BOOK SPOTLIGHT: THE WINDS OF CHANGE

I am pleased to spotlight the book The Winds of Changes by Joan Fallon in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour held today, October 27th, 2023. The Winds of Change is a historical fiction / 20th century that was independently published by the author on September 30th, 2023 (322 pages).

Below are highlights of The Winds of Changes and Joan Fallon's author bio.

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/09/blog-tour-winds-of-change-by-joan-fallon.html

HIGHLIGHTS: THE WINDS OF CHANGE

The Winds of Change

by Joan Fallon

Blurb:

The Winds of Change is a story of love, loyalty, and betrayal on the eve of the Spanish Civil War, when the country is political turmoil with strikes and demonstrations, unemployment is high and the people are starving.

In this complicated love triangle we meet Ramon, a member of the Republican Left, who has accidentally killed a policeman and is on the run from the Guardia Civil and Hugo, the son of the wealthy owner of a local sherry bodega. Both men are in love with Clementina, the beautiful daughter of a well-known gypsy horse trader but there are obstacles in both their paths.

Hugo finds that when he tries to see Clementina again, both his parents and hers do everything they can to stop him.

Meanwhile Ramon's brother, Pedro, is arrested and imprisoned because he will not reveal his brother's whereabouts to the Guardia Civil. Now Ramon has to choose between his brother and the woman he loves.

This fast-moving historical novel is a story of love, politics, class prejudice, intrigue, and betrayal in the year leading up to the Spanish Civil War.

Buy Links:

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Link:  https://books2read.com/u/bzB2oL  

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/WINDS-CHANGE-loyalty-betrayal-Spanish-ebook/dp/B0CHJW5DN9  

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/WINDS-CHANGE-loyalty-betrayal-Spanish-ebook/dp/B0CHJW5DN9

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/WINDS-CHANGE-loyalty-betrayal-Spanish-ebook/dp/B0CHJW5DN9

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/WINDS-CHANGE-loyalty-betrayal-Spanish-ebook/dp/B0CHJW5DN9

AUTHOR BIO: JOAN FALLON

 

Teacher, management trainer and business woman, the Scottish-born novelist, Joan Fallon moved from the UK to Spain in 1998 and dedicated herself to full-time writing. She is now the self-published author of eighteen books, many of which are historical novels set in southern Spain, and focus on two distinct periods in the country’s history, the Spanish Civil War and Moorish Spain.

More recently she had turned her attention to writing contemporary crime fiction, with a series of novels entitled The Jacaranda Dunne Mysteries but her love of historical fiction has lured her back to writing about Spain in the 20th century in her latest novel The Winds of Change.

Author Links:

Website: https://joanfallon.co.uk/

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-fallon-3b097144/

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

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Joan-Fallon/author/B003B09VWY

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6440514.Joan_Fallon

 

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FEATURED AUTHOR: R J LLOYD

I’m delighted to welcome R J Lloyd as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour held between October 9th – 20th, 2023. R J Lloyd is the author of the Historical Fiction Burning Secret, published by Matador on May 24th, 2022 (384 pages).

Below are highlights of Burning Secet,  R J Loyd's author bio, and an excerpt from his book.

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/09/blog-tour-burning-secret-by-r-j-lloyd.html

HIGHLIGHTS: BURNING SECRET

 

Burning Secret

by R J Lloyd

(Blurb)

Inspired by actual events, Burning Secret is a dramatic and compelling tale of ambition, lies and betrayal.

Born in the slums of Bristol in 1844, Enoch Price seems destined for a life of poverty and hardship-but he’s determined not to accept his lot.

Enoch becomes a bare-knuckle fighter in London’s criminal underworld. But in a city where there’s no place for honest dealing, a cruel loan shark cheats him, leaving Enoch penniless and facing imprisonment.

Undaunted, he escapes to a new life in America and embarks on a series of audacious exploits. But even as he helps shape history, Enoch is not content. Tormented by his past and the life he left behind, Enoch soon becomes entangled in a web of lies and secrets.

Will he ever break free and find the happiness he craves?

Influenced by real people and events, Enoch’s remarkable story is one of adventure, daring, political power, deceit and, in the end, the search for redemption and forgiveness.

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/brBBOZ

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Burning-Secret-R-J-Lloyd-ebook/dp/B0B21XJM3Q/

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Burning-Secret-R-J-Lloyd-ebook/dp/B0B21XJM3Q/

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Burning-Secret-R-J-Lloyd-ebook/dp/B0B21XJM3Q/

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Burning-Secret-R-J-Lloyd-ebook/dp/B0B21XJM3Q/

AUTHOR BIO: R J LLOYD

 

After retiring as a senior police officer, R J Lloyd turned his detective skills to genealogy, tracing his family history to the 16th century. However, after 15 years of extensive research, he couldn’t track down his great-great-grandfather, Enoch Price, whose wife, Eliza, had, in living memory, helped raise his mother.

It was his cousin Gillian who, after several more dead-ends, called one day to say that she had found him through a fluke encounter. Susan Sperry from California, who had recently retired, decided to explore the box of documents given to her thirty years before by her mother, which she had never opened. In the box, she found some references to her great grandfather, Harry Mason, a wealthy hotel owner from Florida who had died in 1919. It soon transpired that Susan’s great grandfather, Harry Mason, was, in fact, Enoch Price.

From this single thread, the extraordinary story of Harry Mason began to unravel, leading R J Lloyd to visit the States to meet his newly discovered American cousins, and it was Susan Sperry and Kimberly Mason, direct descendants, who persuaded R J Lloyd to write the extraordinary story of their ancestor.

R J Lloyd graduated from the University of Warwick with a degree in Philosophy and Psychology and a Masters in Marketing from UWE. Since leaving a thirty-year career in policing, he’s been a non-executive director with the NHS, social housing, and other charities. He lives with his wife in Bristol, spending his time travelling, writing and producing delicious plum jam from the trees on his award-winning allotment.

Author Links:

Website: www.lloydfamilyhistory.co.uk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rjlwriteruk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roger.lloyd.948

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

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.co.uk/R-J-Lloyd/e/B0B4KHGHXZ

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61333266-burning-secret  

EXCERPT: BURNING SECRET

 

Dawn revealed London’s skyline of steeples and majestic rooftops. A dusting of snow had fallen silently during the early hours.

Enoch stirred himself. Stretching, he tried to rid his bones of the stiffness that had set in overnight. He had spent the last few hours unobserved in a dark alcove secluded in the corner of the inn. He hadn’t slept but felt rested all the same.

The bar, empty of its conviviality and devoid of its usual inhabitants, echoed every sound, and as the building cooled, its ancient timbers creaked and twisted eerily. The room was airless and fetid with the sour odours of stale ale, cheap tobacco and spent adrenalin. Detritus from the night’s event was randomly scattered: broken bottles, food- smeared plates, a discarded top hat, a muddy right boot perched precariously on a chair. For reasons that may never be known, a torn lady’s undergarment hung from a hook on the wall, and a bull terrier, bitten and bloodied from baiting, lay dead near the locked side door.

A small grey mouse in search of morsels scuttled from one hiding place to another. Two vagrants, who had secreted themselves about the premises before the tavern was bolted shut, searched the tables, swilling back stale dregs from half-empty tankards while keeping a sharp eye for lost coins and other flotsam dropped by careless owners. Having had their fill, they settled near the dying embers of the log fire to sleep off their pickings.

Whiling away the hours before first light, Enoch reflected on the evening’s prizefight. It had been a rare spectacle. Crowds had gathered early and thronged the dimly lit alley where the fighters would punish each other until exhausted. The thrill and excitement of the promised aggression infected the commotion, whipping up a bellowing force of roaring hysteria.

It began on the stroke of midnight to a tumultuous cry, which could be heard as far as Charing Cross. Each fighter, half-naked and glistening with sweat and oil, began slowly, testing each other, eager to avoid the embarrassment of a schoolboy error and the humiliation of an early knockdown. They chasséd around each other, mimicking the elaborate courtship of exotic birds. But once the first stinging, bare- knuckle jabs found their mark, the battle was joined in earnest. Spectators, inflamed by the smell of blood and the pitiless violence, bayed like a pack of hounds.

Conor tore into his opponent, clawing, butting and splattering blood with callous savagery. The younger lad retaliated with equal brutality, viciously hitting low and repeatedly battering Conor’s ribs with such force the crack of a bone was heard above the howling mob. Wounded and gasping for wind, Conor slowed and stepped away.

A man in the garb of a market porter, in danger of losing more than he could afford on the defeat of his favoured boy, broke free from the crowd and crashed headlong between the contestants. A gang of roughs, slashing and stabbing with blades, quickly extinguished the foolhardy intervention, a desperate attempt to give his champion time to recover, but the purpose was served, provoking an outbreak of angry scuffles and a free-for-all amongst opposing supporters.

During the melee, Conor’s midriff was tightly bound and, regaining his composure, combat resumed. The younger boy, sensing he had weakened his adversary, launched a remorseless, pounding onslaught. Conor withstood the withering assault, replying with crashing hammer blows about the boy’s head, opening a gash across an already swollen and lacerated cheekbone.

In desperation, his opponent thrust and gouged a thumb into Conor’s eye and, in the torturous grapple, bit and ripped half Conor’s ear from his head. Spitting it out, he again lunged forwards, butting his head with destructive force into Conor’s nose, splitting it asunder and spraying blood and snot over those in proximity.

Enoch had watched as Conor faltered and, deliberately lowering his guard, opened his defence. This was the cue. Conor was beaten to his knees where, without pity, the boy kicked and stamped him to the ground with feral cruelty.

The alley reeked of the sordid stench of sweat, gore and vomit. This was the attraction and entertainment enjoyed by street urchin, navvy and aristocrat alike. It was what they’d come to witness. Conor took a bloody beating, but he was a good lad and had done his work well, in the end, going down convincingly. Enoch consoled himself with the thought that Conor was young and would soon heal, returning a few months later when, with malice, he would take his revenge.

 

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FEATURED AUTHOR: SUSANNAH WILLEY

I’m pleased to welcome Susannah Willey as the featured author to The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour held between October 16th - 20th, 2023. Susannah Willey is the author of the Historical Fiction / World War II novel, War Sonnets, published by Utter Loonacy Press on  July 5th, 2023 (364 pages).

Below are highlights of War Sonnets,  Susannah Willey's author bio, and an excerpt from her book.

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/09/blog-tour-war-sonnets-by-susannah-willey.html

 

HIGHLIGHTS: WAR SONNETS

 

War Sonnets

By Susannah Willey

Blurb:

1942

In the war-torn jungles of Luzon, two soldiers scout the landscape. Under ordinary circumstances they might be friends, but in the hostile environment of World War II, they are mortal enemies.

Leal Baldwin, a US Army sergeant, writes sonnets. His sights are set on serving his country honorably and returning home in one piece. But the enemy is not always Japanese…Dooley wants Leo’s job, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get it…Leo finds himself fighting for his reputation and freedom.

Lieutenant Tadashi Abukara prefers haiku. He has vowed to serve his emperor honorably, but finds himself fighting a losing battle. Through combat, starvation, and the threat of cannibalism, Tadashi’s only thought is of survival and return to his beloved wife and son. As Leo and Tadashi discover the humanity of the other side and the questionable moral acts committed by their own, they begin to ask themselves why they are here at all. When they at last meet in the jungles of Luzon, only one will survive, but their poetry will live forever.

Buy Links:

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/47dpEa

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Sonnets-Susannah-Willey-ebook/dp/B0C2LNSQ33

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/War-Sonnets-Susannah-Willey-ebook/dp/B0C2LNSQ33

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/War-Sonnets-Susannah-Willey-ebook/dp/B0C2LNSQ33

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/War-Sonnets-Susannah-Willey-ebook/dp/B0C2LNSQ33

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/war-sonnets-susannah-willey/1143404643?ean=9798988222002

AUTHOR BIO: SUSANNAH WILLEY

 

 

Susannah Willey is a baby boomer, mother of four, grandmother of three, and a recovering nerd. To facilitate her healing, she writes novels. In past lives, she has been an office assistant, stay-at-home-mom, Special Education Teaching Assistant, School Technology Coordinator, and Emergency Medical Technician. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Instructional Computing from S.U.N.Y. Empire State College, and a Master’s Degree in Instructional Design from Boise State University.

Susannah grew up in the New York boondocks and currently lives in Central New York with her companion, Charlie, their dogs, Magenta and Georgie, and Jelly Bean the cat.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.utterloonacy.com  

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

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/bbittel71/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@susannahwilley

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Susannah-Willey/author/B0C349ZF1V

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/32210037.Susannah_Willey

Alliance of Independent Authors: https://www.allianceindependentauthors.org/members/susannah-willey/author-profile

Historical Fiction Company: https://www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/authors/susannah-willey

EXCERPT: WAR SONNETS

 

CHAPTER 44

NEAR ANTIPOLO, LUZON—JUNE 1945

“You wanted to see me, sir?” Leo stood at attention as he addressed Captain Mickelson. The summons had come after a long night of recon patrol. He was hot and dirty, and all he wanted was a little sleep.

“I did, Sergeant.” The captain set aside the papers he’d been reading. “At ease.” He gestured toward the empty chair and waited for Leo to sit. “We’ve got a problem.”

“Sir?” Leo searched his brain. Had he made a misstep somewhere? Did this have something to do with Ryan’s sudden interest in Dooley?

“There’s been a complaint.” Mickelson lifted the paper in front of him. “Someone thinks you’re putting your soldiers in harm’s way unnecessarily.”

Leo’s eyes widened. He opened his mouth to speak.

But Mickelson raised a hand to stop him. “The formal charge would be reckless endangerment.”

A wave of cold electricity spread through Leo’s body. According to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, that could mean a dishonorable discharge, maybe even confinement. Could he be subject to criminal charges? He trembled slightly as the adrenaline diffused. He clasped his hands together to steady them and took a slow, deep breath.

“May I ask who filed the complaint?” It had to be Dooley—didn’t it? Leo ran through the names of his men, trying to remember any beefs they might have. He came up blank. He couldn’t imagine any of them not coming to him first.

Could it have been someone outside of his squad? Possibly, Leo thought, but who? And why?

“All I can say at this time is it’s one of your men.” Mickelson closed the folder and set it aside. “This will be an Article 15 investigation for now. I’ll be the one to decide if the charges are legitimate. If our findings support the claim, a court-martial under Article 114 may be in order.”

Leo’s mind was reeling. An Article 15 was meant for a minor offense and usually resulted in not much more than a slap on the wrist. At worst, he might be demoted or lose pay. What bothered him most was the stain it would bring to his service record, but it was better than going to jail. Still, if he should have done something more to prevent Richards’s death, he deserved to be punished.

“This meeting is simply to inform you of the complaint,” Mickelson said. “For the time being, you’ll remain in command. This is still a war zone, and we can’t afford to take anyone off duty. Lieutenant Ryan and I will look into this matter further and advise you when we’ve reached a decision.”

Leo felt as if he should say something, but what? That Dooley was out to get him? Should he tell the captain he thought Richards’s death might be his fault? Would that be considered an admission of guilt that would bring criminal charges? Maybe the best thing was to say nothing.

“Do you have any questions, Sergeant?” Mickelson asked.

“No, sir.” Leo shifted nervously in his chair. He so wanted to tell the captain how he really felt, but he knew that now was not the right time.

“You’re dismissed.”

Leo stood and saluted, waited for Mickelson to return the salute, then turned and left the tent. He might not be able to say much to the captain, but he sure as heck had words for Dooley.

X X X

“What the heck are you up to, Dooley?” Leo stormed into Dooley’s tent, his fists clenched, his eyes ablaze.

Dooley looked up from his cot. “Whaddaya mean, buddy?”

“That’s Sergeant Baldwin to you,” Leo growled. He struggled to control the shaking in his body, to contain the anger and feeling of betrayal.

“Okay, Sergeant Baldwin.” He waved his hand dismissively. “What’s the problem?”

What’s the problem? Could Dooley seriously think Leo didn’t know? He desperately wanted to grab him by the shirt, throw him up against the tent, and beat the tar out of him. Instead, he took a deep breath and forced the tension from his voice.

“You filed a complaint, didn’t you?”

“What complaint?” he said, feigning innocence. Dooley suppressed a smirk.

Unbelievable. Leo pushed down his anger. “You know damn well,” he said. “Nobody else would have done it.”

“Maybe nobody else had the balls to do it.” Dooley didn’t try to hide the triumphant grin. “Course Richards ain’t got balls at all anymore, does he?”

Leo lunged at Dooley. “So, you are the one who complained.”

“Cool it, man,” Dooley leaned back and held his hands up. “I never said I filed any complaint. But I am sayin’ I ain’t surprised.” He crossed his arms. “That was a pretty bone-headed thing you did with Richards. You coulda got us all killed just ’cause you didn’t want to get rid of your little buddy.”

“He wasn’t my little buddy.” Oh, how he wanted to punch that smirk off Dooley’s face. “He was a kid in trouble, and I did what I thought was right.”

Dooley raised an eyebrow. “Like you did with your pal Furness?”

Leo took a step back. “You’d better stay out of my way, Nelson.”

He stormed out of the tent, picked up a rock, and threw it as far as he could, wishing it was Dooley.

Dooley waited until Leo was out of earshot. “It’s a little too late for that, buddy.”

 

 

Instagram Handle: @thecoffeepotbookclub
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Annual Author Autumn Tea

You are invited …

It’s the annual Author Autumn Tea, where I and several Colorado Authors will do a “show and tell,” offering their wonderful books on a perfect afternoon surrounded by cool people and delectable food. Judith Briles will host the gathering at the Denver Woman’s Press Club at 1325 Logan St, Denver CO.

And it’s FREE. The catch: you need to RSVP … and you can bring friends. The Holidays are coming … select the perfect gift and have it personalized—we will have books for everyone … PLUS books are the ideal gift—think kids, and your friends … how about YOU? And we will have free, new books to give away.

 

Here’s what’s happening …

When: SATURDAY, October 14th   

Time:  1 – 4 pm

Where: Denver Woman’s Press Club

             1325 Logan St, Denver CO  80203

***Parking is available in the lot next to the Clubhouse and on the street

The October Treat: Local Colorado authors will share with you about their books and who they are in 30 seconds each. All books will be displayed on tables for your perusal. Get them signed and talk with the authors.

Books are IDEAL gifts … for yourself, for others. All will be priced at less than what you can buy them on Amazon. Authors will be signing—some books even come with ribbons! We have books for guys, gals, and kids! Plus, tables are laden with tasty goodies. YUMMERS!

CLICK RSVP TO REGISTER … it’s a FREEBIE and a perfect way to spend a few hours on a Saturday afternoon as the Holidays are quickly approaching. Invite your friends to come as well—the more, the merrier! We want to make sure that we have plenty of food.

https://thebookshepherd.com/annual-author-tea-oct-in-denver/
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BOOK SPOTLIGHT: DRUMBEATS

I am pleased to spotlight the book Drumbeats (The Drumbeats Trilogy, Book #1) by Julia Ibbotson in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour held between October 9th - 13th, 2023. Drumbeats is a Romance / Historical Mystery (20th Century) re-published by Archbury Books on June 21st, 2023 (230 pages).

Below are highlights of Drumbeats and Julia Ibbotson's author bio.

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/08/blog-tour-drumbeats-by-julia-ibbotson.html

HIGHLIGHTS: DRUMBEATS

 

Drumbeats

(The Drumbeats Trilogy, Book #1)

by Julia Ibbotson

Blurb:

It’s 1965, and 18 year old Jess escapes her stifling English home for a gap year in Ghana, West Africa. But it’s a time of political turbulence across the region. Fighting to keep her young love who waits back in England, she’s thrown into the physical and emotional dangers of civil war, tragedy and the conflict of a disturbing new relationship. And why do the drumbeats haunt her dreams?

This is a rite of passage story which takes the reader hand in hand with Jess on her journey towards the complexities and mysteries of a disconcerting adult world.

This is the first novel in the acclaimed Drumbeats trilogy: Drumbeats, Walking in the Rain, Finding Jess.

For fans of Dinah Jefferies, Kate Morton, Rachel Hore, Jenny Ashcroft

Buy Links:

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Link

Amazon UK     Amazon US     Amazon CA     Amazon AU

AUTHOR BIO: JULIA IBBOTSON

 

Award-winning author Julia Ibbotson herself spent an exciting time in Ghana, West Africa, teaching and nursing (like Jess in her books), and always vowed to write about the country and its past. And so, the Drumbeats Trilogy was born. She’s also fascinated by history, especially by the medieval world, and concepts of time travel, and has written haunting time-slips of romance and mystery partly set in the Anglo-Saxon period.

She studied English at Keele University, England, specialising in medieval language, literature and history, and has a PhD in linguistics. She wrote her first novel at age 10, but became a school teacher, then university lecturer and researcher. Her love of writing never left her and to date she’s written 9 books, with a 10th on the way.

Julia is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association, Society of Authors, and the Historical Novel Society.

Author Links:

Website: https://juliaibbotsonauthor.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuliaIbbotson

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

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dr-julia-ibbotson-62a5401a

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julia.ibbotson/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.co.uk/juliai1

Amazon Author Page: https://Author.to/JuliaIbbotsonauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/juliaibbotson

 

 

Instagram Handle: @thecoffeepotbookclub
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James Gault King’s Warrior #HistoricalFiction #AngloSaxon #medieval #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @ozjimg @cathiedunn

FEATURED AUTHOR: JAMES GAULT

Tour Schedule Page:  https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/08/blog-tour-kings-warrior-by-james-gault.html

HIGHLIGHTS: KING'S WARRIOR

 

By James Gault

Treachery abounds as he tries to juggle multiple roles and prove himself and his men worthy warriors for the Norman king. But will his lust for a woman finally prove his undoing?

Happiness, fear, disgust, anger, pride and jealousy all play their part in Owerd’s character but what comes to the fore is courage, with perhaps a helping hand from fate – “wyrd” if you will.

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/4A27gp

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0CC5VH6BM

Author Links:

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

‘I could use a man like you in York, Owerd’, he mentioned at one stage. ‘These northern Englisc are an independent and irascible breed and need a firm hand such as yours on occasion. Let us hope the Scots, though not dissimilar, see the wisdom of the peaceful outcome our own king wishes from this confrontation we ride towards. Even so, I trust them not’.

‘I am’, Owerd responded honestly. ‘I saw them a little while back; perhaps a dozen riders keeping pace just to the west of us. It is to be expected; we are entering the heartland of the Scots and we might have more concern had we seen no-one monitoring our progress. Keep the men calm but alert please Cuthbert’.

Within an hour of being back in the saddle, one of the scouts returned to seek directions. They had come across a river with no obvious crossing and wished to know which way to search.

‘Have the men stay mounted, Cuthbert. If we are forced to fight then we go south with the lances to the fore’. Owerd turned to the archbishop. ‘Your excellency’, he began formally, ‘I beg you allow me to make the first approach’. A nod was all the response necessary.

Owerd held his breath and the Scot seemed to be doing the same for it was some moments before he spoke.

‘Your excellency, we are to be escorted north to King Malcolm who is apparently expecting us. We may take one other’.

Neel nodded and the threesome crossed the river.



 

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FEATURED AUTHOR: JAMES GAULT

I’m pleased to welcome the featured author, James Gault, to The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour that is being held between September 26th  – October 17th, 2023. James Gault is the author of the Historical Fiction, King’s Warrior (The Owerd Chronicles, Book #3),  Greyson Hall (British Agents Series, Book #4), independently published by the author on July 18th, 2023 (294 pages).

Below are highlights of King’s Warrior,  James Gault's author bio, and an excerpt from his book.

Tour Schedule Page:  https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/08/blog-tour-kings-warrior-by-james-gault.html

HIGHLIGHTS: KING'S WARRIOR

 

King’s Warrior

(The Owerd Chronicles, Book 3)

By James Gault

Blurb:

In 11th Century England, King William has achieved almost total domination of the Englisc and turns his attention to Scotland. Owerd, possibly the last of the Britons to be deemed ‘lord’, faces powerful enemies from all quarters. He seems to hold the king’s favour by a thread, which only serves to encourage others to try and bring him down.

Treachery abounds as he tries to juggle multiple roles and prove himself and his men worthy warriors for the Norman king. But will his lust for a woman finally prove his undoing?

Note from the author:

11th Century men and women were just as complex beings as we are today. Owerd, the main character in these chronicles is no different. In “King’s Warrior”, the third book of the series, he goes from violence (“…the air was filled with the clash of swords, angry shouts, and screams of the injured”) to compassion (“… Owerd had rarely, if ever, made love as tenderly as he did with Runa that night”) in the space of a day.

Happiness, fear, disgust, anger, pride and jealousy all play their part in Owerd’s character but what comes to the fore is courage, with perhaps a helping hand from fate – “wyrd” if you will.

Buy Links:

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/4A27gp

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CC5VH6BM

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CC5VH6BM

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0CC5VH6BM

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0CC5VH6BM

AUTHOR BIO: JAMES GAULT

 

James is a semi-retired Naval Captain with an abiding interest in storytelling and history. He has written a few contemporary fiction stories and a history text but lately has concentrated on historical fiction. He lives in a small coastal town in SE Australia – which provides quite a challenge when addressing medieval England with the aid of an old-school atlas.

Author Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/@ozjimg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/james.gault.9421/

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

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/jgault

EXCERPT: KING'S WARRIOR

 

Archbishop Thomas’ mount was a magnificent grey almost as tall as Demon, but fortunately a mare or fighting would have been inevitable. A pair of assistants accompanying him, both young monks, rode smaller horses that had the look of sumpters. Regardless, they were all ready to depart at the agreed time and Owerd was pleased to see that Runa, tucked in next to Cadoc as they formed up, looked largely indistinguishable from the other housecarls. The formation broke into a canter as soon as they were clear of the camp and followed a track to the north-east which skirted a range of barren-looking hills.

Once they had overcome the awkwardness of “Your Excellency” and “Lord Owerd” between them, the two leaders settled into an easy relationship. The archbishop was an accomplished rider and made a good conversation as they rode, extolling the wonders of Rome and of his other travels on the continent. He was still smarting over being forced to give up any authority south of the Humber River and having to accept the primacy of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Owerd could not help but detect some animosity Thomas held toward Archbishop Lanfranc, with whom he had once studied in Normandy.

‘I could use a man like you in York, Owerd’, he mentioned at one stage. ‘These northern Englisc are an independent and irascible breed and need a firm hand such as yours on occasion. Let us hope the Scots, though not dissimilar, see the wisdom of the peaceful outcome our own king wishes from this confrontation we ride towards. Even so, I trust them not’.

Owerd could only agree, but held his tongue and determined to keep himself and his men alert. A break for men and horses as the sun reached its zenith saw Cuthbert approach him.

‘I suspect that you will be aware, my lord, that we are being watched’.

‘I am’, Owerd responded honestly. ‘I saw them a little while back; perhaps a dozen riders keeping pace just to the west of us. It is to be expected; we are entering the heartland of the Scots and we might have more concern had we seen no-one monitoring our progress. Keep the men calm but alert please Cuthbert’.

That did serve to remind him of the peaceful intent of their mission and he took out his seax to slice off a small branch of the nearest greenery.

‘I have no inclination to go searching the wilds for a lost olive tree’, he jested to Thomas, ‘this will need suffice’.

Within an hour of being back in the saddle, one of the scouts returned to seek directions. They had come across a river with no obvious crossing and wished to know which way to search.

‘This is not yet the River Tay, I think, Owerd’, advised the archbishop. ‘I suggest we travel a little way east for a while. There must be a crossing nearby for travelers journeying north’.

His judgement was accurate. Less than a quarter hour later as they followed the river east, they came upon an obvious crossing. What made it more obvious than usual was the presence of a large body of soldiers on the opposite side arrayed in a shield wall. There were probably a hundred or more, Owerd saw, mostly on foot and in as broad a range of outfits as the variety of weapons they held. There were broadswords, pikes, axes and other implements but all held firmly and with shields close together. The conroi halted just as Osmont, their rear scout rode up to advise that the group of riders that had been tracking them had formed up to block the track leading south.

‘Have the men stay mounted, Cuthbert. If we are forced to fight then we go south with the lances to the fore’. Owerd turned to the archbishop. ‘Your excellency’, he began formally, ‘I beg you allow me to make the first approach’. A nod was all the response necessary.

Owerd raised his branch high in his left hand to signify a peaceful approach whilst also pushing his helmet more firmly down on his head, easing his sword in its scabbard and riding into the water of what he hoped was a shallow ford. The Scots had left sufficient room for him to urge Demon up a slight bank on to dry ground and he halted a couple of paces in front of a dour heavily bearded man atop a mountain pony that looked too small for him.

‘I am Lord Owerd of the Englisc king’s army. I come in peace escorting his excellency the Archbishop of York who seeks audience with your King Malcolm’.

Owerd held his breath and the Scot seemed to be doing the same for it was some moments before he spoke.

‘Ri Mael Coluim mac Donnchada is expecting you, Owerd of the Englisc’, the man said, or at least that is what Owerd thought he said as he failed to understand the Gaelic. ‘I am Domnall, Mormaer of Fife. You may bring the archbishop and one other a quarter-hour ride north with me. Your men may camp hereabouts but remain on the other side of the river. We may be back soon or away the night’.

Owerd gave a slight bow in acknowledgement and turned Demon to recross the river.

‘Your excellency, we are to be escorted north to King Malcolm who is apparently expecting us. We may take one other’.

‘Good! I need my scribe. Neel’ he called loudly. That caused much confusion in the ranks who thought they were being ordered to kneel. Fortunately, none dismounted and all became clear when one of the archbishop’s monks trotted to the front. Owerd briefed Cuthbert on what was to occur and added a caution both to accept neither food nor drink from the Scots and to ensure that Runa was kept safe and preferably out of sight.

‘Neel, you will accompany Lord Owerd and myself to meet King Malcolm and record all that is pertinent’.

Neel nodded and the threesome crossed the river.

 

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FEATURED AUTHOR: MK MCCLINTOCK

I’m pleased to introduce the featured author, MK McClintock, in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between October 2nd – 6th, 2023. MK McClintock is the author of the Historical Romance Mystery, The Ghost of Greyson Hall (British Agents Series, Book #4), independently published by the author on October 3rd, 2023 (169 pages).

Below are highlights of The Ghost of Greyson Hall,  MK McClintock's author bio, and an excerpt from her book.

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/08/blog-tour-the-ghost-of-greyson-hall.html

HIGHLIGHTS: THE GHOST OF GREYSON HALL

The Ghost of Greyson Hall

(British Agents Series, Book #4)

By MK McClintock

Blurb:

Once a year, an ancient secret walks the corridors of Greyson Hall, a place shrouded in mystery and whispered legend.

When Devon Clayton inherited the stately mansion in England’s wild north from his uncle, he never imagined what secrets lurked within its walls, hidden for centuries. When his friends and brothers join him for the holiday, the British Agents and their families discover that their most unusual case will bring new meaning to Christmas spirit.

They must now unravel a century-old mystery if they are to break the curse and save a love that transcends time.

A long novella set in Northumberland in December 1782 and 1892.

***

Also Available:

Alaina Claiborne

Blackwood Crossing

Clayton's Honor

Note: The British Agent series books are written to be read as stand-alone novels. However, they each have cross-over characters, meaning characters from each book will appear in the others. The only reading order is chronological, but each title can still be read as stand-alone.

Praise for the British Agent Novels Series:

"Ms. McClintock succeeds in masterfully weaving both genres meticulously together until mystery lovers are sold on romance and romance lovers love the mystery!"—InD'Tale Magazine on Alaina Claiborne

"This book was perfectly-paced with mystery, romance, adventure, and so much more. I am definitely recommending that everyone who loves historical fiction in general read this book. I cannot wait to start reading the next book in this series."—Dreams Come True Through Reading on Blackwood Crossing

"MK McClintock has spun an enchanting tale deeply entrenched in the lands of Scotland and England that will leave you riveted to your chair until you turn the last page." —My Life, One Story at a Time on Blackwood Crossing

"Clayton's Honor by MK McClintock is a clean historical romance that will keep your heart beating and your palms sweating. This is definitely a novel that is going on my 'read again' shelf! A really good and smooth read!" —Readers' Favorite 

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Link

Amazon US • Amazon UK • Amazon AU • Amazon CA • Barnes & Noble

AUTHOR BIO: MK MCCLINTOCK

MK McClintock is an award-winning author who writes historical romantic fiction about chivalrous men and strong women who appreciate chivalry. Her stories of romance, mystery, and adventure sweep across the American West to the Victorian British Isles with places and times between and beyond. 

Her works include the following series: Montana Gallaghers, Crooked Creek, British Agents, Whitcomb Springs, and the stand-alone collection, A Home for Christmas. She is also the co-author of the McKenzie Sisters Mysteries.

MK enjoys a quiet life in the northern Rocky Mountains. Visit her online home at www.mkmcclintock.com where you can learn more about her books, explore extras, and subscribe to receive news. 

Author Links:

Website: www.mkmcclintock.com

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

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mkmcclintock/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mk-mcclintock

Mailing List: https://www.mkmcclintock.com/subscribe

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/MK-McClintock/author/B006UV5PPI

EXCERPT: THE GHOST OF GREYSON HALL

 

Candlelight danced near the shadows within while a tempest wailed beyond the stone walls. Flames fluttered, and the subtle scent of beeswax mingled with the rosewater Grace favored after a bath. The white muslin shift clung to her skin across the shoulders where drops of water remained.

She twined the string of pearls she wore at their evening meal, momentarily focused on the gentle clack they made against the vanity’s wooden surface. Dinners were always a formal affair at the insistence of the earl, her husband of two years. Night after night, she dressed in the finest silks, sipped Madeira wine, and listened to her husband turn the plight of the Revolutionary War onto himself, where he suffered for the colonials’ impudence.

“Alexander is returning home. Perhaps as early as Christmas. This letter is dated three months past.”

Grace peered into the dressing-table mirror and watched her husband pace as he read the misplaced letter, delivered into his hands only this evening. “You have missed him.”

“You will like him, my dear. Upon his return, we will host a grand reception here at Greyson Hall.”

Grace turned to face her husband. “Spencer, dear, Christmas is but a fortnight hence, and it is a dangerous journey to this part of England in such weather. Perhaps in the spring.”

“You would deny Alexander the celebration he is due? He fought for England, our interests, and our son’s future.” Her husband approached from behind, watching her through the mirror rather than looking directly at her. His hands slid over her bare shoulders and brushed aside the heavy locks of fair hair, tickling the base of her neck. “It is what I desire, dear one.”

Grace faced the mirror and met Spencer’s dark eyes. How did they not burn a hole through the glass and into her skin? His smooth fingertips caressed the sides of her throat and gently turned her face to his. She accepted the press of his warm lips against hers and caught the exhale of his breath before he eased his head, then his body away.

“See it is done.” Spencer turned on his heel and walked to his adjoining dressing room.

He expected her to be ready for him, waiting as she always did. “A marriage of happy possibilities,” her father once promised before he succumbed to a weak heart one month after her wedding. Too despondent to live as a widow, her mother followed soon after. Whispers among society wondered if Grace’s mother realized the ice had not fully formed over the pond that took her life or if she chose that warm winter day to surrender her demons.

Excerpt from The Ghost of Greyson Hall copyright © MK McClintock

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