In the spotlight today is The Plantagenet Legacy Series: Henry IV – Audiobooks by Mercedes Rochelle

The Plantagenet Legacy Series:

Henry IV – Audiobooks

The Usurper King

The Accursed King

by Mercedes Rochelle

Publication Date: April 5th, 2021 / April 18th, 2022

Publisher: Sergeant Press

Pages: 305 / 301

Genre: Historical Fiction

Audiobooks:

Publication Date: April 24th, 2025 / June 17th, 2025

Publisher: Sergeant Press

Narrator: Kevin E. Green

Listening Length: 10 hrs 21 mins / 9 hrs 5 mins

The Usurper King

From Outlaw to Usurper, Henry Bolingbroke fought one rebellion after another.

First, he led his own uprising. Then he captured a forsaken king. Henry had no intention of taking the crown for himself; it was given to him by popular acclaim. Alas, it didn't take long to realize that that having the kingship was much less rewarding than striving for it. Only three months after his coronation, Henry IV had to face a rebellion led by Richard's disgruntled favorites. Repressive measures led to more discontent. His own supporters turned against him, demanding more than he could give. The haughty Percies precipitated the Battle of Shrewsbury which nearly cost him the throne—and his life.

To make matters worse, even after Richard II's funeral, the deposed monarch was rumored to be in Scotland, planning his return. The king just wouldn't stay down and malcontents wanted him back.

***

The Accursed King

What happens when a king loses his prowess?

The day Henry IV could finally declare he had vanquished his enemies, he threw it all away with an infamous deed. No English king had executed an archbishop before. And divine judgment was quick to follow. Many thought he was struck with leprosy—God's greatest punishment for sinners. From that point on, Henry's health was cursed and he fought doggedly on as his body continued to betray him—reducing this once great warrior to an invalid.

Fortunately for England, his heir was ready and eager to take over. But Henry wasn't willing to relinquish what he had worked so hard to preserve. No one was going to take away his royal prerogative—not even Prince Hal. But Henry didn't count on Hal's dauntless nature, which threatened to tear the royal family apart.

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The Usurper King

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The Accursed King

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The Plantagenet Legacy Series

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All titles in the series are available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Mercedes Rochelle

Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history, and has channelled this interest into fiction writing. Her first four books cover eleventh-century Britain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. The next series is called The Plantagenet Legacy about the struggles and abdication of Richard II, leading to the troubled reigns of the Lancastrian Kings. She also writes a blog: HistoricalBritainBlog.com to explore the history behind the story.

Born in St. Louis, MO, she received by BA in Literature at the University of Missouri St.Louis in 1979 then moved to New York in 1982 while in her mid-20s to “see the world”. The search hasn’t ended!

Today she lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.

Connect with Mercedes:

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Amazon Author Page • BookBub • Goodreads

My review of The Scald Crow (Beyond the Faerie Rath Book 1) by Hanna Park

 

The Scald Crow
(Beyond the Faerie Rath Book 1) 
By Hanna Park

Publication Date: 26th May 2025

Publisher: Baisong Press

Print Length: 260 Pages

Genre: Fantasy / Romance

Calla left her life behind, haunted by a curse she cannot control. She seeks refuge in the land of a thousand hellos, Ireland, for a fresh start—a place where no one knows who or what she is.

Colm fled from Clonmara seven long years ago, but now it’s his father’s birthday, and the clan has gathered to celebrate the ould one. Each day brings back the memories that ruined him.

Saoirse dwells in the shadows of a lost love, unwilling to move on and unable to forget. The crystals say one thing, but the cold, hard truth tells another.

Ciarán walked away from the woman he loved for the fun, for the craic. He didn’t realize that one rash decision would impact the lives of so many, least of all his own.

Four broken hearts, brought together by the thread of love.

Review - Five Stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Scald Crow is a richly atmospheric read that blends folklore, mystery, and romance into something that feels both grounded and quietly otherworldly. From the beginning, there’s a strong sense that something just beneath the surface is waiting to be uncovered, and that tension carries the story beautifully.

Calla is an easy character to connect with. She arrives in Ireland uncertain and carrying more than she quite understands, and there’s something very human about the way she reacts to everything that begins to unfold around her. She isn’t immediately confident or in control, which makes her journey feel all the more real as she gradually starts to piece things together.

Colm was probably the character who stood out most for me. There’s a steadiness to him, but also a sense of weight from his past that gives his character depth. I really enjoyed the dynamic between him and Calla — it’s intense, but it also feels rooted in something deeper than simple attraction.

The setting is one of the book’s strongest elements. The Irish landscape and folklore are woven into the story in a way that feels natural rather than decorative. There’s a constant sense that the past and present are overlapping, and that the world the characters are moving through is far older — and far stranger — than it first appears.

I also appreciated how the story balances its elements. There’s romance, certainly, but also mystery, family history, and a gradual unfolding of something much larger. The plot builds steadily, with each new discovery adding another layer rather than simply resolving what came before.

This was a very engaging and immersive read with a strong sense of atmosphere and character. It feels like the beginning of something bigger, and I’d be very interested to see where the story goes next.

Universal Buy Link

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Hanna Park

I began my writing career in the pre-dawn of a winter morning while my husband snored like a train. We could call my husband the catalyst. If it weren’t for him, I would never have gone to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee, feed the cat, and sit on the loveseat in front of the fire. It was there, in those moments of wondrous quiet, that I did something I had never thought possible. I opened my laptop, and while the coffee went cold, I wrote a story. My husband had no idea that these sojourns to the loveseat in front of the fire would become a daily occurrence, that writing would become an obsession, but the cat knew. She knows everything.

I write stories that make you laugh, make you cry, and make you love. Thank you, friends, for reading!

In the beginning, there was an empty page.

I am a writer who lives in Muskoka, Canada, with a husband who snores, a hungry cat, and an almost perfect canine––he’s an adorable little shit.

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A Taste of Evil (A Hani's Daughter Mystery) by N. L. Holmes

A Taste of Evil

A Hani's Daughter Mystery

By N. L. Holmes

Publication Date: October 30th, 2025

Publisher: WayBack Press

Pages: 247

Genre: Historical Cosy Mystery

In Tutankhamen's Egypt, the vizier's head cook dies suspiciously, and it looks like murder to Neferet and Bener-ib. Only, who would want to kill a cook, a man admired by all?

Perhaps he has professional rivals or a jealous wife. But she is the longtime cook of Neferet's family, a dear retainer above reproach. Was her husband the good man he seemed to be, or did he have the shady past our two sleuths begin to suspect? 

They'd better find out soon before the waters of foreign conspiracy rise around Neferet and her diplomat father. If they can't find the killer, it could mean war with Egypt's enemy, Kheta -- and someone else could die.

Maybe one of our nosy sleuths...

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N. L. Holmes

N.L. Holmes is the pen name of a professional archaeologist. She has excavated in Greece and in Israel and taught ancient history and humanities at the university level for many years. She has always had a passion for books, and in childhood, she and her cousin used to write stories for fun.

These days she lives in France with her husband, two cats, geese, and chickens, where she gardens, weaves, dances, and plays the violin.

Author Links:

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Read my review of The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven (The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven trilogy) by Jennifer Ivy Walker

 

The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven

(The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven trilogy)

By Jennifer Ivy Walker

Publication Date: 1st May 2025

Publisher: Green Mermaid Publications

Print Length: 522 Pages

Genre: Arthurian Fantasy / Historical Romance Fantasy / Paranormal

In this paranormal fantasy adaptation of the medieval legend of Tristan and Isolde, the rightful heir to the Irish crown must flee the wicked queen, finding shelter with a fairy witch who teaches her the verdant magic of the forest. Fate leads Issylte to the otherworldly realm of the Lady of the Lake and the Elves of Avalon, where she must choose between her life as a Celtic healer or fight to save her ravaged kingdom from the ruthless Black Widow Queen.

Tristan of Lyonesse is a Knight of King Arthur's Round Table who must overcome the horrors of his traumatic past and defend his kingdom of Cornwall against a Viking invasion from Ireland. When he becomes a warrior of the Tribe of Dana, a gift of Druidic magic might hold the key he seeks.

Two parallel lives, interwoven by fate. Haunted and hunted by the same Black Widow Queen.

Can their passion and power prevail?

Praise

“A sensational, well-crafted, fantasy fiction novel, with a perfect blend of magic, mysticism, romance, tragedy, drama, and suspense.”  Finalist Award from Reader’s Choice Book Awards

“I loved the world-building, the drama…fantasy settings from actual places like France, Ireland, and Britain.”  Jennifer Ibiam, Readers’ Favorite Book Awards

“An incredible tale of love, courage, sacrifice, and the everlasting fight between good and evil.”  Pikasho Deka, Readers’ Favorite Book Awards

Review - Five Stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It’s been a while since I last wrote a review, but The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven turned out to be a lovely book to return to. I enjoy Arthurian-inspired stories, and this one brings in a strong Celtic atmosphere with magic, prophecy, and court intrigue woven through the narrative.

Issylte is an easy character to root for. She begins the story surrounded by expectations and political tension, yet there’s a quiet strength about her that gradually comes to the surface. Watching her grow and start to understand her own gifts was one of the things I enjoyed most.

I have to admit, Ronan was the character who really won me over. He feels grounded, loyal, and sincere, and I liked the warmth in the scenes between him and Issylte. In fact, I found myself rooting for Ronan more than Tristan and, if I’m being honest, part of me was hoping Tristan might quietly disappear from the picture.

The book blends adventure, magic, and court politics well. There are knights, rivalries, and darker forces moving behind the scenes, but there are also quieter character moments that give the story heart.

 I found this book a very engaging read, and I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Universal Buy Link 
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Jennifer Ivy Walker

Jennifer Ivy Walker is an award-winning author of medieval Celtic, Nordic, and paranormal romance, as well as contemporary romance, historical fantasy, and WWII romantic suspense.

A former high school teacher and college professor of French with an MA in French literature, her novels encompass a love for French language, literature, history, and culture, including Celtic myths and legends, Norse mythology, Viking sagas, and Nordic lore.

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In the spotlight today is Code of Honour (Soldier Spy, Book #3) by Rosemary Hayes

Code of Honour

(Soldier Spy, Book #3)

By Rosemary Hayes

Publication Date: February 2nd, 2026

Publisher: Sharpe Books

Pages: 251

Genre: Historical Fiction

'A first-rate historical thriller, full of period detail, fascinating characters, unexpected twists, mystery, intrigue and action.’
~ Peter Tonkin

1812

Britain’s war against Napoleon continues.

Will Fraser and Duncan Armstrong have served their country well as spies, exposing traitors and rescuing betrayed royalists.

Now they are asked to support military operations in the Peninsular War. The French are using a new code which is proving impossible to decipher. Will and Armstrong must work with Spanish guerrillas to intercept messages between French Commanders and pass them to Wellington’s codebreakers.

Will is reluctant, however. Portugal was where he was falsely accused of cowardice and desertion and forced to leave the army. And Captain Harcourt-Browne, the jealous and vengeful officer who caused his downfall, is still serving there.

But Will is given a compelling – and personal – reason to carry out the operation. If he does so, there’s a slim chance he could be reinstated.

Enemy agents are soon on their trail; agents who want them dead. Somehow Will and Armstrong must evade them and join the guerrillas in a daring attempt to uncover Napoleon’s battle plans.

But Will’s troubled past catches up with him. Four years ago he lied to protect the woman he loved. Now he must own up to that lie to save himself.

Rosemary Hayes has written over forty books across different genres, from historical fiction to chapter books for early readers and texts for picture books.

Praise for Rosemary Hayes:

‘Rosemary Hayes' Soldier Spy is a first-rate historical thriller, full of period detail, fascinating characters, unexpected twists, mystery, intrigue and action. It reminds me of Berrnard Cornwell's brilliant, Regency-set Gallows Thief. I am pleased to see that it is the first of a trilogy and look forward to reading more about the dashing Will Fraser.’
~ Peter Tonkin, author of The Richard Mariner thrillers

‘One of the very best historical novels I have ever read.’
~ Sandra Robinson, Huguenot Ancestry Expert

‘An absorbing tale told with sensitivity. The forgotten struggles of Huguenot refugees come to moving, heartrending life.’ 
~ Steven Veerapen, author of A Dangerous Trade

Soldier Spy Series Universal Buy Links:

Book 1 – Traitor’s Game

Book 2 – The King’s Agent

Book 3 – Code of Honour

This series is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Rosemary Hayes

Rosemary Hayes has written over fifty books for children and young adults. She writes  in different genres, from edgy teenage fiction (The Mark), historical fiction (The Blue Eyed Aborigine and Forgotten Footprints), middle grade fantasy (Loose Connections, The Stonekeeper’s Child and Break Out) to chapter books for early readers and texts for picture books. Many of her books have won or been shortlisted for awards and several have been translated into different languages.

Rosemary has travelled widely but now lives in South Cambridgeshire. She has a background in publishing, having worked for Cambridge University Press before setting up her own company Anglia Young Books which she ran for some years. She has been a reader for a well known authors’ advisory service and runs creative writing workshops for both children and adults.

Connect with Rosemary:

Website • Twitter / X • Facebook

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