Monday, 8 June 2026

Rise of the Pale Moon by Patricia Brandon


Rise of the Pale Moon

By Patricia Brandon


Publication Date: October 15th, 2024
Publisher: Palmetto Publishers
Pages: 262
Genre: Historical Fiction

Unlikely Allies: Three Diverse Women Navigate Tumultuous Times, Risking All Amidst Revolutionary Woes. A Tale of Hope, Love, and Triumph Over Adversity.

In the heart of coastal South Carolina, during the Revolutionary War era, a profound narrative unfolds in Rise of the Pale Moon. This captivating tale is set on a plantation, where three young women of strikingly different backgrounds are held captive - a humble indentured servant from London, a resilient chattel slave, and a resourceful Catawba Indian. Their lives are intertwined, bound by the chains of their circumstances, and deeply impacted by the Master and his family.

These women, each bearing a unique perspective, must learn to navigate their relationships with each other and their captors. As they grapple with their brutal reality, their courage is put to the ultimate test. Will they risk a daring escape, knowing full well that it could result in their demise? Or will they remain, hoping to influence their fate and possibly alter the course of the war in the American South?

Rise of the Pale Moon explores the intricacies of loyalty, sacrifice, and love amidst harsh adversity. The characters' relentless pursuit of hope is a testament to their determination and resilience, offering an inspiring portrayal of human spirit. As the birth of a new nation unfolds around them, their journey reveals the transformative power of unity and friendship.

This riveting narrative is more than just a historical fiction; it is a timeless exploration of the human condition, capturing the essence of shared struggles, shared dreams, and the shared determination to survive. The characters' journey serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring power of hope, even in the darkest of times.

Rise of the Pale Moon is a captivating read, that will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions, leaving you with a renewed perspective on life, love, and the power of resilience. The story serves as a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the courage to fight for freedom. A must-read for anyone who appreciates a compelling historical narrative laced with poignant life lessons.

***

Praise for Rise of the Pale Moon:

"... a captivating read, that will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions, leaving you with a renewed perspective on life, love, and the power of resilience. The story serves as a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the courage to fight for freedom. A must-read for anyone who appreciates a compelling historical narrative laced with poignant life lessons."
~ Yarde Book Promotion, 5* Editorial Review

"Set in Charleston, South Carolina during the Revolutionary war, this novel takes the reader on a journey through the past while teaching about history and friendship in a way that readers, especially middle grade readers, will surely connect. As a teacher, I was hooked at the beginning when the main character, and indentured servant, faces unbelievable hardship on the passage to America. Readers will learn about the history of that era while being entertained with the story."
~ Sophia, 5* Amazon Review


Buy Link:

Patricia Brandon


 Patricia Brandon is a winner of a Carrie McCray Memorial Literary Award (South Carolina Writers’ Association.

Her first novel, The Center of Gravity, earned a Coffee Pot Book Club (UK) “Highly Recommended” 5-Star Award. It recently was awarded a bronze medal (fiction-mystery-historical category) in the Readers Favorite International Book Contest.

 Her second novel, A Rule of Live, was selected as a gold medal (YA, Historical Fiction category) 2021 Book of the Year by The Coffee Pot Book Club. It also was recently selected as a bronze medal (YA Mystery category) winner in the Readers Favorite International Book Contest.

Rise of the Pale Moon was selected as a finalist for the American Writing Awards 2025.

All novels have gleaned several excellent editorial reviews.

Connect with Patricia:


 

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Thursday, 4 June 2026

What The Ocean Brings by Tonya Ulynn Brown



What The Ocean Brings
By Tonya Ulynn Brown



Publication Date: June 4th, 2026
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Pages: 393
Genre: Historical Romance


Quebec, Canada, 1847. While trying to escape the Potato Famine, shipwrecked Irish immigrant Breanna Clarey awakens injured and alone on an unfamiliar beach. To make matters worse, she has been separated from her family, and her friend, Crow, is lying dead at her feet. But when Dawson Roberts, a reclusive fisherman with a guarded past and big dreams for his future, finds Breanna, he puts his plans on hold to offer her shelter and help find her family.

But life for an Irish immigrant isn't easy. Facing a deadly quarantine station, dangerous immigration officials, and grief over her missing family, Breanna struggles to exert her independence and navigate her new world. While Breanna confronts an unknown future, Dawson is plagued by a painful past. They each must determine their own course, even if it means ignoring the pull they have on each other.

When the future takes an unexpected turn, only the ocean that has brought them so much devastation can help them find their way back to where they belong.



Book Rating:

📚📚📚📚📚⭐ = A book in a million

📚📚📚📚📚 = I could not put this book down. I Highly Recommend it.

📚📚📚📚 = A really great read.

📚📚📚 = It was enjoyable.

📚📚 = It was okay.

📚 = Um...! 😕

Review
What The Ocean Brings
📚📚📚📚📚 = I could not put this book down. I Highly Recommend it.


I picked up “What the Ocean Brings” because I love historical romance, and it ended up being one of those books that completely pulled me in.

I felt for Breanna from the very beginning. After surviving the wreck of the Carricks, she finds herself alone, frightened, and not knowing what has happened to her family. I spent most of the book hoping she would find them.

Dawson was easily my favourite character. He is the sort of hero I always enjoy reading about—quiet, dependable, and genuinely kind. I loved the way he looked after Breanna without expecting anything in return. The fact that he hid her rather than risk her being sent to quarantine said everything about the sort of man he was.

I also really enjoyed watching their relationship develop. It felt believable. They spend time together, get to know one another, and slowly become important to each other. Nothing felt forced.

One scene that has stayed with me is when Dawson finds Breanna crying on the beach after the wreck. She is grieving for Tye and struggling with everything that has happened. It was such a simple scene, but it felt very real and was one of the moments that made me care about both characters.

I also liked that the story didn't shy away from the hardships faced by Irish immigrants arriving in Canada. The fear of disease, the uncertainty surrounding Breanna's family, and the constant struggle to survive all added depth to the story without overwhelming it.

The book reminded me a little of Susan Wiggs' “The Lightkeeper”. Both stories have that wonderful coastal setting and the kind of romance that develops quietly rather than all at once.

By the end, I didn't want to say goodbye to the characters, which is always a good sign. If you enjoy historical romance with likeable characters, a strong sense of place, and a story that keeps you turning the pages, I would definitely recommend this one.





Buy Link:


Tonya Ulynn Brown


Tonya Ulynn Brown is an award-winning historical romance author who writes emotionally rich tales of ancient castles, treacherous plots, and forbidden love. With a deep passion for the turbulent histories of England and Scotland, she brings the past vividly to life through stories where danger and desire walk hand in hand.

Tonya holds a master’s degree and teaches Reading and Writing at the elementary level. Fueled by iced coffees, beautiful books, and an enduring obsession with Mary, Queen of Scots, she fills her days writing, teaching, and researching the lives of long-dead monarchs and other historical figures.

Most of all, she loves spending time with her husband, two sons, and one very spoiled French bulldog.


Connect with Tonya:





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Wednesday, 3 June 2026

The Agincourt King – Audiobook (Plantagenet Legacy Series) by Mercedes Rochelle



The Agincourt King – Audiobook 
(Plantagenet Legacy Series) 
By Mercedes Rochelle


Publication Date: April 8th, 2024
Publisher: Sergeant Press
Pages: 260
Genre: Historical Fiction

Audiobook
Publication Date: May 4th, 2026
Publisher: Sergeant Press
Narrator: Kevin E. Green
Listening Length: 8 hours 36 minutes

From the day he was crowned, Henry V was determined to prove the legitimacy of his house.

His father's usurpation weighed heavily on his mind. Only a grand gesture would capture the respect of his own countrymen and the rest of Europe. He would follow in his great-grandfather Edward III's footsteps, and recover lost territory in France. Better yet, why not go for the crown?

Poor, deranged Charles VI couldn't manage his own barons. The civil war between the Burgundians and Armagnacs was more of a threat to his country than the English, even after Henry laid siege to Harfleur.

But once Harfleur had fallen, the French came to their senses and determined to block his path to Calais and destroy him. By the time the English reached Agincourt, they were starving, exhausted, and easy pickings. Or so the French thought.

Little did they reckon on Henry's leadership and the stout-hearted English archers who proved, once again, that numbers didn't matter when God was on their side.


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


Mercedes Rochelle


Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history, and has channeled 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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Thursday, 21 May 2026

HEROICA: Three women, three centuries, three reckonings Roma Nova by Alison Morton


HEROICA:

Three women, three centuries, three reckonings
Roma Nova
By Alison Morton


Publication Date: May 14th, 2026
Publisher: Pulcheria Press
Pages: 162
Genre: Collection of alternative history short(ish) stories


Even the strongest state is vulnerable to its past.

2020, Roma Nova. Carina Mitela investigates a potential rebellion but discovers the long-buried secret that ignited the attempted uprising links directly to her own powerful family.

1683, Vienna. As Europe struggles against the Ottoman onslaught, Honoria Mitela leads her troops into the desperate battle to save besieged Vienna. The fate of Europe – and of Roma Nova itself – hangs in the balance.

1849, Central Italy. Statia Mitela’s impulsive act saves one life but jeopardises Roma Nova’s very existence and threatens her descendants with public disgrace, financial ruin and permanent exile. 
-----------
Three stories of the women of the Mitela family, descendants of the founders of Roma Nova, bound by blood and courage.



Praise for HEROICA:

“All three stories in this collection deal with honour and the question of being true to oneself, especially if this entails running the risk of coming into conflict with the state and the status quo. All three central women are physically and morally brave, even rash. Their strength of spirit is never in doubt.”
~ Lorna Fergusson, Fictionfire

“For anyone who has read and enjoyed the Roma Nova stories before, this collection of novellas is a must. And if you haven’t, then please start from the beginning with INCEPTIO – you’ll be hooked!”
~ Christina Courtenay, bestselling author of romantic time-travel fiction

Excerpt

Excerpt from The Idealist, the third story in the HEROICA collection

Present day, Roma Nova. Carina Mitela, head of the ancient Mitela family, is going through the effects of the family archivist who has just died. 


At the bottom of the second box was a flat, rectangular parcel wrapped in old-fashioned brown paper and tied with string. I lifted it out and pulled on the string bow. Inside was a pale green book with a tooled leather spine and corners. In the middle of the front cover was a faded cream label with the date 1873 in copperplate writing.

‘What’s this, buried treasure?’ Conrad said, half laughing. 

I opened it.

Today, I am forty-two years of age, that same age my mother, Statia Mitela, had reached when Mercury conducted her to the edge of the Styx to take Charon’s ferry. It is thus fitting that I recount my understanding of those events.
Leonia, Countess Mitela

And there were pages and pages of neat classical Latin, under headings of days and months, written in a careful and dry style. We sat in the atrium and took turns to read it out loud. Allegra came and settled next to me, leaning on my shoulder. Between the stilted words my imagination filled in the rest.


Outskirts of Rome, Italy, 2nd July 1849

‘Mercury be thanked,’ Statia rasped when she saw the ancient milestone ‘Roma VI’. And these would be six good Roman miles. She swallowed hard, which made her dry throat worse. Despite the broad-brimmed riding hats the four of them wore, the brutal heat of the early July sun beat down, exhausting them all. Statia reined in her mount under the shade of one of the occasional clumps of pines and patted his shoulder almost absent-mindedly. The poor horse, a hired animal, was as weary as she was. And as dusty from the road. If only the following generations had maintained the Via Valeria as it had been in the Ancients’ time, it would have been a smoother journey.

‘Domina?’ Her leading companion drew up beside her. 

‘I need a drink, Ranius,’ she said and swivelled round in her saddle. The other two riders were only a few paces behind. ‘And so do the animals.’

‘The Anio below us would be best and we can rest by the bank,’ he replied.

They picked their way down to the river where Ranius supervised the two servants in watering the horses. After a few moments, he left them to it and sat by Statia on the wool rug she had pulled from her saddle pack. 

‘Yes,’ she said as he stared at it. ‘I know. Well and good for the mountains we’ve come through from the Adriatic, but inappropriate for Rome in June. But even though we’re incognito, I don’t want to enter Rome with grass stains or mud on my breeches’ arse.’ 

Ranius laughed. The first time, Statia noted, since they’d left Roma Nova eleven days ago under the cover of darkness. She hadn’t known what a terrible sailor he was until they’d slipped out of Pula in Istria on the merchant ship. He’d kept a pale, grim, nearly green face until they’d landed safely at Aternum, or Pescara as the Italians called it now. A former Praetorian centurion, he was used to travelling fast through mountains on ramshackle cold trails. These days, he guarded her home, the Domus Mitelarum, but more than that, he gave her, informally, wise counsel almost as a father would. He’d tried to stop her mission, calling it demented, but had given in with a grunt when she said she would go with or without him. Now they were near Rome, Statia was starting to have her doubts. Perhaps she should have stayed on the farm at Castra Lucilla where she knew what she was doing.

No, she must go on, whatever the cost. She had promised and that was an end on it. She knew the consequences could be harsh, but she was sure the imperatrix would see the justice of it. Well, Statia hoped she would. Constantia Apulia’s disinclination to help the new Roman Republic created by the people of Rome themselves played on Statia’s mind. While the imperatrix and her council supported the overthrow of the bishop of Rome’s rule, they preferred to remain neutral until matters clarified. Now, unfortunately, they had.

Consulted in strictest confidence, Councillor Branca, the imperatrix’s chief advisor, had pursed her lips.

‘This self-imposed mission is beyond reckless, Statia. It cannot end well.’

‘I must save this man. He is Italy’s future. As Romans ourselves we should be supporting him.’

‘He’s a dangerous revolutionary intent on bringing in a republic.’

‘And the Gracchi, Scipio Africanus, Fabius and Cincinnatus weren’t true republicans in ancient times?’


Buy Links

Alison Morton


Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. Her twelve-book Roma Nova series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but use a sharp line in dialogue. 

She blends her fascination for Ancient Rome with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.  

Alison lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her three contemporary thrillers, Double Identity, Double Pursuit and Double Stakes.

For the latest news, subscribe to her newsletter at https://www.alison-morton.com/newsletter/ and receive 'Welcome to Alison Morton’s Thriller Worlds' as a thank you gift.

Connect with Alison:



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Wednesday, 20 May 2026

Beyond the Dark Oceans by Alison Huntingford


Beyond the Dark Oceans

By Alison Huntingford


Publication Date: March 31st, 2026
Publisher: Lupin Publications
Pages: 386
Genre: Historical Fiction

A family united, a family divided…

In 1906, the Huntingford family leaves England for a hopeful new life in Canada, but for eldest son Georgy, the promise of opportunity quickly becomes a test of endurance, responsibility, and fate. As he comes of age amid the hardships of immigrant life, the outbreak of the First World War pulls him back across the ocean and into a world forever changed by loss and sacrifice.

When Georgy’s brother disappears in the chaos of war, grief and uncertainty fracture the family he is fighting to hold together. Reunited with his cousin Nellie, Georgy finds solace in a love as powerful as it is forbidden—one that offers hope in the darkest of times while threatening to tear his family apart.

Based on true events, Beyond the Dark Oceans is a moving story of love, loyalty, and resilience, exploring how ordinary lives are shaped—and divided—by extraordinary moments in history.


Buy Link:
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.


Alison Huntingford


Alison Huntingford is a writer with a deep passion for family history and storytelling. With a background rooted in the rich traditions of the Huntingford family, Alison seeks to honour the stories passed down through generations. She is the author of a successful series of works that explore historical and personal narratives. She is an only child of two only children and so has always felt a distinct lack of family. This has inspired her work.

After an upheaval in her personal life, Alison achieved a degree in humanities with literature through the Open University which helped to give her a new start. A teaching career followed which then led naturally to writing. She is now retired from full-time work, but busier than ever.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their pets, listening to music, going to the cinema, and gardening on her allotment. She also runs the South Hams Authors Network, a local writers collective based in South Devon.

Connect with Alison:
Website • Twitter / X • Bluesky • Facebook • Instagram • Threads • Pinterest



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Tuesday, 19 May 2026

Escape of the Grand Duchess by Susan Appleyard


Escape of the Grand Duchess
By Susan Appleyard


Publication Date: 27th July 2025
Publisher: Ingenium Books Publishing Inc.
Page Length: 412
Genre: Biographical Historical Fiction 

Escape of the Grand Duchess by Susan Appleyard is a gripping historical novel that shatters the notion that royalty is synonymous with privilege and ease. At its heart is Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, the youngest sister of Tsar Nicholas II—a Romanov who defied a doomed destiny and survived.

Unlike her ill-fated brother and his family, Olga’s story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and daring escape. Trapped in a loveless marriage to a reckless gambler—who harbours secrets of his own—she finds hope in the arms of a dashing army lieutenant. But before she can claim her own happiness, she must first endure the brutal realities of World War I, where she serves as a nurse on the frontlines.

As the Russian Empire teeters on the brink of collapse, the infamous Siberian mystic Rasputin tightens his grip on the imperial court, setting the stage for revolution. With the Bolsheviks seizing power and the Romanovs marked for death, Olga faces an impossible choice: risk everything to stay or flee into the unknown with her true love and their children.

Rich in historical detail and driven by an unforgettable heroine, Escape of the Grand Duchess is a sweeping riches-to-rags tale of survival, love, and the strength it takes to forge a new life in the face of unimaginable upheaval.

Excerpt

It was a fine day, with the grass in the English Garden of the Pavlovsk Palace turning green and spikes of new growth poking through the saturated soil. I sat beside Nicky on the horse Misha had bought me, wearing my Akhtyrsky uniform. Surrounded by high military officers, I watched as the regiments marched by in their colourful uniforms: Hussars and Cossacks, Guardsmen and Marines, each company in precise formation, each button winking in the sun, each boot polished and scuff-free. Each manoeuvre delighted the watchers with its perfect symmetry. When my own regiment marched by, I held my fingertips to my brow in the prescribed manner. 
Later, when the review was over, I was talking to some of the officers of my regiment when I saw Misha with a tall, blond man in the uniform of the Blue Cuirassiers who caught my attention. I think it was the pleasant surprise when a smile warmed his handsome but solemn face, and two dimples appeared. But it was more than that. It really was. On that day, I learned that love at first sight did exist. I wanted to know that man; I wanted that smile to warm me.
Misha was a colonel of the Blue Cuirassiers, so at the first opportunity, I asked him about the man who’d had such an impact on me. “That’s Nikolai Kulikovsky. Caught your fancy, has he? And you a married woman.” He grinned, his eyes dancing. 
I ignored his teasing. “What do you know about him?” 
“He’s an excellent horseman and has extraordinary skill in riding and training Arabians.” To Misha, those were admirable attributes. When it seemed he would say no more, a discreet poke in the ribs elicited more information. “He’s from a military family in the south—actually, I believe they’re from the Voronezh area. Now there’s a coincidence. They also have property in Ukraine. He’s only recently joined the Blues. His fellow officers call him God Apollo. That’s about all I know.” 
God Apollo—he was that. Goose bumps rose on my arms. “I can see why. Is he married? Engaged?” 
“No. Olga—” 
I turned to him and laid a hand on his gold-braided sleeve. “Misha, no lectures, please. I would like to meet him. Why don’t you invite me to your luncheon tomorrow and arrange for us to sit together? Could you do that?” 
He weighed the alternatives: morality and possible scandal against my barren marriage and his big-brother desire to please me. Finally, he said, “He’s a lowly lieutenant. I hope you know what you are doing.” 
“The male version of a ballerina, perhaps?” I said with a giggle. “I just want to get to know him. Perhaps we’ll become friends. Perhaps not. We shall see.” 
The following day, I put aside my dolman and dressed in a white chiffon gown with a pale green sash at my waist. I wore only simple pear-shaped pearl earrings and a fresh rose from a bouquet in my bungalow pinned to my breast. Mimka had learned to style my hair and took particular care that day. 
Despite his misgivings, Misha had arranged my seat beside the lieutenant’s. When I slid into the chair, he rose, bowed, making a good attempt to hide his surprise, and said, “Good day, Your Imperial Highness.” 
“Good day, Lieutenant.” 
He reclaimed his own seat. At the same time as he looked my way, I looked at him, admiring his sculpted lips beneath a shapely moustache, and eyes: brown, warm, velvet, surrounded by thick, dark lashes. He had the figure of an athlete, slim but muscular. 
“Would Your Imperial Highness permit me to introduce myself? I—” 
“I know who you are. I asked my brother.” 
He smiled, and the dimples bracketed his mouth, and I smiled back. There it was. An instant connection. I can describe it no other way. Warmth wound its way through my veins to my fingertips and toes, and I felt sure I was blushing. I had never felt that way before. I wanted to kiss those dimples. No, what I really wanted was to kiss his mouth. Lips and moustache, two different textures against my lips. I felt sure it would be thrilling. Did he know what I was thinking? Did I look like a besotted schoolgirl? I knew the colonel on my other side had asked me a question, but I couldn’t look away until Nikolai did, releasing me to respond to my neighbour. The spell was broken but the feelings it awoke had not. I thought, This is so unlike me, to behave so with a stranger. 
After speaking briefly with the colonel, I turned back to Nikolai so that I could further admire that lovely profile. Lunch was smoked salmon and caviar with early greens, washed down by champagne. I barely tasted the food and drank only in sips. I was amused to see that Misha was keeping an eye on me and raised my glass to him as a thank-you. 
“My brother tells me you are a keen horseman.” 
“Horses,” he said in the tone of voice another man might have said, ‘Sweetheart.’ “Very intelligent creatures. You can talk to them, and they listen and obey.” 
“Unlike women?” I teased.
“Um …” he said, embarrassed. “I didn’t mean …” 
“No, of course you didn’t. I have a wicked sense of humour. What else do you like about horses?” 
“They are loyal, brave, full of grace and dignity, and they dance prettily. Like a woman.” We both smiled—oh, those dimples. Captivating—and I was pleased to know that he had a sense of humour. 
“Does Your Imperial Highness ride?” 
“I learned to ride at Gatchina when I was a girl. My brother and I rode around the estate and sometimes had races. He always won.” 
“His Imperial Highness is an excellent horseman.” 
“He said the same of you.” 
I took a bite of the salmon, and the colonel spoke to me again. I supposed he might be annoyed that I was giving most of my attention to a subordinate. A rather attractive lady was on his other side, whom he was ignoring, so I suspected she might be his wife. After giving him the requisite attention and laughing at a bad joke, I turned back to Nikolai, who, to my vexation, was engaged with his neighbour. The colonel addressed me again. When Nikolai and I were both free, I quickly captured his attention. 
“I understand you come from a military background. Is that why you became a soldier?” 
“It was preordained. My grandfather fought in the army that defeated Napoleon. I’ve been riding since I was a small boy. I went to the Nikolai Cavalry College, where I earned a degree before joining the Blue Cuirassiers. I’m now studying marksmanship and light machine-gun shooting.”
How extraordinary. He might have joined any of the many regiments, but he chose the Blues, bringing him here on this day when I had joined my brothers to watch the review. We spoke no words of love, exchanged no tokens, and I did not tell him about my unhappy marriage. But after speaking with him throughout most of the luncheon, I knew that something had been set in motion—something that I felt was intrinsically good—and I was not willing to let it end. 


Buy Link:

Susan Appleyard



Susan was born in England, which is where she learned to love English history, and now lives in Canada in the summer. In winter she and her husband flee the cold for their second home in Mexico. Susan divides her time between writing and her hobby, oil painting, although writing will always be her first love. She was fortunate in having had two books published traditionally. Since joining the ebook crowd, she has published nine books, some of which have won various awards.

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Some Starry Night by Irene Latham



Some Starry Night

By Irene Latham



Publication Date: April 14th, 2026
Publisher: Historium Press
Pages: 264
Genre: Historical Fiction


Under the pale glow of a Parisian spring in 1886, two restless souls move toward the same horizon-unaware that their meeting will ignite a love as luminous and fleeting as the stars themselves.


Vincent van Gogh arrives in Paris with little more than paint-stained hands and an aching determination to create something worthy of the world. Living in the cramped apartment of his brother Theo, he struggles against poverty, doubt, and the relentless pull of his own restless mind.


Across the ocean in Amherst, Emily Dickinson receives news that changes everything. Faced with the nearness of death, the reclusive poet does the unthinkable: she leaves the quiet safety of the Homestead and sails for Paris, determined to taste life before it slips beyond her reach.


When Emily agrees to sit for Vincent's portrait, their worlds collide in a blaze of color, poetry, and dangerous intimacy. Through letters, poems, and whispered confessions, the two artists discover in one another a fierce, unguarded understanding-one that will shape their art, their faith, and the fragile hours they have left.


But love between stars is never simple. As time grows short and darkness gathers, Vincent and Emily must decide whether beauty is meant to last...or simply to burn bright enough to change the night forever.


Some Starry Night is a sweeping, lyrical imagining of the hidden story behind Vincent van Gogh's most iconic painting – an unforgettable tale of love, creativity, and the courage to live fiercely, even in the shadow of the end.


Excerpt


May 5, 1887


My dear Emily,


Forget Agostina. And forgive my careless words. In my

rush to share all I can with you, I sometimes do not

think about what effect my words will have when they

come so cold and dry on paper, and not from my

mouth.


If we were together, you would know it is not just a

portion of my heart that you occupy. My whole paint-

splattered soul is yours.


I’ve been in such a frenzy, trying to make the time

pass to the moment when we shall meet again, that I

fear I have run out of flowers. All the Paris greenhouse

keepers know me by name. Asters, dahlias, daisies,

geraniums, hollyhocks, lilacs, phlox, salvia . . . It’s a

shame I’m not a better gardener, and I only keep the

cuttings long enough to set them dancing on the canvas

in fields of blue.


I’d like to share a trick I use when painting trees or

flowers. I try to find the soul in them. Do you know

what I mean? Sometimes, a stand of willows might re-

semble a procession of weary, old men. Or I might find

a child’s face in a zinnia. It’s a special way of looking.


A poet’s way of looking.


Just a bit longer, mon petit oiseau. Every time I

read your words in your distinctive pen, it’s almost as

if the hand of God is upon my chest. The demons I

carry stop their chortling. You have that power, Emily.


Love,


Your Vincent




Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link

Historium Press Buy Link


Irene Latham


Irene Latham writes poems and stories from the Purple Horse Poetry Studio & Music Room in Blount County, Alabama. She is the author or co-author of many books for young people, including African Town, winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Outstanding Historical Fiction.

This is her first novel for adults.



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Rise of the Pale Moon by Patricia Brandon

Rise of the Pale Moon By Patricia Brandon Publication Date: October 15th, 2024 Publisher: Palmetto Publishers Pages: 262 Genre: Historical F...