Book Release - Jasper - Book Two Of The Tudor Trilogy @tonyriches

Tony Riches, is one of my favorite Historical fiction authors. I had the pleasure of reviewing Owen - Book One Of The Tudor Trilogy last year. I have, like many others, been eagerly awaiting the release of the next book in the series.

Jasper - Book Two Of The Tudor Trilogy.

 'Without the heroic Jasper Tudor there could have been no Tudor dynasty.' 
Terry Breverton, author, historian and Television Presenter. 

'Jasper Tudor was the greatest survivor of the Wars of the Roses. Whilst almost all his contemporaries suffered often brutal and bloody deaths, Jasper persevered against all the odds. That's not to say it was easy, as you will discover...'

   Nathen Amin, Author of Tudor Wales.

Following the best-selling historical fiction novel  OWEN – Book One of The Tudor Trilogy, this is the incredible story, based on actual events, of Owen’s son Jasper Tudor, who changes the history of England forever. 

England 1461: The young King Edward of York takes the country by force from King Henry VI of Lancaster. Sir Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, flees the massacre of his Welsh army at the Battle of Mortimer’s Cross and plans a rebellion to return his half-brother King Henry to the throne.

When King Henry is imprisoned by Edward in the Tower of London and murdered, Jasper escapes to Brittany with his young nephew, Henry Tudor. After the sudden death of King Edward and the mysterious disappearance of his sons, a new king, Edward’s brother Richard III takes the English Throne. With nothing but his wits and charm, Jasper sees his chance to make young Henry Tudor king with a daring and reckless invasion of England.

Set in the often brutal world of fifteenth century England, Wales, Scotland, France, Burgundy and Brittany, during the Wars of the Roses, this fast-paced story is one of courage and adventure, love and belief in the destiny of the Tudors.

Where can I buy this fabulous book? 

Amazon US

Amazon UK

About the author.

Tony Riches is a full time author of best-selling fiction and non-fiction books. He lives by the sea in Pembrokeshire, West Wales with his wife and enjoys sea and river kayaking in his spare time.

For more information about Tony’s other books please visit his popular blog, The Writing Desk and his Wordpress website and find him on Facebook and Twitter @tonyriches.

 

The Keresa Headdress - Larry Shackledford #BookReview #amreading @larrydshack

"How do you know that the Keresa and the headdress really existed?

I was very excited to be given the chance to review The Keresa Headdress by Larry Shackleford. Larry is no stranger to this blog, recently he wrote a post about his inspirations behind The Keresa Headdress - if you missed his post you can catch it here.

What's the story?

It’s just a routine case at the FBI’s Salt Lake City offices. The young woman’s boyfriend is missing, possibly dead. Agent Karen Adams thinks he’s probably just out with another woman—but then the Royal Canadian Mounted Police come calling. Why would they care about a wayward addict cheating on his girlfriend in Utah?

Soon, Karen is involved in a case like nothing she’s ever seen, navigating through an international criminal network of drugs, sex trafficking, murder, and the black market trade of priceless archaeological relics.

Her new partner Marcus “Playboy” McCoy—handsome, charming, and almost unbearably crass—is equal parts help and hindrance as she navigates a seamy underworld in the Utah desert.

But she also finds assistance from some unusual sources: a graduate student in archaeology, a dissatisfied sister-wife from a polygamous commune, and an undercover Canadian Mountie. Together they become entangled in the web of international crime and the only way out is to find the most priceless artifact of all: the legendary Keresa Headdress.


 What did I think of the Story?

Oh my days - what a story. From the opening passage I was gripped. I was seriously addicted to this book.

Let me set the scene...imagine, if you will, Lethal Weapon mixed with Indiana Jones, 24, Spooks, Little House on the Prairie (yes, I did just say that!) and I don't know...something similar to the beautiful romance that was in Water for Elephants -- I kid you not -- This was all in one book!

There is no doubt in my mind that Shackelford is a master storyteller - it was like watching a movie - it was that easy to read. The pace of the story did not once slow down. This book draws you in and keeps you there, right up until the end.

Karen is such a superb character. I think we all know someone like Karen. She was alive in this book. She was so real, so believably wonderful – in my opinion, the perfect protagonist.

In contrast, if there was ever a partner so unsuitable for Karen it had to be Marcus. They played so well off each other, Karen was smart, respectable, while Marcus was an oversexed.... I found myself cringing, alongside Karen, at Marcus's many antics and please don't get me started on those grossly inappropriate Hawaiian shirts!

The story has so many twists, turns and unexpected events that this is a sitting-on-the-edge-of your-seat type of experience. It is a full on action adventure, with archaeology thrown in. Bonus!

The story does deal with some really difficult issues. There is a dark underworld in this book which preys on the vulnerable. I thought Shackelford was very sensitive in his approach when he wrote about this.

The antagonists were, as you would expect - awful, but very, very clever. They were not stupid villains; they had connections, insiders. They were ruthless in their pursuit of their goals. They were in it for the money, and nothing, not even the FBI was going to get in their way. Indeed, for most of the book the FBI were chasing their own tails - always one step behind.

The book, as the title suggests, revolves around the Black-Market in stolen archaeological artifacts. I found this absolutely fascinating. I thought this was a tricky subject to explain without it becoming a mini-lecture, but Shackledford depicted his knowledge so well that I didn't realise it was being explained - it was just part of the story. Now that takes some talent

The Keresa Headdress is a truly remarkable book. I loved it! I will definitely be reading more books from this author.

I would Highly Recommend that you check this out.

Where can I buy this fabulous book? 

 

US

UK

About the author

Larry was raised in southwest Missouri where he received his college degree, but he received his education after he graduated and began working in a maximum-security federal prison. After spending two years behind bars, he continued his law enforcement career as a criminal investigator, residing and working in eight states and two foreign countries. Larry retired from law enforcement after twenty-five years of service and resides in Salt Lake City with his wife and cat.

The Shadow of a King - Cover Reveal @cgray129

I welcome back Arthurian author, C.M Gray, to my blog as he reveals his cover for The Shadow of a King.

Legends of old can never fade…
The truth can never die…
The tip of a spear settles any dispute…
But the love of a King, well… that comes before all…

King Uther Pendragon, High King of all the Celtic tribes,
in his fifteenth year of rule, is set a quest by Merlyn and
the Druids of Mona to brave the winter seas and set sail
for the Isle of Erin.

The quest placed upon the King, despite the tribal lands
being at war with Saxon invaders, is to take a war party and
return with a prize that will lay to rest the ghosts of the past
and allow the Celts to reclaim their lands.

However, none of those that set sail quite realise what this
quest will release within their King and what events
will unfold...

Publication date 4th April