Wednesday, 23 July 2025

Check out A Shape on the Air (Dr DuLac Series #1) by Julia Ibbotson


A Shape on the Air
(Dr DuLac Series #1)
By Julia Ibbotson


Publication Date: January 8th, 2022
Series: Dr DuLac Series
Publisher: Archbury Books
Pages: 220
Genre: Mystery Romance / Medieval Timeslip Mystery

A haunting Anglo-Saxon time-slip of mystery and romance

Can echoes of the past threaten the present? They are 1500 years apart, but can they reach out to each other across the centuries? One woman faces a traumatic truth in the present day. The other is forced to marry the man she hates as the 'dark ages' unfold.

How can Dr Viv DuLac, medievalist and academic, unlock the secrets of the past? Traumatised by betrayal, she slips into 499 AD and into the body of Lady Vivianne, who is also battling treachery. Viv must uncover the mystery of the key that she unwittingly brings back with her to the present day, as echoes of the past resonate through time. But little does Viv realise just how much both their lives across the centuries will become so intertwined. And in the end, how can they help each other across the ages without changing the course of history?

For fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, Christina Courtenay.


You can pick up your copy at your favourite bookstore- here 
Read with #KindleUnlimited


Julia Ibbotson


Julia Ibbotson is fascinated by the medieval world and the concept of time. She is the author of historical mysteries with a frisson of romance. Her books are evocative of time and place, well-researched and uplifting page-turners. Her current series focuses on early medieval time-slip / dual-time mysteries. 

Julia read English at Keele University, England, specialising in medieval language / literature / history, and has a PhD in socio-linguistics. After a turbulent time in Ghana, West Africa, she became a school teacher, then a university academic and researcher. Her break as an author came soon after she joined the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme in 2015, with a three-book deal from Lume Books for a trilogy (Drumbeats) set in Ghana in the 1960s.

She has published five other books, including A Shape on the Air, an Anglo-Saxon timeslip mystery, and its two sequels The Dragon Tree and The Rune Stone. Her latest novel is the first of a new series of Anglo-Saxon dual-time mysteries, Daughter of Mercia, where echoes of the past resonate across the centuries.

Her books will appeal to fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, and Christina Courtenay. Her readers say: ‘Julia’s books captured my imagination’, ‘beautiful story-telling’, ‘evocative and well-paced storylines’, ‘brilliant and fascinating’ and ‘I just couldn’t put it down’.

Author Links:



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Tuesday, 22 July 2025

Check out A Mischief of Murder (Jan Christopher Murder Mystery – Episode #6) by Helen Hollick

A Mischief of Murder
(Jan Christopher Murder Mystery – Episode #6)
By Helen Hollick


Publication Date: July 16th, 2025
Publisher: Taw River Press
Pages: 140
Genre: Cosy Mystery / Historical Mystery

The sixth Jan Christopher Cosy Mystery:

The village Flower and Veg Show should be a fun annual event – but who added mischief and murder to the traditional schedule?

July 1973

Old friends and new enemies? Jan Christopher’s Aunt Madge is to be a judge at Chappletawton’s annual village flower and vegetable summer show – a chance for the family to have a holiday in the Devon countryside, especially as Jan’s fiancé, DS Laurie Walker, is still recovering from gunshot wounds and her uncle, DCI Toby Christopher, is enduring injury-related sick leave.

The event should be a fun occasion where friendly rivalry between gardeners, cooks and crafters lead to the hopeful winning of the coveted Best In Show trophy – but who added mischief and murder to the traditional schedule?

Praise 

“A delight—Miss Read meets The Darling Buds of May, with a dash of St. Mary Mead. Helen Hollick's signature voice shines throughout, full of warmth and wit. The characters keep growing in such satisfying ways, making every visit feel like coming home.”

Elizabeth St.John, award-winning author of The Godmother's Secret and The King's Intelligencer

“The Darling Buds of May ...but in Devon instead of Kent.”

Alison Morton, award-winning author of the Roma Nova series

“I sank into this gentle cosy mystery story with the same enthusiasm and relish as I approach a hot bubble bath, and really enjoyed getting to know the central character, a shy young librarian, and the young police officer who becomes her romantic interest. The nostalgic setting of the 1970s was balm, so clearly evoked, and although there is a murder at the heart of the story, it was an enjoyable comfort read.”

Debbie Young, author of the Sophie Sayers cosy mysteries

“A delightful read about a murder told from the viewpoint of a young library assistant. The author draws on her own experience to weave an intriguing tale.”

Richard Ashen – South Chingford Community Library


Excerpt

Heather looked appalled. “Are you suggesting our competitors cheat? I assure you they don’t…” She paused, went slightly pink. “Well, not usually. It was discovered last year that Mrs Pyke had bought her flowering pot plant from the local garden centre. She was remiss enough to have left the price tag on it. Then there was that year when all except one rose grower developed foot rot, or something, overnight just before the show.”

“Foot rot is for sheep,” Alf corrected. “Don’t you mean black spot?”

“No, that’s Macbeth,” Elsie interjected.

Laurie frowned. “Macbeth is a red spot, I think. Lady Macbeth’s bloodied hands ‘Out, out damn spot’.”

Aunt Madge added her two pennyworth. “P.G. Wodehouse mentions a black spot in his Joy in the Morning. I love some of the  characters’ names he came up with; this one is Boko Fittleworth.”

I might have guessed she’d mention something from Wodehouse as she’d read all his books at least twice. She maintained that they cheered her up on wet winter weekends.

I corrected all of their theories. “The Black Spot is from Treasure Island. It was given to Long John Silver as a sign that he was to be dumped as Captain, but he pointed out that the round spot was made from paper taken from a Bible, so whoever had made it would be the one cursed for defacing the Lord’s Word and that, in consequence, he himself was quite safe.”

Heather’s expression was that of bewilderment. “Roses get black spot?”

“Yes,” Alf pointed out, “but it’s a fungal virus that spreads. They couldn’t have all suddenly got it overnight.”

“And I rather think you meant greenfly, dear,” Elsie added with a gentle smile.

You can pick up your copy at your favourite bookstore - here.
Read with #KindleUnlimited

Helen Hollick


Known for her captivating storytelling and rich attention to historical detail, Helen’s historical fiction, nautical adventure series, cosy mysteries – and her short stories – skilfully invite readers to step into worlds where the boundaries between fact and  fiction blend together.

Helen started writing as a teenager, but after discovering a passion for history, was initially published in 1993 in the UK with her Arthurian Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy and two Anglo-Saxon novels about the events that led to the 1066 Battle of Hastings, one of which, The Forever Queen (USA title – A Hollow Crown in the UK) became a USA Today best-seller. Her Sea Witch Voyages are nautical-based adventures inspired by the Golden Age of Piracy. She also writes the Jan Christopher cosy mystery series set during the 1970s, and based around her, sometimes hilarious, years of working as a North London library assistant. Her 2025 release is Ghost Encounters, a book about the ghosts of North Devon – even if you don’t believe in ghosts you might enjoy the snippets of interesting history and the many location photographs.

Helen and her family moved from London to Devon after a Lottery win on the opening night of the London Olympics, 2012. She spends her time glowering at the overgrown garden, fending off the geese, chasing the peacocks away from her roses, helping with the horses and wishing the friendly, resident ghosts would occasionally help with the housework...

Other recent releases:

an anthology of short stories by various award-winning authors


Connect with Helen:
Website • Twitter • Facebook • Bluesky

Tour Schedule



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Monday, 21 July 2025

Check out Ping By Lisa Lucas and Steve Landsberg, narrated by Elle Reimer


Ping
By Lisa Lucas and Steve Landsberg
Narrated by Elle Reimer


Publication Date: 28th November 2024
Publisher: Historium Press
Page Length: 105
Genre: Historical Fiction / Sport Fiction

PING, which was originally conceived in 2016, precedes the current cultural popularity in Ping Pong, exemplified in the upcoming 2025 Christmas movie release of Marty Supreme starring Timothée Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Alternating between the pivotal 1971 Ping-Pong Diplomacy - where a simple game of table tennis thawed the icy relations between the U.S. and China during the Cold War - and the present-day struggles of a family weighed down by legacy, Ping is a compelling tale of his- tory, politics, and personal conflict.

Jenny, a modern-day teen, wrestles with her grand-mother Miriam's larger-than-life legacy, rooted in Cold War tensions and the surprising intersection of ping pong, antisemitism, and global diplomacy. As Jenny uncovers Miriam's secret role in shaping history, she confronts her own place in a family bound by expectations and unspoken truths. 

Blending family drama with meticulously researched historical events, this gripping story explores the enduring im pact of the past on the present. "Ping skillfully blends family drama with political and historical events, particularly through Jenny's modern-day struggles and Miriam's Cold War-era experiences. The use of Ping Pong as both a symbol and a plot device keeps the story engaging, exploring generational expectations and legacies . . . 


Excerpt

At times, both men could hardly believe the privilege that came with being a member of the team. There was new equipment, comfortable clothing and running shoes and the quantity and the quality of the food was something they had never experienced before. The generous rations included a breakfast of milk, sweet cakes, rice porridge, buns and pickled vegetables. Mao had gone so far as to station a shooting team in Inner Mongolia to hunt for yellow goats, a delicacy in China. He figured that way the team could eat meat for lunch and dinner. No matter what, he would ensure his athletes were well fed and in tip-top condition. 


You can pick this book up at your favourite bookstore - here.


Lisa Lucas


Lisa Lucas started writing for magazines and newspapers. Later, she wrote extensively on issues related to literacy and health that were featured in publications by the Canadian Public Health Association, several literacy organizations, and hospitals across Canada.

She is the recipient of the CIBC Children’s Miracle Maker Award for advancing literacy among people with special needs.

Several years ago, Lisa partnered with Laurie Stein and began writing for children, covering subjects from climate change to refugees. Her belief that “storytellers often sugarcoat real issues and present subjects to kids that are too far from reality in order to protect them. Just tell it the way it is. Kids appreciate authentic stories that are honest and real.” 

More recently, Lisa has turned her attention to poetry and historical fiction. Ping is her first novel. Lisa’s work has been recognized by The New York Times, The Kirkus Reviews (starred), Publishers Weekly, Indigo and more. Her books have been translated into several languages and are widely recognized throughout Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

Connect with Lisa Lucas:

Steve Landsberg


Steve Landsberg, an accomplished, award-winning advertising executive and entrepreneur, is currently Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Human Intelligence (H.I.), a New York City-based marketing firm. Prior to H.I., he co-founded Grok, an Inc. 500 “Fastest Growing Company.”

Steve has held executive creative roles at many top global ad agencies leading the work on iconic global brands. A copy writer by trade, Steve has published numerous ad industry articles. Ping is his first published book.

Connect with Steve Landsberg








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Thursday, 17 July 2025

Check out Unspoken (The Dust Series, Book 1) By Jann Alexander


Unspoken
(The Dust Series, Book 1)
By Jann Alexander


Publication Date: 3rd July 2025

Publisher: Black Rose Writing

Pages: 368

Genre: Historical Fiction


A farm devastated. A dream destroyed. A family scattered.

And one Texas girl determined to salvage the wreckage.


Ruby Lee Becker can't breathe. It's 1935 in the heart of the Dust Bowl, and the Becker family has clung to its Texas Panhandle farm through six years of drought, dying crops, and dust storms. On Black Sunday, the biggest blackest storm of them all threatens ten-year-old Ruby with deadly dust pneumonia and requires a drastic choice —one her mother, Willa Mae, will forever regret.


To survive, Ruby is forced to leave the only place she's ever known. Far from home in Waco, and worried her mother has abandoned her, she's determined to get back.


Even after twelve years, Willa Mae still clings to memories of her daughter. Unable to reunite with Ruby, she's broken by their separation.


Through rollicking adventures and harrowing setbacks, the tenacious Ruby Lee embarks on her perilous quest for home —and faces her one unspoken fear.


Heart-wrenching and inspiring, the tale of Ruby Lee's dogged perseverance and Willa Mae's endless love for her daughter shines a light on women driven apart by disaster who bravely lean on one another, find comfort in remade families, and redefine what home means.


    Praise 

"Reminds me, in tone, of Texas classics like The Time it Never Rained and Giant. I loved it. Alexander is a great new talent in the genre of Texana."
W.F. Strong, author, Stories From Texas


You can pick up your copy at your favourite bookstore - here.

Book Trailer


Jann Alexander


Jann Alexander writes characters who face down their fears. Her novels are as close-to-true as fiction can get.

Jann is the author of the historical novel, Unspoken, set in the Texas Panhandle during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression eras, and her first book in The Dust Series. 

Jann writes on all things creative in her weekly blog, Pairings. She's a 20-year resident of central Texas and creator of the Vanishing Austin photography series. As a former art director for ad agencies and magazines in the D.C. area, and a painter, photographer, and art gallery owner, creativity is her practice and passion.

Jann's  lifelong storytelling habit and her more recent zeal for Texas history merged to become the historical Dust Series. When she is not reading, writing, or creating, she bikes, hikes, skis, and kayaks. She lives in central Texas with her own personal Texan (and biggest fan), Karl, and their Texas mutt, Ruby.

Jann always brakes for historical markers.




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Wednesday, 16 July 2025

Check out The Standing Stone on the Moor (Talbot Saga, Book #3) by Allie Cresswell

 


The Standing Stone on the Moor
(Talbot Saga, Book #3)
by Allie Cresswell



Publication Date: June 20th, 2025
Publisher: Allie Cresswell Ltd.
Pages: 400
Genre: Historical Romance


Yorkshire, 1845.


Folklore whispers that they used to burn witches at the standing stone on the moor. When the wind is easterly, it wails a strange lament. History declares it was placed as a marker, visible for miles—a signpost for the lost, directing them towards home.


Forced from their homeland by the potato famine, a group of itinerant Irish refugees sets up camp by the stone. They are met with suspicion by the locals, branded as ‘thieves and ne’er-do-wells.’ Only Beth Harlish takes pity on them, and finds herself instantly attracted to Ruairi, their charismatic leader.


Beth is the steward of nearby manor Tall Chimneys—a thankless task as the owners never visit. An educated young woman, Beth feels restless, like she doesn’t belong. But somehow ‘home’—the old house, the moor and the standing stone—exerts an uncanny magnetism. Thus Ruairi’s great sacrifice—deserting his beloved Irish homestead to save his family—resonates strongly with her.


Could she leave her home to be with him? Will he even ask her to?


As she struggles with her feelings, things take a sinister turn. The peaceable village is threatened by shrouded men crossing the moor at night, smuggling contraband from the coast. Worse, the exotic dancing of a sultry-eyed Irishwoman has local men in a feverish grip. Their womenfolk begin to mutter about spells and witchcraft. And burning.


The Irish refugees must move on, and quickly. Will Beth choose an itinerant life with Ruairi? Or will the power of ‘home’ be too strong?


You can pick up your copy at your favourite bookstore - here


Allie Cresswell


Allie has been writing fiction since she could hold a pencil. She has a BA and an MA in English Literature, specialising in the classics of the nineteenth century.

She has been a print-buyer, a pub landlady, a bookkeeper and the owner of a group of boutique holiday cottage but nowadays she writes full time.
 
Allie has two grownup children, five grandchildren and two cockapoos but just one husband, Tim. They live in the remote northwest of the UK.

The Standing Stone on the Moor is her sixteenth novel.


Connect with Allie Cresswell:


Tour Schedule

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Check out A Shape on the Air (Dr DuLac Series #1) by Julia Ibbotson

A Shape on the Air (Dr DuLac Series #1) By Julia Ibbotson Publication Date: January 8th, 2022 Series: Dr DuLac Series Publisher: Archbury Bo...