with the era.
Buy Links:
This book is available to read on Kindle Unlimited?
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/4EJBOz
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fortune-Keeper-gripping-historical-Renaissance-ebook/dp/B0B9T83FRY
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Fortune-Keeper-gripping-historical-Renaissance-ebook/dp/B0B9T83FRY
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Fortune-Keeper-gripping-historical-Renaissance-ebook/dp/B0B9T83FRY
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Fortune-Keeper-gripping-historical-Renaissance-ebook/dp/B0B9T83FRY
Review:
About the Author:
Deborah Swift is a USA TODAY bestselling author who is passionate about the past. Deborah used to be a costume designer for the BBC, before becoming a writer. Now she lives in an old English school house in a village full of 17th Century houses, near the glorious Lake District. She divides her time between writing and teaching. After taking a Masters Degree in Creative Writing, she enjoys mentoring aspiring novelists and has an award-winning historical fiction blog at her website www.deborahswift.com
Deborah loves to write about how extraordinary events in history have transformed the lives of ordinary people, and how the events of the past can live on in her books and still resonate today.
Recent books include The Poison Keeper, about the Renaissance poisoner Giulia Tofana, which was a winner of the Wishing Shelf Readers Award, and a Coffee Pot Book Club Gold Medal, and The Cipher Room set in WW2 and due for publication by Harper Collins next Spring.
Social Media Links:
Twitter https://twitter.com/swiftstory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authordeborahswift/
Website www.deborahswift.com
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.co.uk/deborahswift1/
Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/deborah-swift
Amazon http://author.to/DeborahSwift
