Blog Tour: The Sight of Heather by Ally Stirling

Posted on September 27, 2023 by heatherosborneauthor under Blog Tour, Coffee Pot Book Club, historical fiction

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

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-sight-of-heather-a-journey-of-loyalty-sacrifice-and-fortitude-in-the-face-of-persecution-by-ally-stirling

Blog Tour: The Godmother’s Secret (audiobook) by Elizabeth St. John

Posted on July 20, 2023 by heatherosborneauthor under Audiobook Excerpt, Blog Tour, Coffee Pot Book Club, historical fiction

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

The Godmother's Secret Tour Schedule

Blog Tour: The Devil’s Glove by Lucretia Grindle

Posted on May 31, 2023 by heatherosborneauthor under Blog Tour, Coffee Pot Book Club, historical fiction, review

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

Blog Tour: Inceptio by Alison Morton

Posted on April 25, 2023 by heatherosborneauthor under Blog Tour, Coffee Pot Book Club, historical fiction, review

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:

fivestars

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/

Roma Nova series long

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 21^st 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 4^th 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/

INCEPTIO tour schedule

Blog Tour: Sisters of Castle Leod by Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard

Posted on January 4, 2023 by heatherosborneauthor under Blog Tour, Coffee Pot Book Club, Excerpt, historical fiction

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

Book Blast: Wolves of Wagria by Eric Schumacher

Posted on November 14, 2022 by heatherosborneauthor under Book Blast, Coffee Pot Book Club, historical fiction

Title: Wolves of Wagria

Author: Eric Schumacher

Blurb:

Three kingdoms. Two friends. Only one way to survive.

For fans of Bernard Cornwell and Conn Iggulden comes the tale of Olaf Tryggvason and his adventures in the battle-scarred kingdom of Wagria.

It is AD 972. Olaf Tryggvason and his oath-sworn protector, Torgil, are once again on the move. They have left the Rus kingdom and now travel the Baltic Sea in search of plunder and fame. But a fateful storm lands them on the Vendish coastline in a kingdom called Wagria.

There, they find themselves caught between the aggression of the Danes, the political aspirations of the Wagrian lords, and the shifting politics in Saxland. Can they survive or will they become just one more casualty of kingly ambitions?

Find out in this harrowing sequel to the best-selling Forged by Iron and Sigurd’s Swords.

Buy Links:

This book is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Link: https://mybook.to/wolvesofwagria

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BFG9N26K

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFG9N26K

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0BFG9N26K

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0BFG9N26K

About the Author:

Eric Schumacher discovered his love for writing and medieval European history at a very early age, as well as authors like J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Bernard Cornwell, Jack Whyte, and Wilbur Smith. Those discoveries fueled his imagination and continue to influence the stories he tells. His first novel, God’s Hammer, was published in 2005.

You can follow Eric Schumacher on Amazon or by joining his newsletter at https://www.ericschumacher.net/readers-club.

Social Media Links:

Website: www.ericschumacher.net

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DarkAgeScribe

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-schumacher-91b80b/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/eric-schumacher

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-Schumacher/e/B001K8G4YW/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/399517.Eric_Schumacher

Wolves of Wagria Tour Schedule

Blog Tour: JULIA PRIMA by Alison Morton

Posted on October 6, 2022 by heatherosborneauthor under Blog Tour, Coffee Pot Book Club, historical fiction, review

Title: JULIA PRIMA

Author: Alison Morton

Blurb:

“You should have trusted me. You should have given me a choice.”

AD 370, Roman frontier province of Noricum. Neither wholly married nor wholly divorced, Julia Bacausa is trapped in the power struggle between the Christian church and her pagan ruler father.

Tribune Lucius Apulius’s career is blighted by his determination to stay faithful to the Roman gods in a Christian empire. Stripped of his command in Britannia, he’s demoted to the backwater of Noricum – and encounters Julia.

Unwittingly, he takes her for a whore. When confronted by who she is, he is overcome with remorse and fear. Despite this disaster, Julia and Lucius are drawn to one another by an irresistible attraction.

But their intensifying bond is broken when Lucius is banished to Rome. Distraught, Julia gambles everything to join him. But a vengeful presence from the past overshadows her perilous journey. Following her heart’s desire brings danger she could never have envisaged…

Review:

As anyone who follows my blog knows, I love a good historical set during Roman times. They just so happen to be pet favorites of mine when I’m not exploring other ancient historical fiction works. JULIA PRIMA is the first book I’ve read by this author. I have to say, I’m impressed. Captivated from the first page, I hung on every step of Julia’s journey to reunite with Lucius, and held my breath with each passing threat. I really enjoyed the supporting characters, especially Aegius and Asella, as well as the description blended into the action. I’m curious to explore the Roma Nova series further!

Buy Links:

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/JULIAPRIMA

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B5LX41B7/

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5LX41B7/

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0B5LX41B7/

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0B5LX41B7/

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/julia-prima-alison-morton/1141719007?ean=2940186610922

Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/julia-prima/alison-morton/9791097310356

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ebook/julia-prima

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id6443066547

About the Author:

Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. Her nine-book Roma Nova series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the ancient Roman Empire has survived into the 21^st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but with a sharp line in dialogue.

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 latest two contemporary thrillers, Double Identity and Double Pursuit. Oh, and she’s writing the next Roma Nova story.

Social media links:

Alison Morton’s World of Thrillers 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
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alison-morton

Alison’s Amazon page: https://Author.to/AlisonMortonAmazon

Newsletter sign-up: https://www.alison-morton.com/newsletter/

Julia Prima Tour Schedule final

Blog Tour: God of Fire by Helen Steadman

Posted on September 7, 2022 by heatherosborneauthor under Blog Tour, Coffee Pot Book Club, Historical fantasy

Title: God of Fire

Author: Helen Steadman

Blurb:

‘Love was surely the greatest punishment of all’

He’s a rejected immortal. But can this magical blacksmith fight against fate and overcome the darkness of his past?

Hephaestus fears he’ll never be accepted. Cast down from Olympus and raised by a powerful sea witch, he sets out on a quest to discover his unknown father’s true identity. But he struggles to be taken seriously by the other gods who only want him for his ingenious inventions.

Convinced that solving his paternity will help him earn the love he seeks, the god of fire traps his mother and refuses to free her until she reveals a name. But when he uncovers a terrifying truth, he finds himself with more enemies than allies amongst the wrathful Olympians.

Can Hephaestus unlock buried secrets and prove himself worthy?

God of Fire is an imaginative standalone historical fantasy. If you like forgotten legends, fantastic beasts, and dark tales punctuated with humour, then you’ll adore Helen Steadman’s fascinating expedition into mythology.

Buy God of Fire to unravel the mysteries of ancient Greece today!

Recommended for fans of Mythos, Song of Achilles, Circe and Pandora’s Jar.

Buy Links:

Universal Pre-order Link: books2read.com/u/mlL0RP

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09QZ8LSDK

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QZ8LSDK

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09QZ8LSDK

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09QZ8LSDK

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/god-of-fire-helen-steadman/1141924035

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Helen_Steadman_God_of_Fire

Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/god-of-fire/helen-steadman/9781739776213

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/god-of-fire-3

iBooks: https://books.apple.com/gb/book/god-of-fire/id1606708746

iTunes: https://books.apple.com/gb/author/helen-steadman/id1245484068

Audio: https://www.audible.co.uk/author/Helen-Steadman/B076P4VRJD

About the Author:

Dr Helen Steadman is a historical novelist. Her first novel, Widdershins and its sequel, Sunwise were inspired by the seventeenth-century Newcastle witch trials. Her third novel, The Running Wolf was inspired by the Shotley Bridge swordmakers, who defected from Solingen, Germany in 1687. Helen’s fourth novel will be published on 13 September 2022. This is God of Fire, a Greek myth retelling about Hephaestus, possibly the least well-known of the Olympians. Helen is now working on her fifth novel.

Despite the Newcastle witch trials being one of the largest mass executions of witches on a single day in England, they are not widely known about. Helen is particularly interested in revealing hidden histories and she is a thorough researcher who goes to great lengths in pursuit of historical accuracy. To get under the skin of the cunning women in Widdershins and Sunwise, Helen trained in herbalism and learned how to identify, grow and harvest plants and then made herbal medicines from bark, seeds, flowers and berries.

The Running Wolf is the story of a group of master swordmakers who defected from Solingen, Germany and moved to Shotley Bridge, England in 1687. As well as carrying out in-depth archive research and visiting forges in Solingen to bring her story to life, Helen also undertook blacksmith training, which culminated in making her own sword. During her archive research, Helen uncovered a lot of new material, and she published her findings in the Northern History journal.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://helensteadman.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hsteadman1650

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

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

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/helen-steadman

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Helen-Steadman/e/B076P4VRJD

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2297484.Helen_Steadman

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHQ6GYusuraZF3fb-sLWx2Q

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-344275798

God of Fire Tour Schedule

Blog Tour: Under the Emerald Sky by Juliane Weber

Posted on March 4, 2022 by heatherosborneauthor under Blog Tour, Coffee Pot Book Club, historical fiction, historical romance

Title: Under the Emerald Sky

(The Irish Fortune Series, Book 1)

Author: Juliane Weber

Blurb:

He’s come to Ireland to escape his past. She’s trying to run from her future.

It’s 1843 and the English nobleman Quinton Williams has come to Ireland to oversee the running of his father’s ailing estate and escape his painful past. Here he meets the alluring Alannah O’Neill, whose Irish family is one of few to have retained ownership of their land, the rest having been supplanted by the English over the course of the country’s bloody history. Finding herself drawn to the handsome Englishman, Alannah offers to help Quin communicate with the estate’s Gaelic-speaking tenants, as much to assist him as to counter her own ennui. Aware of her controlling brother’s hostility towards the English, she keeps her growing relationship with Quin a secret – a secret that cannot, however, be kept for long from those who dream of ridding Ireland of her English oppressors.

Among the stark contrasts that separate the rich few from the plentiful poor, Under the Emerald Sky is a tale of love and betrayal in a land teetering on the brink of disaster – the Great Famine that would forever change the course of Ireland’s history.

Trigger Warnings:

Violence, sexual content.

Review:

A beautifully written example of historical fiction, the novel pulled me in from the start. I highly admired the lead female character and found her compelling. Certainly one for historical fiction fans to devour! Also, I have to say, the cover is gorgeous!

Buy Links:

This novel is available to read for free with #KindleUnlimited subscription.

Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/u/4DxvLA

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08LSC6HN3

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LSC6HN3

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08LSC6HN3

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08LSC6HN3

About the Author:

Juliane is actually a scientist. She holds degrees in physiology and zoology, including a PhD in physiology. During her studies she realised, however, that her passion lay not in conducting scientific research herself, but in writing about it. Thus began her career as a medical writer, where she took on all manner of writing and editing tasks, in the process honing her writing skills, until she finally plucked up the courage to write her first historical novel, Under the Emerald Sky. The book is the first in The Irish Fortune Series, which is set in 19th century Ireland around the time of the Great Famine.

Juliane lives with her husband and two sons in Hamelin, Germany, the town made famous by the story of the Pied Piper.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.julianeweber.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Writer_JW

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianeweber/

Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianeweber/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.de/Juliane_Weber

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/juliane-weber

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Juliane-Weber/e/B08M3DYY22

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21207265.Juliane_Weber

Blog Tour: Daughter of the King by Kerry Chaput

Posted on January 10, 2022 by heatherosborneauthor under Blog Tour, Coffee Pot Book Club, historical fiction, review

Title: Daughter of the King

(Defying the Crown, Book 1)

Author: Kerry Chaput

Blurb:

La Rochelle France, 1661. Fierce Protestant Isabelle is desperate to escape persecution by the Catholic King. Isabelle is tortured and harassed, her people forced to convert to the religion that rules the land. She risks her life by helping her fellow Protestants, which is forbidden by the powers of France. She accepts her fate — until she meets a handsome Catholic soldier who makes her question everything.

She fights off an attack by a nobleman, and the only way to save herself is to flee to the colony of Canada as a Daughter of the King. She can have money, protection and a new life — if she adopts the religion she’s spent a lifetime fighting. She must leave her homeland and the promises of her past. In the wild land of Canada, Isabelle finds that her search for love and faith has just begun.

Based on the incredible true story of the French orphans who settled Canada, Daughter of the King is a sweeping tale of one young woman’s fight for true freedom. Kerry Chaput brings the past to life, expertly weaving a gripping saga with vivid historical details. Jump back in time on a thrilling adventure with an unforgettable heroine.

Trigger Warnings:

Violence, sexual assault

Review:

An immensely intense read of a time when people were persecuted for merely worshipping the wrong way, Daughter of the King follows courageous Isabelle from the streets of France during the reign of the Sun King, to the new territories of Canada where she seeks to find her own path. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I am eagerly awaiting the next installment to follow Isabelle’s journey as she takes back her sense of self. Well-worth the read for historical fiction fans!

Buy Links:

Read for free with #KindleUnlimited subscription.

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/3nE9ze

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09CJNJX1K

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CJNJX1K

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09CJNJX1K

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09CJNJX1K

About the Author:

Born in California wine country, Kerry Chaput began writing shortly after earning her Doctorate degree. Her love of storytelling began with a food blog and developed over the years to writing historical fiction novels. Raised by a teacher of US history, she has always been fascinated by tales from our past and is forever intrigued by the untold stories of brave women. She lives in beautiful Bend, Oregon with her husband, two daughters, and two rescue pups. She can often be found on hiking trails or in coffee shops.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://kerrywrites.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chaputkerry

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

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kerry-chaput

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kerry-Chaput/e/B08123S61Z

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19751692.Kerry_Chaput