Monday 31 July 2023

Check out Chris Thorndycroft's fabulous novel - Buccaneer: The Early Life and Crimes of Philip Rake

 


Buccaneer: The Early Life and Crimes of Philip Rake
By Chris Thorndycroft


Publication Date: August 1st, 2023
Publisher: Chris Thorndycroft
Page Length: 232 pages
Genre: Historical action and adventure

Bristol, 1713. When Philip Rake, pickpocket, smuggler and scoundrel is arrested and thrown in jail, he assumes he has a short walk to the gallows. But his father, a wealthy merchant who has remained a figure of mystery throughout his life, throws him a lifeline; become an indentured man on an expedition to the East Indies led by his friend, Woodes Rogers.

Woodes Rogers is looking for Libertatia - the fabled pirate kingdom of the legendary buccaneer Henry Avery - and the hoard of treasure rumoured to be hidden there. But Philip wants his freedom and when he learns that there are men onboard who once sailed with Henry Avery and plan to take the treasure for themselves, he jumps ship and embarks upon a career of piracy.

Philip's story takes him from the backstreets of Bristol to the sun-baked hills of Madagascar and on to the tropical islands of the Caribbean in a thrilling tale of adventure in which he rubs shoulders with some of the most notorious pirates of the age including Blackbeard, Charles Vane, Anne Bonny and Mary Read.




This title will be available to read for free with #KindleUnlimited subscription


Chris Thorndycroft


Chris Thorndycroft’s writing career began with short horror stories which appeared in magazines and anthologies such as Dark Moon Digest and American Nightmare. 

His first novel under his own name was A Brother's Oath, book one in the Hengest and Horsa trilogy, which deals with the beginning of Anglo-Saxon England. He has always had a passion for historical fiction, kindled at the age of six when he first saw Errol Flynn in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). His books are deeply grounded in real history but often reimagine legends such as King Arthur and Robin Hood, weaving them in with historical events. 

He currently lives in Norway with his wife and two kids. 

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Wednesday 19 July 2023

Check out an excerpt from Finlay McQuade's fabulous novel - Life and Death in Ephesus

 


Life and Death in Ephesus 
By Finlay McQuade


Publication Date: June 13th 2023
Publisher: Historium Press
Page Length: 257 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

For over a thousand years, Ephesus, on the Aegean coast of what is now Turkey, was a thriving city. It was the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Wonders of the World, and a destination for religious pilgrimage long before the advent of Christianity. In the first century CE, St. John and St. Paul introduced Christianity to Ephesus, where it survived its turbulent beginnings and, in the fifth century CE, hosted the God-defining Council of Ephesus.

Life and Death in Ephesus is a collection of stories about major events in the history of Ephesus. Characters appearing in these stories include Herostratus, first to commit a “herostratic crime”; Alexander, the warrior king; Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, both lovers of Cleopatra; Heraclitus, the philosopher who said, “You can’t put your foot in the same river twice”; St. Paul, persona non grata in Ephesus; Nestorius, whose characterization of Jesus split the Eastern and Western church, and others, also important, whose names I have had to make up.

Hilke Thür, a leading archeologist, has said of these stories, “Life and Death in Ephesus will be a delightful and enjoyable accompaniment to the many available guidebooks. Not just tourists, but anyone interested in history will benefit from reading them.”

Excerpt

From “Arsinoe’s Story.”

Antony spurned the one chair set out for him. He marched around the room like someone summoned to rearrange the furniture. He pulled a table into the middle of the room, set two more chairs on either side of it, walked back to the door as if about to leave, but stopped, clapped his hands, and stepped aside, grinning wickedly but saying nothing to me. In came a line of slaves carrying trays of fruit, sweet meats, and beautifully decorated amphorae full of wine.

“Come, Arsinoe,” he said as he approached me. “Let us get to know one another. Forget Egypt. Forget Rome. Let’s eat and drink and have a good time, just you and me.” That’s when I could tell he was drunk. He was steady on his feet, his speech perfectly intelligible, but he had the thick-tongued lisp and self-satisfied grin of a man who had drunk away his inhibitions.

I took his hand and sat beside him, just as later I took his hand and lay beside him. In my eyes, on that day, at least, Antony was magnificent. I gave myself entirely to him, enraptured by the wine, which he sweetened with hot water and honey, and by his even more intoxicating caresses, which soothed away all the doubts that persisted from my past and all the fears that otherwise might have cast a shadow on my future. We pledged our allegiance more than once. Antony would invade Egypt, eliminate Cleopatra, and summon me to Alexandria. I’d return in royal splendor to become Arsinoe IV, Pharaoh, Thea Philopator, Queen of Egypt, at last.




Finlay McQuade


Finlay McQuade is a retired educator. He was born in Ireland, went to high school in England, and university in the USA. He has a BA in English from Pomona College, an MA in British and American literature from Harvard University, and a PhD in education from the University of Pittsburgh, where he also taught writing courses in the English department. He spent some happy years as a high school English teacher and soccer coach, but after co-authoring the book How to Make a Better School he found himself in demand as a consultant to schools and school improvement projects in the USA and often, also, abroad. He ended his career in education when he retired from Bogazici University in Istanbul, where he had mentored young teachers in the school of education. 

For eight years after retirement, he lived in Selcuk, Turkey, among the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus. The streets and squares of Ephesus became his neighborhood. His companions included archeologists, tour guides, and souvenir sellers. His curiosity about the people who had lived in those empty buildings for over a thousand years resulted in Life and Death in Ephesus, a collection of stories chronicling major events in the city’s history.

Now, back in the USA with time on his hands, he finds himself returning again and again to memories of his boyhood on the coast of Northern Ireland. The result of these forays into his past will be another collection of stories, part memoir, part fiction, called Growing Up in Ulster.

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Check out Juliane Weber's fabulous novel - Under the Emerald Sky.

 



Under the Emerald Sky: A tale of love and betrayal in 19th century Ireland 
(The Irish Fortune Series Book 1)
By Juliane Weber


Publication Date: 23rd October 2020 
Publisher: Independently Published 
Page Length: 465 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction / Historical Romance 

"Under the Emerald Sky reaches another level in storytelling, the kind where the characters remain with you long after you have closed the book." 
The Historical Fiction Company

It’s 1843 and the Englishman Quinton Williams has come to Ireland to oversee the running of his father’s ailing estate and escape his painful past. There he meets the Irishwoman Alannah O’Neill, whose family is one of few to have retained ownership of their land, the rest having been supplanted by the English over the course of the country's bloody history. Seeing the injustices of Victorian Ireland, Alannah’s brother Kieran has learned to hate the English and imperialism. Aware of Kieran’s hostility towards the English, Alannah keeps her growing relationship with Quin a secret – but it's a secret that can't be kept for long from those plotting to end England’s oppression of the Irish people. As Quin and Alannah seek happiness in the face of hate and revenge, an action-packed romance ensues.

But all the while, disaster looms – the Great Famine that would forever change the course of Ireland’s history. With repeated failure of the potato harvest upon which most Irish families depend, thousands will go hungry, with sickness and starvation sweeping through Irish farms, decimating poor populations for years to come.

Can Quin and Alannah find happiness in a land teetering on the brink of disaster?  


This series is available to read on #KindleUnlimited. 

*Under the Emerald Sky, Book 1, ebook is on offer at 0.99.*

Under the Emerald Sky



Beneath the Darkening Clouds



Juliane Weber


Juliane Weber is a scientist turned historical fiction writer, and author of the Irish Fortune Series. Her stories take readers on action-packed romantic adventures amid the captivating scenery and folklore of 19th century Ireland. 

Under the Emerald Sky, the first book in the Irish Fortune Series, was awarded bronze medals in The Historical Fiction Company 2021 Book of the Year Contest and The Coffee Pot Book Club 2022 Book of the Year Contest. The second book in the series, Beneath the Darkening Clouds, was awarded a bronze medal in The Historical Fiction Company 2022 Book the Year Contest.

Juliane spent most of her life in South Africa, but now lives with her husband and two sons in Hamelin, Germany, the town made famous by the story of the Pied Piper.

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Monday 17 July 2023

We are celebrating the release of the #audiobook for Elizabeth St.John's fabulous novel - The Godmother’s Secret



The Godmother’s Secret
By Elizabeth St.John
Audiobook narrated by Elizabeth St.John


Publication Date: 4th October, 2022 (print)
Publisher: Falcon Historical (print)
Page Length: 361 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

Audiobook:
Narrator: Elizabeth St.John
Publication Date: 27th June, 2023 (audio)
Publisher: Tantor Media (audio)
Audio Length: 11 hours 59 minutes

"An extremely well-written book with depth and complexity to the main characters. The author says she wanted to write a book about family love and tolerance, and a woman's loyalty and courage. She has done so. This is the best book I've read in ages!"
The Ricardian Bulletin, Richard III Society

"The authenticity and historical research displayed within this story is immense and exquisite. Ms. St. John is sure to be a newfound favorite for fans of not only this fractious time in English history, but of all historical fans who adore rich, immersive prose."
Historical Fiction Company 2022 Book of the Year

"A very enjoyable read. The historical veracity is impeccable, and Elysabeth is a likeable, admirable character who faces interesting dilemmas with love and courage."
Historical Novel Society

If you knew the fate of the Princes in the Tower, would you tell? Or forever keep the secret?

May 1483: The Tower of London. When King Edward IV dies and Lady Elysabeth Scrope delivers her young godson, Edward V, into the Tower of London to prepare for his coronation, she is engulfed in political turmoil. Within months, the prince and his brother have disappeared, Richard III is declared king, and Elysabeth’s sister Margaret Beaufort conspires with her son Henry Tudor to invade England and claim the throne.

Desperate to protect her godson, Elysabeth battles the intrigue, betrayal, and power of the last medieval court, defying her Yorkist husband and her Lancastrian sister under her godmother’s sacred oath to keep Prince Edward safe. Bound by blood and rent by honour, Elysabeth is torn between King Richard and Margaret Beaufort, knowing that if her loyalty is questioned, she is in peril of losing everything—including her life.

Were the princes murdered by their uncle, Richard III? Did Margaret Beaufort mastermind their disappearance to usher in the Tudor dynasty? Or did the young boys vanish for their own safety? Of anyone at the royal court, Elysabeth has the most to lose–and the most to gain–by keeping secret the fate of the Princes in the Tower.

Inspired by England’s most enduring historical mystery, Elizabeth St.John blends her family history with known facts and centuries of speculation to create an intriguing story about what happened to the Princes in the Tower

♥ Excerpt ♥

To listen to an excerpt from the audiobook, click HERE!


This novel is available to read for free with #KindleUnlimted subscription

Amazon

Check out this special offer!

50% off the audiobook for a limited time only.

audiobook


Elizabeth St.John


Elizabeth St.John’s critically acclaimed historical fiction novels tell the stories of her ancestors: extraordinary women whose intriguing kinship with England's kings and queens brings an intimately unique perspective to Medieval, Tudor, and Stuart times.

Inspired by family archives and residences from Lydiard Park to the Tower of London, Elizabeth spends much of her time exploring ancestral portraits, diaries, and lost gardens. And encountering the occasional ghost. But that’s another story.

Living between California, England, and the past, Elizabeth is the International Ambassador for The Friends of Lydiard Park, an English charity dedicated to conserving and enhancing this beautiful centuries-old country house and park. As a curator for The Lydiard Archives, she is constantly looking for an undiscovered treasure to inspire her next novel.

Elizabeth's books include her trilogy, The Lydiard Chronicles, set in 17th Century England during the Civil War, and her newest release, The Godmother's Secret, which explores the medieval mystery of the missing Princes in the Tower of London.





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Monday 3 July 2023

Read and excerpt from Luv Lubker's fabulous novel — Under His Spell (The Rival Courts, Book One) #VictorianFiction #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour

 


Under His Spell
 (The Rival Courts, Book One)
By Luv Lubker


Publication Date: May 30 2023
Publisher: Historium Press
Page Length: 384 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

A beautiful love story between the Princess Royal Victoria and Fritz Wilhelm, Frederick III of Prussia

A lonely young man attends the first World’s Fair – the Great Exhibition of 1851 – and meets a family who changes his life forever.
 
Follow the young Prince Fritz – later Friedrich III – of Prussia and his wife, Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, Vicky, (parents of Kaiser Wilhelm II) through their courtship and the joys and struggles of their first four years of marriage. 

Fritz and Vicky dream of a peaceful united Germany, but Fritz’s uncle Karl has his own dreams of power…

Discover often hinted at but unrevealed secrets of the Prussian Royal court…

♥ Excerpt ♥

Vicky stepped out of her dressing-room. The moonlight was bright; Fritz was already in bed, and appeared to be asleep. She sat down quietly on the bed to brush her hair, and carefully began to braid it.
“Do you need any help with that?”
She jumped up and whirled around at the touch of Fritz’s hand on her shoulder.
“I’m sorry, I forgot.” She could see his face flush even in the moonlight. “You have been so well and like yourself, I didn’t think of that.”
“I have felt very well, indeed; even having to sit with – him – last month – didn’t make me have nightmares. I am only glad you spoke before you touched my shoulder, so…”
Fritz nodded. “Why didn’t you call your maid?”
“I didn’t want to disturb you, as I thought you were asleep. But yes, I would like some help. Alice and I always helped each other at home. Hold this strand while I…” She showed him what to do to help her with the long braid.
She glanced up as she tied the ribbon on the end. “What is so funny?”
He was smiling slightly, as he always did when he tried to hide that he was amused. “I was thinking of what I wrote to your Mama about the Emperor Alexander’s coronation, about not knowing the names of any details of the ladies’ dresses.”
“You know every detail of this, I suppose,” she said, glancing up at him as she fingered the details of the lace edge of her nightgown.
“No, I never see it, for what it contains; one does not study the package of the present one wishes to have most in the world.”
“Well, you may study it very closely now.” She slipped off her night-gown, pulling it over his head as she disappeared under the blankets, laughing.

***

“Fritz,” Vicky whispered as she laid her head on his shoulder. She sighed, and snuggled closer. “I haven’t felt so comfortable in my own skin in so long. I don’t think I will even have to put on my dressing-gown tonight, though I will want my night-gown. Where did you put it?”
“Where it always is.”






Luv Lubker 

 
Luv Lubker has lived in the Victorian era half her life, making friends with the Brontë sisters and the extended family of Queen Victoria. Now she knows them quite as well as her own family.

Born in a cattle trough in the Appalachian mountains, Luv lives in Texas - when she comes to the modern world. 

When she isn’t living in the Victorian era, she enjoys being with her family; making and eating delicious raw food, riding her bike (which she only learned to ride at 25, though she’d ridden a unicycle since she was 7), and watching animals - the passion of her childhood.

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Have a sneak-peek between the covers of A Splendid Defiance By Stella Riley, Audiobook performed by Alex Wyndham

A Splendid Defiance By Stella Riley  Audiobook performed by Alex Wyndham Publication Date: 6th December 2012 Publisher:  Stella Riley Page L...