Apollo's Raven: September 2023

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Book Review The Traitor Beside Her Mary Anna Evans #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalMystery #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @maryannaevans @cathiedunn

FEATURED AUTHOR: MARY ANNA EVANS

It is my pleasure to introduce Mary Anna Evans as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour that is being held between August 2nd — October 4th, 2023. Mary Anna Evans is the author of the Historical Mystery novel, The Traitor Beside Her (The Justine Byrne Historical Mysteries), released by Sourcebooks on June 6, 2023 (346 pages).

Below are highlights of The Traitor Beside Her, Mary Anna Evans' author bio, and my review of her novel.

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/06/blog-tour-traitor-beside-her.html

HIGHLIGHTS: THE TRAITOR BESIDE HER

The Traitor Beside Her

(The Justine Byrne Historical Mysteries)

By Mary Anna Evans

Audiobook narrated by Kimberly M. Wetherell

Blurb:

"Evans's characters are vividly drawn, elevating this story and its revelations about women's little-celebrated contributions to the war effort."— Washington Post

"An exciting read with historical tidbits, a hint of danger, and a touch of romance."— Kirkus Reviews

The Traitor Beside Her is an intricately plotted WWII espionage novel weaving together mystery, action, friendship, and a hint of romance perfect for fans of The Rose Code and Code Name Helene.

Justine Byrne can't trust the people working beside her. Arlington Hall, a former women's college in Virginia has been taken over by the United States Army where hundreds of men and women work to decode countless pieces of communication coming from the Axis powers.

Justine works among them, handling the most sensitive secrets of World War II—but she isn't there to decipher German codes—she's there to find a traitor.

Justine keeps her guard up and her ears open, confiding only in her best friend, Georgette, a fluent speaker of Choctaw who is training to work as a code talker. Justine tries to befriend each suspect, believing that the key to finding the spy lies not in cryptography but in understanding how code breakers tick. When young women begin to go missing at Arlington Hall, her deadline for unraveling the web of secrets becomes urgent and one thing remains clear: a single secret in enemy hands could end thousands of lives.

"A fascinating and intelligent WWII home front story." —Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author for The Physicists' Daughter

Buy Links:

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/4XwxG1

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Traitor-Beside-Her-Novel/dp/1464215588

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGYPLMTH

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Traitor-Beside-Her-Novel/dp/1464215588

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Traitor-Beside-Her-Novel-ebook/dp/B0BGYPLMTH

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-traitor-beside-her-mary-anna-evans/1143344440

Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-traitor-beside-her/mary-anna-evans/9781464215582

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-traitor-beside-her

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-traitor-beside-her-mary-anna-evans/18743820

Audio Buy Links:

Audiobooks.com: https://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/672506/

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Traitor-Beside-Her-Audiobook/B0BVDLCL7J

AUTHOR BIO: MARY ANNA EVANS

Mary Anna Evans is an award-winning author, a writing professor, and she holds degrees in physics and engineering, a background that, as it turns out, is ideal for writing her Justine Byrne series, which began with The Physicists’ Daughter and continues with her new book, The Traitor Beside Her. She describes Justine as “a little bit Rosie-the-Riveter and a little bit Bletchley Park codebreaker.”

Mary Anna’s crime fiction has earned recognition that includes two Oklahoma Book Awards, the Will Rogers Medallion Awards Gold Medal, and the Benjamin Franklin Award, and she co-edited the Edgar-nominated Bloomsbury Handbook to Agatha Christie.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.maryannaevans.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/maryannaevans

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-anna-evans-a7642810/

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

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mary-anna-evans

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mary-Anna-Evans/author/B001JP9ZY2

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12395.Mary_Anna_Evans

BOOK REVIEW: THE TRAITOR BESIDE HER

The USA's secret program of cryptoanalysis in Virginia toward the end of WWII is explored in The Traitor Beside Her by Mary Anna Evans. A physicist's daughter, Justine Byrne plays a dangerous game of espionage. On the surface, she has been recruited to decode communication from various Axis powers as Allied forces advance on the front lines toward Germany. However, her primary objective is to find the traitor among the brilliant decoders at Arlington Hall who are deciphering German codes that could steer the course of the war. She cannot trust anyone as she investigates who could be the potential spy. One woman on site has already been killed and others have gone missing. The suspense builds as she hones on potential suspects, risking her life.

Mary Anna Evans has written a unique, smoothly-written novel with elements of suspense, romance, and friendship. The story offers the unique perspective of a young, somewhat naive woman thrust into the midst of espionage with minimal training. The story is told primarily from Justine's perspective, but other points of view are used to move the story forward. Justine can only confide in Georgette, her best friend and fluent speaker of Choctaw, who is suddenly brought into the mission. Nora is another intriguing, eccentric character who can see the colors of the music she composes and plays.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the novel is to learn about the secret decoding processes that could impact the war as much as the military forces on the battlefield. Each suspect has an interesting backstory that could explain why he or she chooses to betray his/her country. However, the pacing sometimes slows down when the story delves into romance and everyday conversations of women living at Arlington Hall.

Readers who enjoy learning more about covert operations that supported the behind-the-scenes war effort of Allies during WWII should enjoy reading The Traitor Beside Her, told from the perspective of a precocious, young woman thrown into the jaws of espionage.

Instagram Handle: @thecoffeepotbookclub
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Monday, September 4, 2023

Catherine Kullmann The Husband Criteria #RegencyRomance #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub@CKullmmannauthor @cathiedunn

FEATURED AUTHOR: CATHERINE KULLMANN

I am pleased to introduce Catherine Kullmann as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour held between August 29th – September 19th, 2023. Catherine Kullmann is the author of the Regency Romance, The Husband Criteria (The Lorings, Book #3), published by Willow Books on 24th August 2023 (297 pages).

Below are highlights of The Husband Criteria, Catherine Kullmann's author bio, and an excerpt from her book.

Tour Schedule Link: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/07/blog-tour-husband-criteria-by-catherine-kullmann.html

HIGHLIGHTS: THE HUSBAND CRITERIA

The Husband Criteria

(The Lorings, Book #3)

By Catherine Kullmann

(Blurb)

London 1817

The primary aim of every young lady embarking on the Spring frenzy that is the Season must be to make a good match. Or must it? And what is a good match? For cousins Cynthia, Chloe and Ann, well aware that the society preux chevalier may prove to be a domestic tyrant, these are vital questions. How can they discover their suitors’ true character when all their encounters must be confined to the highly ritualised round of balls, parties and drives in the park?

As they define and refine their Husband Criteria, Cynthia finds herself unwillingly attracted to aloof Rafe Marfield, heir to an earldom, while Chloe is pleased to find that Thomas Musgrave, the vicar’s son from home, is also in London. And Ann must decide what is more important to her, music or marriage.

And what of the gentlemen who consider the marriage mart to be their hunting grounds? How will they react if they realise how rigorously they are being assessed?

A light-hearted, entertaining look behind the scenes of a Season that takes a different course with unexpected consequences for all concerned.

Buy Links:

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

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CBKZCBVX

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBKZCBVX

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CBKZCBVX

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CBKZCBVX

AUTHOR BIO: CATHERINE KULLMANN

Catherine Kullmann was born and educated in Dublin. Following a three-year courtship conducted mostly by letter, she moved to Germany where she lived for twenty-five years before returning to Ireland. She has worked in the Irish and New Zealand public services and in the private sector. Widowed, she has three adult sons and two grandchildren.

Catherine has always been interested in the extended Regency period, a time when the foundations of our modern world were laid. She loves writing and is particularly interested in what happens after the first happy end—how life goes on for the protagonists and sometimes catches up with them. Her books are set against a background of the offstage, Napoleonic wars and consider in particular the situation of women trapped in a patriarchal society.

She is the author of The Murmur of Masks, Perception & Illusion, A Suggestion of Scandal, The Duke’s Regret, The Potential for Love, A Comfortable Alliance, and Lady Loring’s Dilemma.

Catherine also blogs about historical facts and trivia related to this era. You can find out more about her books and read her blog (My Scrap Album) at her website. You can contact her via her Facebook page or on Twitter.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.catherinekullmann.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CKullmannAuthor

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

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/catherine-kullmann

Amazon Author Page: http://viewauthor.at/ckullmannamazonpage

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15549457.Catherine_Kullmann

EXCERPT: THE HUSBAND CRITERIA

Chapter Eleven

Cynthia had been intent on their discussion but now she saw that they were being subjected a great deal of covert glances from the assembled ton. She smiled at Chloe who sat in the barouche-landau with Rosa opposite old Lady Loring and Lord Swanmere. They had drawn up beside another carriage containing another old lady and Lady Benton. Chloe said something and all heads turned towards Marfield’s curricle. The lady beside Lady Benton beckoned imperiously.

Marfield groaned. “My grandmother, the dowager Marchioness of Martinborough. She who will not be gainsaid. I cannot pull up beside them; would you object to our drawing in here at the side and walking the few steps back to them? Tom will stay with the horses.”

“No, of course not.” In fact, Cynthia would have preferred not to be presented in such a public manner, but she could not refuse. She sat quietly, admiring the skill with which he eased his equipage into what seemed a very tight space indeed. He jumped down and came round to assist her alight, then offered her his arm and led her through a gap in the rails that separated the lawn from the carriages and horses jostling on the ride.

“You know my mother, of course,” he said as they walked back to the Martinborough carriage.

“I have had the pleasure of meeting Lady Benton several times,” Cynthia agreed. She was relieved to see that the Swanmere carriage had moved on.

Marfield stopped beside the barouche and bowed. “Good day, Grandmother, Mother. Grandmother, may I have the honour of presenting Miss Glazebrook?”

“Good day, my ladies.” Cynthia sketched a curtsey—anything more would be too extravagant here in the Park.

“Of course I know Miss Glazebrook,” Lady Benton said with a friendly smile. “I am happy to see you again, my dear.”

Her mother inclined her head a scant inch. She must be at least as old as Great-Grandmamma, Cynthia thought, noting the dowager’s sharp eyes and wrinkled face surmounted by a pile of carefully arranged silver curls protected by a green silk calash bonnet lined with pale pink and tied with green and pink ribbons. She clutched an ornate lorgnette, which was aimed balefully at the newcomers.

“Don’t just stand there, giving me a crick in my neck,” she snapped, gesturing to the seat opposite her. “Sit down. You too, Marfield.”

Cynthia felt rather than heard him sigh.

“Just for five minutes,” he said as he handed her up. “I cannot keep the horses standing for longer than that.”

“You gentlemen—your horses are always more important to you than anyone else. Why have you not called on me?”

“I was not aware that you were in town, ma’am. When did you come up?”

“Yesterday,” the dowager retorted.

Cynthia bit her lip to repress her smile.

Lady Martinborough turned her magnified gaze on Cynthia. “Glazebrook. Are you related to the Nabob Glazebrook?”

“He is my grandfather, ma’am.”

“Hmm. And your mother? Who are her people?”

“She was Miss Raven.”

“Raven? Ransford’s daughter.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The dowager snorted but before she could say anymore, Marfield intervened. “Enough, Grandmother. You will put me to the blush if you subject Miss Glazebrook to any further inquisition.”

“It would take more than that to put you to the blush, you scapegrace. Don’t you agree, Miss Glazebrook?”

“Now how am I to answer that?” Cynthia said. “Reluctant as I must be to contradict a lady of such advanced years and standing, you cannot expect me to agree with your characterisation of your grandson; I have always found him most gentleman-like.”

“Well said, Miss Glazebrook,” Lady Benton said. “I should like to talk more, but we mustn’t keep the horses standing any longer.” She held her hand out to Cynthia. “Goodbye, my dear. Pray come and call on me.”

Cynthia touched the proffered fingers. “Thank you, ma’am.”

Marfield rose. “We’ll take our leave of you, ladies.” He hopped down and held his hand out to Cynthia.

She placed hers in it, made a half-bow and with a polite “My ladies”, gratefully stepped down onto the lawn.

Another bow and a wave, and they were able to depart.

“Ooof!” Marfield let out a long breath. “I am so sorry; I had no idea she would go for you like that.”

“I was beginning to wonder would she demand to see my teeth and run a hand down my calf,” Cynthia said.

“You handled her very well. I liked your reference to her advanced years and standing. She couldn’t really take umbrage at being called old in that manner.”

“Thank you for drawing her fire. Still, there is one thing we may be grateful for.”

“And that is?”

“You saw the carriage that was drawn up beside hers earlier? Lady Swan-Loring and Miss Loring were in it.”

“Yes?”

“The old lady sitting opposite them was my great-grandmother, Lady Loring. Just imagine if they were still there when we reached your grandmother.”

“Good heavens! It would have been lorgnettes at dawn, you think?”

“It is very likely.”

© Catherine Kullmann 2023

Instagram Handle: @thecoffeepotbookclub

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