Monday 18 March 2024

Look who is in the SPOTLIGHT!!! Exsilium by Alison Morton



Exsilium
By Alison Morton


Publication Date: February 27th,  2024
Publisher: Pulcheria Press
Page Length: 364 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

Exile – Living death to a Roman

AD 395. In a Christian Roman Empire, the penalty for holding true to the traditional gods is execution. 

Maelia Mitela, her dead husband condemned as a pagan traitor, leaving her on the brink of ruin, grieves for her son lost to the Christians and is fearful of committing to another man.

Lucius Apulius, ex-military tribune, faithful to the old gods and fixed on his memories of his wife Julia’s homeland of Noricum, will risk everything to protect his children’s future.

Galla Apulia, loyal to her father and only too aware of not being the desired son, is desperate to escape Rome after the humiliation of betrayal by her feckless husband.

For all of them, the only way to survive is exile.

Excerpt

(Walking home with her aunt Honorina from Lucius Apulius’s house and escorted by Lucius’s cousin, Marcellus Varus, whom Lucius suggests she might like to marry, Maelia Mitela is furious.)

Rome, June 389

‘Are you well?’ Varus batted away a beggar with his arm as we walked down the road from Proculus’s parents’ house. 
‘Yes, thank you,’ I lied. I was furious with Lucius and now embarrassed by Varus’s offer to escort us home. I glanced at him then looked away. Tall and with a good figure, but I’d always thought of him as from my parents’ generation. He must be fifty at the least. Now Lucius had planted the idea of him as a new husband in my head. There was no doubt of his kindness and for somebody in the circles of power here in Rome, he was said to be honest. But as a husband? No. I blinked hard and resolved to forget Lucius’s stupid remark. 
It was only the tenth hour and the sky was still full of glorious June sunshine, warm with a heat haze over the red-tiled roofs below. We crossed in front of Diocletian’s Baths in silence. As we descended from the Quirinal Hill, the warmth and smell of everyday life increased along with shouting, animal noises and clattering of boots and handcart wheels on the street. The Mitelus domus sat on the summit of the Mons Cispius, part of the Esquiline, so it wasn’t too far away. But the climb up the Cispius was steep. The bearers of Honorina’s litter puffed as they navigated the short flight of steps between two curves in the path. A grunt of displeasure came from between the curtains and one was wrenched back. 
‘I swear they become clumsier and weaker every day,’ Honorina said. 
‘Peace, Aunt.’ I smiled. ‘You know very well we’d need to go round the long way across half the Esquiline otherwise.’
‘I suppose I do, but jaunts like this remind me I’m too old to be thrown around in a litter like a sack of cats for drowning.’
I did laugh at that as she loved the cats we kept in the house to keep the rats and mice away. I’d often found her with at least one on her lap as she read. ‘Only for the warmth,’ she’d say in a neutral voice then set about caressing the cat, making it purr loudly. We arrived shortly afterwards at the large door of Domus Mitela set in between the shop selling fine pottery and the other one smelling heavenly with piles of spices in large bowls on its front counter. 
Varus thumped on the door.
‘I will leave you here, Maelia Mitela.’ He bowed to my aunt as the door opened and she stepped down from her litter. 
‘Thank you, Marcellus Varus,’ I replied. I kept my tone formal as I still felt awkward. ‘We’re grateful for your escort. My aunt is tired and I must see her to her bed.’
He bowed to me this time but said nothing and left.
‘Well, at least somebody has manners.’ My aunt leant heavily on my arm as I guided her along the vestibule to the atrium. ‘He’s a widower since his wife expired from the coughing sickness. You could—’
‘Don’t, Aunt!  I had that heavy hint from Lucius. I do not wish to marry again. I have three children, including a son. The law will therefore not compel me.’
‘Well, I only want to help, child. Don’t jump down my throat.’ She studied my face. ‘Aren’t you ever lonely, though?’
I said nothing. How could I explain? I did like Varus, but as a reliable acquaintance, as he had been this afternoon. Luckily, my aunt’s body slave appeared and making cooing noises, took Honorina off in the direction of her sleeping chamber. I sighed with relief. After a day like this, I needed some peace, so I went to sit in the peristyle and enjoy the evening sun. Even if I did wish to marry Varus, I wouldn’t, as it would mean living under the same roof as his nightmarish sister. That was an end to it.


 Alison Morton


Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. Her ten-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. The latest, EXSILIUM, plunges us back to the late 4th century, to the very foundation of Roma Nova.

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 now lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her two contemporary thrillers, Double Identity and Double Pursuit. 

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Tuesday 12 March 2024

Read an excerpt from A Matter of Time: Henry VIII, the Dying of the Light by Judith Arnopp



A Matter of Time: Henry VIII, the Dying of the Light
By Judith Arnopp


Publication Date: 2nd February 2024. Publisher: Independently Published. Page Length: 302. Genre: Historical Biographical Fiction

With youth now far behind him, King Henry VIII has only produced one infant son and two bastard daughters. More sons are essential to secure the Tudor line and with his third wife, Jane Seymour dead, Henry hunts for a suitable replacement.

After the break from Rome, trouble is brewing with France and Scotland. Thomas Cromwell arranges a diplomatic marriage with the sister of the Duke of Cleves but when it comes to women, Henry is fastidious, and the new bride does not please him. The increasingly unpredictable king sets his sights instead upon Katherine Howard and instructs Cromwell to free him from the match with Cleves.

Failure to rid the king of his unloved wife could cost Cromwell his head.

Henry, now ailing and ageing, is invigorated by his flighty new bride but despite the favours he heaps upon her, he cannot win Katherine’s heart. A little over a year later, broken by her infidelity, she becomes the second of his wives to die on the scaffold, leaving Henry friendless and alone.

But his stout heart will not surrender and leaving his sixth wife, Katheryn Parr, installed as regent over England, Henry embarks on a final war to win back territories lost to the French more than a century before. Hungry for glory, the king is determined that the name Henry VIII will shine brighter and longer than that of his hero, Henry V.

Told from the king’s perspective, A Matter of Time: Henry VIII: the Dying of the Light shines a torch into the heart and mind of England’s most tyrannical king.



Excerpt

June 1541 Henry and Katherine Howard on royal progress

Brandon is not with us this night, having ridden ahead to make preparation for our stay with him at Grimsthorpe, but I am content with Katherine beside me, a few musicians, and her favourite ladies and my closest gentlemen. We grow merry, the youngest members of the party dancing into the early hours. The music rises and falls, the fire crackles, while I sit and eat and watch, with my foot resting on a stool. 

When they form up for the next dance, Katherine is partnered by Culpepper, and they make an elegant pairing. I look on enviously as the steps of the dance take them close together. Their elbows hook, and then they part again, Katherine’s hand reluctantly extended toward him as the dance dictates. Surrounded by the gaiety of the company, yet not part of it, I grow bored, longing for my bed. I’ve admitted to nobody how the journey is taking its toll, on both my health and my spirits. I close my eyes, rest my head on the back of my chair and thank God for the good company. The words of a song I wrote long ago jangle in my mind.

Pastime with good company
I love and shall until I die;


Judith Arnopp


A lifelong history enthusiast and avid reader, Judith holds a BA in English/Creative writing and an MA in Medieval Studies. She lives on the coast of West Wales where she writes both fiction and non-fiction. She is best known for her novels set in the Medieval and Tudor period, focusing on the perspective of historical women but recently she has been writing from the perspective of Henry VIII himself.

Judith is also a founder member of a re-enactment group called The Fyne Companye of Cambria which is when she began to experiment with sewing historical garments. She now makes clothes and accessories both for the group and others. She is not a professionally trained sewer but through trial, error and determination has learned how to make authentic looking, if not strictly historically accurate clothing. Her non-fiction book, How to Dress like a Tudor was published by Pen and Sword in 2023.

Her novels include:
A Song of Sixpence: the story of Elizabeth of York
The Beaufort Chronicle: the life of Lady Margaret Beaufort (three book series)
A Matter of Conscience: Henry VIII, the Aragon Years (Book One of The Henrician Chronicle)
A Matter of Faith: Henry VIII, the Days of the Phoenix (Book Two of The Henrician chronicle)
A Matter of Time: Henry VIII, the Dying of the Light (Book Three, Coming soon)
The Kiss of the Concubine: a story of Anne Boleyn
The Winchester Goose: at the court of Henry VIII
Intractable Heart: the story of Katheryn Parr
Sisters of Arden: on the Pilgrimage of Grace
The Heretic Wind: the life of Mary Tudor, Queen of England
Peaceweaver
The Forest Dwellers
The Song of Heledd

Previously published under the pen name – J M Ruddock.
The Book of Thornhold
A Daughter of Warwick: the story of Anne Neville, Queen of Richard III

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Monday 11 March 2024

Look who is in the SPOTLIGHT!!! Her Own Legacy (Château de Verzat Book 1) by Debra Borchert

 

Her Own Legacy 
(Château de Verzat Book 1)
By Debra Borchert


Publication Date: 1st September 2022
Publisher: Le Vin Press
Page Length: 507 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

A Woman Fights for Her Legacy as the French Revolution Erupts.

Headstrong Countess Joliette de Verzat prefers secretly managing her family’s Loire Valley château and vineyards to the cut-throat politics of Versailles. For nearly three centuries, generations of families have toiled to produce Château de Verzat wines, and their homes and livelihoods depend upon Joliette. But ancient laws block her from inheriting property—unless she is widowed.

Revolution erupts. Thousands of women march on Versailles. Caught in the battle, Joliette risks her own life to save her lover’s. She flees to Paris, blazing with hatred for aristocrats, where she discovers her illegitimate half-brother, Henri—the secret rightful heir who disdains the nobility to which he unknowingly belongs.

As insurrection mounts, Joliette faces heartbreaking choices. She must risk all that she loves and trust the people she has saved to save her.




Her Own Revolution
Château de Verzat Series, Book 2
By Debra Borchert


Publication Date: 14th July 2023
Publisher: Le Vin Press
Page Length: 364 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

A Woman Forges a Treacherous Path to Save Hundreds from the Guillotine.

If Geneviève Fouquier-Tinville had the same rights as a man, she wouldn’t have to dress like one, which she does to attend University—forbidden to women. By swearing her commitment to the revolution, she succeeds in convincing her father, the Public Prosecutor who condemns thousands to the guillotine, to hire her as a court clerk. But she intends to earn passage to join her lover, Henri, in America.

Tasked with copying lists of names scheduled for execution, she reads Louis LaGarde, a fallen noble whom she despises for having exposed her as a woman when they both attended University. Believing him innocent, she replaces his name with one already dead, saving his life. But she realizes that unless she forges a treacherous path, hundreds more will perish at her father’s hands.

When a Revolutionary hunts her down, she must accept LaGarde’s help, yet she denies her attraction to him out of loyalty to Henri. She fights for her life and the lives of those she’s come to love, but she must face the truth of her own heart.





Excerpt

Her Own Legacy, Nantes, August 21, 1792

Joliette must board a ship during a storm

The officer clambered up the ropes to the ship’s deck fast as a monkey. A few lights from the vessel blinked and shimmered against the choppy water. The sky was indiscernible from the water. Darkness, as deep as that of the tunnels, fell.
Henri whispered to Étienne and turned to me. “You must climb the ropes. I will be above you, and Étienne will be below you.” 
Everything stopped—my breath, my heart, my thoughts. The wind stirred a cacophony of waves crashing against the hulls. Cold spray drenched me. I stared at Henri’s eyes, dark and pinched. 
“Climb…to the ship?”
He tied a rope around my waist and the other end around his own. He put out his hand. “Hurry. Before the storm worsens.” My mouth would not open. Henri’s fingers wrapped around my wrist. He stepped onto the rope ladder.
Étienne held out the bottom rung. My feet were part of the deck, as if rooted to it. Étienne took my other hand and coaxed, “Do not look down. Only up, at Henri.”
The makeshift ladder swayed above. Waves leaped through its rungs. Henri’s foot slipped, but he caught himself. “The first step’s the most difficult, but you’re braver than I am.” He gently tugged me. 
Like Papa. They both knew I could not resist a challenge. I pressed my feet to the deck, lifted my foot, then grasped the side rope. A wave crashed, and the deck dropped from below me, leaving my foot pawing the air. I screamed but did not hear it. I clung to the side rope. Étienne’s hand pressed my foot onto the rung. I panted for breath and pressed my forehead against the ship. Cold, black waves jumped and swallowed my foot.
“Keep looking up!” Étienne shouted.
My legs vibrated so I pressed all my weight into my foot as soon as it found a rung. A sliver of pale light spilled over the ship’s deck. I wanted to fly to it. 
The wind skirled, twisting the rope and me around so I faced out over the harbor. Like a giant hand it pushed me away from the ship, then slammed me back against its hull. My breath burst from me. I lost my grip. Henri held me tighter, and another hand grasped my flailing arm. My legs pedaled. Hands gripped my arms and hauled me up over the rail and onto the deck, landing me like a fish. I lay on my stomach, gasping as the world spun and rain thundered. 
Henri draped a woolen blanket over me. He crouched down, helped me to sit up, and rubbed my back.
As if by magic, a pair of tall, shiny black boots appeared before us. The man’s uniform was spotless, all white, trimmed in red and blue, with brass epaulettes broadening his shoulders—le Capitaine. He looked down. Water streamed off his tricorne and puddled onto the blanket.
“You wish passage?” His voice was rough as the wind.
Henri stood. “Yes, Monsieur, le Capitaine.”
The man chuckled. “With a woman?”
Feeling like I still clung to the rope, I pushed myself up with the words searing my mouth. “I arranged for the wine shipment—” 
Henri gripped my arm and pulled me back. 
Le Capitaine let out a grunt, turned, and walked away. “We sail when the tide turns.” 


Debra Borchert

Debra’s the author of the Château de Verzat series that follows headstrong and independent women and the four-hundred loyal families who protect a Loire Valley château and vineyard, and its legacy of producing the finest wines in France during the French Revolution. Her Own Legacy published 2022, Her Own Revolution published 2023, and Her Own War will be published in 2024. A passionate cook, she also wrote a companion cookbook to the series: Soups of Château de Verzat, A Culinary Tribute to the French Revolution, 2023. 

A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, she weaves her knowledge of textiles and clothing design throughout her historical fiction. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and standard poodle, named after a fine French Champagne.

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Thursday 29 February 2024

Look who is in the SPOTLIGHT!!! Covered in Flour by Charles Presti

 


Covered in Flour
By Charles Presti


Publication Date: October 10th, 2023. Publisher: Charles Presti. Page Length: 220. Genre: Historical Fiction

It's 1968 in Whisper Haven, and 8-year-old Carl Pozzi’s world is about to change. 

For eight-year-old Carl Pozzi, 1968 begins like any other year—playing kickball with friends and enjoying the comforting aroma of Mom's pasta dinners in their predominantly white suburban Whisper Haven home. But when Carl's teacher introduces lessons about racial prejudice and injustice, his worldview cracks wide open.

How far can innocence stretch before it snaps?

As Carl flips through the pages of his 3-ring binder, each lesson serves as a gateway to a journey of self-discovery and understanding. It's an expedition that not only changes him but reshapes his whole concept of family and justice—especially as he watches his father put on a police uniform during one of the most fraught periods in American history.

"Covered in Flour" is not just a heartfelt stroll down memory lane. It's a captivating coming-of-age saga that digs deep beneath the surface of suburban tranquility. It beckons you to reconsider long-held family values and confront the societal norms you've taken for granted. 

Written with genuine love, humor, and a tinge of sorrow, this story blends the nostalgia of tradition with the inevitability of change, offering a stirring mix that leaves you pondering long after the last page is turned. This book isn't just a delightful read; it's a catalyst for introspection, freshly baked and served for your soul.



Charles Presti


Charles Presti, emerging from the sun-drenched shores of Pensacola, Florida, crafts narratives that echo with the richness of his varied life. His journey from a USF College of Medicine graduate to a storyteller is as unconventional as it is inspiring. Drawing from his days as a physician and informatics specialist, Charles infuses his writing with a rare blend of scientific precision and heartfelt emotion. His debut novel, "Covered in Flour," is a vivid tapestry of his Italian-American heritage, his experiences in the whirlwind era of the 1960s, and his personal journey as a gay man. These elements converge to create stories that not only entertain but resonate deeply with themes of family, discovery, and the delicate dance of life's everyday moments.

Charles's passion for storytelling is paralleled only by his commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion. Alongside his husband, Mike Bruce, and their beloved Wheaton Terrier, Zoey, he is a vibrant force and founder of "Sunday's Child," a local charity dedicated to nurturing inclusion and empowering LGBTQ+ and  other marginalized communities through grants to local charities. A pillar in the Emerald Coast Writers group, he continually explores the nuances of identity, heritage, and a sense of belonging. Discover more about Charles's captivating world and "Covered in Flour" at www.coveredinflour.com, where each story is a window into a life lived fully and authentically.

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Look who is in the SPOTLIGHT!! Lighten the Load: A Pioneer Western Adventure by David Fitz-Gerald

 


Lighten the Load: A Pioneer Western Adventure
By David Fitz-Gerald


Publication Date: January 31, 2024. Publisher: David Fitz-Gerald. Page Length: 203 pags, Genre: Western, Historical Fiction.

After a devastating tragedy, Dorcas Moon faces brutal choices in the unforgiving wilderness.

An unsolved hometown murder casts a foreboding shadow over the journey. Mounting responsibilities weigh heavy on Dorcas' shoulders while navigating the trail along the Platte River. Family, friends, and neighbors can't seem to get along without her help.

The gruesome trail exacts a heavy toll. A sweeping grass fire blazes across the prairie. A doomed wagon careens down a treacherous hill. A fellow traveler is gored to death while hunting buffalo. Each disaster pushes the pioneers to the brink. Amidst the chaos, Dorcas grapples with the realization that she must dump her precious cook stove and her husband's massive safe. The oxen can no longer haul the heavy weight of unnecessary cargo.

When her daughter mysteriously disappears while the wagons are at Fort Laramie, Dorcas Despairs. She is desperate to help her daughter when the troubled youth is found in the arms of a Brulé man in Spotted Tail's village.

Secure your copy of Lighten the Load and delve into an unforgettable saga of empowerment, sacrifice, and the haunting echoes of the American frontier. Rejoin Dorcas Moon on the adventure of a lifetime as she confronts the challenges that shape her destiny.


This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

David Fitz-Gerald 


David Fitz-Gerald writes westerns and historical fiction. He is the author of twelve books, including the brand-new series, Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail set in 1850. Dave is a multiple Laramie Award, first place, best in category winner; a Blue Ribbon Chanticleerian; a member of Western Writers of America; and a member of the Historical Novel Society.

Alpine landscapes and flashy horses always catch Dave’s eye and turn his head. He is also an Adirondack 46-er, which means that he has hiked to the summit of the range’s highest peaks. As a mountaineer, he’s happiest at an elevation of over four thousand feet above sea level.

Dave is a lifelong fan of western fiction, landscapes, movies, and music. It should be no surprise that Dave delights in placing memorable characters on treacherous trails, mountain tops, and on the backs of wild horses.

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Monday 26 February 2024

Look who is in the SPOTLIGHT - The Trail to Crooked Creek by MK McClintock #HistoricalWesternRomance # @cathiedunn

 


The Trail to Crooked Creek 
By MK McClintock


Publication Date: February 20th, 2024. Publisher: Trappers Peak Publishing. Page Length: Novella. Genre: Historical Western Romance


Two years after the devastations of war left their mark on a country torn apart, Wesley Davenport, a former soldier haunted by his experiences on the battlefield crosses paths with Leah Tennyson, a teacher who helps him heal his emotional wounds—and discovers unexpected love in the most unlikely place.

The Trail to Crooked Creek, a novella, is a tale of resilience, compassion, and the triumph of the human spirit set in the breathtaking and sometimes unforgiving landscape of post-Civil War Montana Territory.

***

About the Crooked Creek Series:

"MK McClintock knows what readers want." ~ Readers' Favorite

Set in post-Civil War Montana Territory, in the small town of Crooked Creek, it all started with Emma. Her story was written for a contest, but I soon realized there were more women whose tales needed to be written. The war is over between the North and the South, but the battles at home are just beginning. If you love stories of bravery and courage with unforgettable women and the men they love, you'll enjoy the Crooked Creek series. 

Also Available:
The Women of Crooked Creek
Christmas in Crooked Creek




This title is available to read in #KindleUnlimited, and also in paperback and large print.


MK McClintock


MK McClintock is an award-winning author who writes historical romantic fiction about chivalrous men and strong women who appreciate chivalry. Her stories of romance, mystery, and adventure sweep across the American West to the Victorian British Isles with places and times between and beyond. 

Her works include the following series: Montana Gallaghers, Crooked Creek, British Agents, Whitcomb Springs, and the stand-alone collection, A Home for Christmas. She is also the co-author of the McKenzie Sisters Mysteries.

MK enjoys a quiet life in the northern Rocky Mountains. Visit her at www.mkmcclintock.com, where you can learn more about her books, explore extras, view her blog, and subscribe to receive news. 


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Wednesday 21 February 2024

Read an #excerpt from Steel Valley: Coming of Age in the Ohio Valley in the 1960s by Jerry Madden

 


Steel Valley: 
Coming of Age in the Ohio Valley in the 1960s 
By Jerry Madden


Publication Date: January 20, 2023 Publisher: Potomac Publishing Company Page Length: 350 pages Genre: Historical Fiction.

For readers of The World Played Chess by Robert Dugoni and Last Summer Boys by Bill Rivers

Love is never easy...even in easier times, like the 1950s and 1960s in the Ohio Valley with the steel industry booming.

Second-generation immigrant families were reaching for the American middle class. And Catholic schools-made feasible by selfless Catholic nuns-promised bigger lives for everyone, including Jack Clark and Laurie Carmine. As they spent years searching for their separate futures, though, they were also stumbling toward love just as their world came crashing down.

Steel Valley depicts a story of love longed for, lost, and perhaps still within reach, just as our nation's mythic yesterday became our troubled today, our last summer of innocence.



Jerry Madden



Jerry Madden grew up in the Upper Ohio Valley in the 1960s. He holds a B.A. from the College of Steubenville and law degrees from the University of Dayton School of Law and the Georgetown University Law Center. After law school, Jerry served as the sole law clerk to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio, C. William O'Neill. He served in the United States Marine Corps (R) between 1970 and 1976. 

Jerry has practiced law in Washington, D.C., since 1979, including fourteen years at the Department of Justice as a trial and appellate attorney. He is the principal of The Madden Law Group PLLC in Washington, D.C. 

He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife, Cyndi, a retired educator. They have two children, Kelsey and Jack, both of whom hold M.Ed. degrees. They have one grandchild, Jamie Maclennan. 

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Look who is in the SPOTLIGHT!!! Exsilium by Alison Morton

Exsilium By Alison Morton Publication Date: February 27th,  2024 Publisher: Pulcheria Press Page Length: 364 Pages Genre: Historical Fiction...