Monday, 23 February 2026

Read an excerpt from The Green Baize Door by Eleanor Birney


The Green Baize Door
By Eleanor Birney


Publication Date: January 27th, 2026
Publisher: Parlor & Dock Press
Pages: 295
Genre: Historical Mystery


An atmospheric historical mystery where every character has their own agenda, and their own truth.


In the fashionable mansions on Chestnut Hill, a simple green baize door separates the masters’ world from the servants’. That door is thrown wide when an elderly housekeeper is found brutally murdered on the first day of the new century. Marie Chevalier, the housekeeper’s poor but ambitious granddaughter, and James Lett, the mansion owner’s kind but indolent son, suspect the killer is connected to one of their families—but which one?


From drawing rooms to alleyways, their separate investigations lead them through the sometimes lavish, sometimes brutal, landscape of turn-of-the-century New England. When long-buried secrets begin to unravel the fragile threads that hold both households together, Marie and James must find a way to bridge the gulf between them—if only to prove that the murderer belongs not to their own world, but to that strange and foreign land on the other side of the green baize door.


Inspired by real-life events, The Green Baize Door is a richly layered historical mystery that explores themes of class identity, family loyalty, and the sometimes blurry line between virtue and vice.


Excerpt

The Opening

Chapter 1 — November 24, 1899. Six Weeks Before the Murder

The carriage was a country vehicle in the least flattering sense of the word. Wind and wet sputtered through great gaps between the windows and doors, and the cabin contained several well-used fur blankets that reeked of mildew and wet dog. The exterior had once been painted beetle-black, but rust from the undercarriage was gradually overtaking it, mapping the darkness with winding orange rivers and flaking continents. Inside, the walls and seats were upholstered in a bristling raspberry velvet that, over its many years of service, had gone a grayish brown where the springs pressed through.

James Lett, Jamie to his friends, wiped at the foggy window pane with his handkerchief and peered outside. "At this speed," he said, turning to the carriage's only other occupant, "we may as well have walked from the station. Does the fellow think he's being paid by the hour?"

Manassas Edmunds, Chief Financial Officer of the Keystone Lumber Company, shrugged. "Better to go slow than to get stuck in the mud and have to wait for rescue."

Jamie frowned. The old fellow wasn't wrong; the rain, which was coming down in torrents, had saturated the iron-rich embankment, and with each step, the horses sank to their fetlocks in mud as thick as potter's clay. Jamie sighed and slumped back into his seat. "Remind me, what's our itinerary?"

"We ride to Conifer tomorrow morning," Manassas answered. "You do the inspection tour while I review the ledgers."

"Mph," Jamie grunted. Inspection tours were typically less inspection and more tour, as it took a special kind of idiot to show the owner's son their blunders. It would be awkward, but at least it would end with a feast—they usually did. Famished and half-frozen as Jamie was, the thought of a hot meal could tempt him almost anywhere.

"You'll be fine," Manassas reassured him. "Your father just wants you to show your face. Let the men see the heir apparent."

Jamie turned back toward the window to hide his annoyance. He knew perfectly well what his father wanted, and, if you asked him, the Captain, as the men called him, was being damn foolish. Union agitators, and the rash of strikes that followed them, had been splashed across the front pages of the newspapers for months—first with the miners in Idaho and now with the newsboys in the City. It had the old man spooked, but if trouble was brewing, giving the millworkers a glimpse of his face would hardly hold it at bay.

If anyone else had been in the carriage, Jamie would have said as much outright, but Manassas was a company man to the marrow. He had been his father's friend and bookkeeper for as long as Jamie could remember and was incapable of entertaining the notion that the Captain could be wrong.

For the hundredth time that morning, Jamie wondered how he had allowed himself to be talked into this trip. A man whose appetite for nature was sated by a half-hour's walk in Central Park had no business boarding the eight o'clock Mohawk and Malone for an expedition into the wilds of Upstate New York. And yet, here he was, inching through a muddy wasteland in a carriage that should have been sold as scrap a generation ago. Jamie sighed and settled deeper into his seat. There was nothing to be done for it now, and he would have to get through the next few weeks as best he may.


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Eleanor Birney



Eleanor Birney writes historical mysteries about class, moral ambiguity, and people who aren’t satisfied with life on their side of the green baize door.


She received a BA in History from UC Berkeley, and works as a legal research attorney, a day job that feeds her love of precision, research, and puzzles.


Growing up in foster care gave her a lifelong fascination with the way society steers people into assigned places—and how some of those people refuse to stay in them.


She lives in Northern California with her family. The Green Baize Door is her debut novel.


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Sunday, 8 February 2026

Book Review: Quillan Creek and the Little War:Time Stones Book I by Ian Hunter

 



Quillan Creek and the Little War: 
Time Stones Book I 
By Ian Hunter


Publication Date: 3rd August 2018
Publisher: MVB Marketing-und Verlagsservice des Buchhandels
Print Length: 281 Pages
Genre: Historical Fantasy 

Jessie Mason lives with her nose in the pages of history. But she is about to discover that the past is a dangerous place where she doesn't belong, and knowledge alone is not going to save her.

In Jessie’s troubled life her aunt is the only constant and comfort she has. But when she inexplicably disappears, and Jessie uncovers her mother's Time Stone, that unhappy life turns unreal and terrifying.

She is summoned to a world in crisis, 250 years in her past, to three unlikely companions, and the aged Onondaga shaman, Nishkamich, who promises an education in the powers of the stones which they each possess.

Over one glorious summer, Jessie reluctantly settles to village life and the developing bond with her prickly friends, until they are forced to accept that their stones are being hunted through history.

But in the depths of winter, their friendship, their wits, and the very limits of their endurance, will be tested by an unforgiving Nature as war finally erupts around them.

Praise

"...the kind of book that one would forgo sleep to finish." 
The Coffee Pot Book Club

"...fantastical and riveting." 
booklife 

"...an exciting adventure for readers with unforgettable companions." 
The Book Commentary 

Book Rating:

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š⭐ = A book in a million

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š = I could not put this book down. I Highly Recommend it.

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š = A really great read.

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š = It was enjoyable.

πŸ“šπŸ“š = It was okay.

πŸ“š = Um...! πŸ˜•


My Review

Quillan Creek and the Little War: 
Time Stones Book I 

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š

I went into Quillan Creek and the Little War (Time Stones Book I) expecting an interesting historical fantasy aimed at a younger adult audience, but wow — did this book deliver. The story opens with an evil force hunting the Time Stones, ruthless in their quest and willing to travel to whatever century they need to in order to find them. And then, quite suddenly, in walk — or rather fall — the heroes of this tale.

Jessie, Tiponi, Abe, and Kesejowaase are thrown together — quite literally through time — and what follows is as much about learning to survive one another as it is about surviving the world they find themselves in. All four feel equally important, and it was refreshing to follow such different people as they each struggled with their own fears, responsibilities, and difficult choices. I especially enjoyed seeing how their personalities sometimes clashed and sometimes complemented one another, and how their doubts and mistakes made them feel genuinely real rather than idealised heroes.

One of the strongest aspects of the story is the sense of responsibility that hangs over every decision. Power, knowledge, and choice are never treated lightly, and there is a constant awareness that actions have consequences that cannot easily be undone. Nishkamich, the shaman, quickly became one of my favourite characters — his quiet wisdom and urgency add depth to the story and help guide the others through a world filled with uncertainty and danger.

By the final pages, I felt as though I had genuinely travelled alongside these characters and shared in their uncertainty, courage, and hard decisions. 


You can pick up a copy of this book on Amazon


Ian Hunter

Books have been an important part of my life as long as I can remember, and at 54 years old, that’s a lot of books. My earliest memories of reading are CS Lewis’, “The Horse and His Boy” – by far the best of the Narnia books, the Adventures series by Willard Price, and “Goalkeepers are Different” by sports journalist Brian Glanville. An eclectic mix. My first English teacher was surprised to hear that I was reading, Le CarrΓ©, Ken Follett, Nevil Shute and “All the Presidents’ Men” by Woodward and Bernstein at the age of 12. I was simply picking up the books my father had finished.

School syllabus threw up the usual suspects – Shakespeare, Chaucer, Dickens, Hardy, “To Kill a Mockingbird” – which I have reread often, and others I don’t immediately recall. By “A” level study, my then English teachers were pulling their hair out at my “perverse waste of talent” – I still have the report card! But I did manage a pass.

During a 35 year career, briefly in Banking and then in IT, I managed to find time, with unfailing family support, to study another lifelong passion, graduating with an Open University Bachelors’ degree in History in 2002. This fascination with all things historical inspired me to begin the Time Stones series. There is so much to our human past, and so many differing views on what is the greatest, and often the saddest, most tragic story. I decided I wanted to write about it; to shine a small light on those, sometimes pivotal stories, which are less frequently mentioned.

In 1995, my wife, Michelle, and I moved from England to southern Germany, where we still live, with our two children, one cat, and, when she pays us a visit, one chocolate labrador. I have been fortunate that I could satisfy another wish, to travel as widely as possible and see as much of our world as I can. Destinations usually include places of historic and archaeological interest, mixed with a large helping of sun, sea and sand for my wife’s peace of mind.

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Wednesday, 4 February 2026

Book Review: The Relic Keeper by Heidi Eljarbo : #HistoricalFiction #blogtour #YardeBookPromotions @HeidiEljarbo @maryanneyarde

 

The Relic Keeper
By Heidi Eljarbo


Publication Date: 18th November 2025
Publisher: Independently Published
Page Length: 162
Genre: Historical Fiction

Italy, 1620.

Angelo is an orphan, lonely and forgotten. Having been passed on from one family to the next, he ends up as a common thief, subject to and under the thumb of a ruthless robber called Tozzo.

Angelo knows no other life and has lost hope that any chance of providence will ever replace his lonely, misfortunate existence. When he loses his master, his livelihood is shaken. Tozzo’s plunder is hidden in a safe place, but what will happen if someone comes after Angelo to get their hands on the stolen relics? More than that, he feels threatened by words he’s heard too many times; that he’ll always remain unforgiven and doomed.

One day, a priest invites Angelo to help with chores around the church and rectory and, in exchange, offers him room and board. Padre Benedetto’s kindness and respect are unfamiliar and confusing, but Angelo’s safety is still a grave concern. Two older robbers have heard rumors about the hidden treasures and will stop at nothing to attain them.

With literary depictions and imagery, Angelo’s story is a gripping and emotional journey of faint hope and truth in seventeenth-century Italy—an artistic and audacious tale that crosses paths with art collector Vincenzo Giustiniani and the powerful Medici family.

Book Rating:

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š⭐ = A book in a million

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š = I could not put this book down. I Highly Recommend it.

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š = A really great read.

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š = It was enjoyable.

πŸ“šπŸ“š = It was okay.

πŸ“š = Um...! πŸ˜•

My Review

The Relic Keeper 

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š - I Highly Recommend it.

The story opens with Angelo, a young orphan trying to survive under the control of Tozzo, a cruel man who uses him to steal relics from churches. Life has been harsh and unforgiving for Angelo, and he has learned to trust very few people. His world changes when he meets Padre Benedetto, a kind and patient priest who offers guidance, shelter, and a chance to see that there might be more to life than mere survival. From there, Angelo’s journey takes him to Rome, where he encounters new experiences and the world of art, including a breathtaking painting that leaves him awestruck and forces him to confront emotions he has long kept buried.

What really works in this novel is the emotional depth and focus on character. Angelo’s growth feels natural, and Padre Benedetto’s quiet wisdom and compassion create a strong emotional anchor throughout the story. The way Eljarbo portrays the priest’s influence makes it easy to see why small acts of kindness can have such a lasting impact. At the same time, Angelo’s experiences in Rome add a sense of wonder and discovery, giving the story both heart and a touch of beauty that contrasts with the boy’s hard early life.

The book isn’t perfect. Some moments move more slowly than others, and the historical details occasionally require careful attention to follow, but they also enrich the story and make Angelo’s journey feel grounded and authentic. Even though the plot is mostly driven by character rather than action, it stays engaging because Angelo’s personal struggles and small victories are compelling to follow.

The Relic Keeper is a heartfelt and immersive read. It balances emotion, moral growth, and moments of awe, giving readers a story that is both moving and inspiring. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with strong characters, hope, and a quietly uplifting message.


You can pick up your copy of this book on AmazonIf you subscribe to #KindleUnlimited you can read this novel for free.


HEIDI ELJARBO grew up in a home full of books, artwork, and happy creativity. She is the author of historical novels filled with courage, hope, mystery, adventure, and sweet romance during challenging times. She’s been named a master of dual timelines and often writes about strong-willed women of past centuries.

After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She lives with her husband on a charming island and enjoys walking in any kind of weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history. Her family’s chosen retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summer and ski the vast white terrain during winter.

Heidi’s favorites are her family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.

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Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Book Review: The Unquiet Spirit (Spirited Encounters Book 1) by Penny Hampson @penny_hampson @maryanneyarde

 


The Unquiet Spirit 
(Spirited Encounters Book 1) 
By Penny Hampson


Publication Date: 17th October 2025
Publisher: PP&M Publishing
Page Length: 245
Genre: Paranormal Ghost Romance
Triggers: emotional abuse by partner

“The Unquiet Spirit” by Penny Hampson is an enthralling paranormal romance that weaves together elements of mystery and the supernatural. In this captivating tale, readers are drawn into a world where love transcends the boundaries of life and death, unveiling a profound connection between the living and the restless spirits that linger in the shadows. — Yarde Book Promotion

She wasn’t home alone...

With her love life in tatters, Kate Wilson needs a fresh start, and where could be better than the old Cornish house that had belonged to her godmother?

There’s just one problem – it comes with a ghost as a sitting tenant.

Her grumpy new neighbour, the broodingly handsome Tom Carbis, is another fly in the ointment – he seems to turn up wherever Kate goes. His dog might be friendly, but he’s definitely not.

Then the discovery of a hidden diary points Kate to a romantic mystery with links to both Tom’s family and her house’s past – a mystery that might explain the reason for her spectral lodger.

The downside? Kate needs Tom’s help to solve it and has to convince him that she is not his foe.

But working with Tom to unravel long-buried secrets has unexpected consequences, and Kate discovers far more than she bargained for.

The Unquiet Spirit is a spooky, suspense-filled, enemies-to-lovers romance.

Book Rating:

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š⭐ = A book in a million

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š = I could not put this book down. I Highly Recommend it.

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š = A really great read.

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š = It was enjoyable.

πŸ“šπŸ“š = It was okay.

πŸ“š = Um...! πŸ˜•

My Review

The Unquite Spirit


πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š⭐ = A book in a million


From the very first chapter of The Unquiet Spirit, it’s clear this isn’t just another ghost tale — it’s a carefully woven story about history, healing, and the quiet ways the past refuses to be forgotten. When Kate returns to Cornwall and steps into the house she’s unexpectedly inherited, Penny Hampson surrounds her, and us, with an evocative blend of unease and tenderness. The house doesn’t just creak with ghosts — it carries memories, regrets, and whispers of unfinished stories.

What truly sets this book apart is the emotional warmth beating beneath the mystery. Kate isn’t simply confronting restless spirits; she’s slowly reclaiming her confidence after life has worn her down. What could have been a straightforward haunting becomes something far more meaningful as Hampson infuses the narrative with empathy and depth. Kate’s slowly deepening friendship — and the spark of something more — with Tom Carbis brings a wonderful human balance to the supernatural tension. Their connection feels authentic: hesitant, endearing, and quietly hopeful.

And then there’s the haunting itself — beautifully layered and utterly compelling. Forgotten letters, echoes of old lives, and secrets hidden beneath time gradually emerge, drawing you deeper with every chapter. The ghostly presence at the heart of the story isn’t simply there to frighten; it’s achingly tragic, filled with heartbreak, loss, and a yearning that lingers long after the truth is revealed. Hampson blends the paranormal with history so seamlessly that the past feels vividly alive, breathing alongside the present rather than buried beneath it.

Despite its eerie moments, the story never feels heavy or bleak. Instead, it carries a gently haunting sadness balanced with warmth and hope, creating an atmosphere that enchants rather than overwhelms. Hampson strikes a lovely balance between suspense and compassion, weaving in humour, humanity, and genuine emotional depth that makes every character and every secret feel real.

In the end, The Unquiet Spirit is more than a spooky mystery; it’s a story about courage, connection, grief, and the healing power of facing what haunts us — both literally and emotionally. Immersive, heartfelt, and beautifully atmospheric, it’s an easy five-star read that lingers long after the last page — this is a book in a million.


You can pick up your copy of this book on AmazonIf you subscribe to #KindleUnlimited you can read this novel for free.


Penny Hampson writes mysteries, and because she has a passion for history, you’ll find her stories also reflect that. A Gentleman’s Promise, a traditional Regency romance, was Penny’s debut novel and the first of her Gentlemen Series. There are now four novels in the series, with the latest, An Adventurer’s Contract, released in November 2024. Penny also enjoys writing contemporary mysteries with a hint of the paranormal, because where do ghosts come from but the past? The Unquiet Spirit, a spooky mystery/romance set in Cornwall, is the first in the Spirited Encounters Series. Look out for A Plethora of Phantoms coming soon.

Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time).

If you’ve enjoyed any of Penny’s books please leave a review on Amazon, Bookbub, or Goodreads, and let other readers know!

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Monday, 19 January 2026

Book Review: Rough Diamond - Rough Justice by Avien Gray @aviengrayauthor @maryanneyarde


Rough Diamond - Rough Justice 
By Avien Gray


Publisher: Avien Gray. Page Length: 466. Genre: Political Thrillers & Suspense / Historical Fiction

After a first kill, MI5 Agent and erstwhile photographer Cain becomes an undercover, extra-judicial killer for a secret Bureau.

Recovering from injuries sustained protecting the Royal Family, Cain embracesa new life and romance in sun-drenched Australia, leaving his past life behind.

But when tragedy strikes, he is on the move again. This time to a new career in the world of diamond dealings in Florida.

Curiosity takes Cain to the diamond world in South Africa, where his past finally catches up with him, the criminal world allies against him and he becomes a killer again.

In Cain's action-packed escapades, a spectacular betrayal takes him into the rigours of a Chinese prison where the truth about his past begins to unravel.

Aided by a loyal band of friends from the shadowy world of intelligence, he delivers his own particular brand of rough justice.

However, with enemies closing in on all sides, will Cain prevail?

Trigger warnings: violence, murder

Praise

“Rough Diamond, Rough Justice” by Avien Gray is a riveting spy thriller that seamlessly blends electrifying elements of espionage, adrenaline-charged action, and daring escapades.

Yarde Book Reviews & Book Promotion

“A gripping high-stakes thriller, “Rough Diamond - Rough Justice” by Avien Gray is driven by the urgent question of whether one can ever truly escape a dark and violent past.”

The Coffee Pot Book Club

“Aiven Gray’s Rough Diamond, Rough Justice is a gritty and cinematic thriller that follows Cain, a former professional photographer turned MI5 surveillance agent, as he navigates a world of espionage, betrayal, and violence.”

Literary Titan


Book Rating:

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š⭐ = A book in a million

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š = I could not put this book down. I Highly Recommend it.

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š = A really great read.

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š = It was enjoyable.

πŸ“šπŸ“š = It was okay.

πŸ“š = Um...! πŸ˜•

My Review

Rough Diamond - Rough Justice

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š

This book is the kind of thriller that grabs you by the collar from the opening chapter and refuses to loosen its grip. Avien Gray drops you straight into a world of covert operations, moral compromise, and emotional scars, following Cain — a former MI5 operative who can’t seem to outrun the life he thought he’d left behind.

Cain is a brilliant protagonist: capable, stubborn, and deeply human. He’s not a cardboard action hero; he’s a man shaped by trauma, loyalty, regret, and the constant tug-of-war between justice and survival. What makes the story compelling is how Gray balances explosive action with quieter, more reflective moments. You never forget Cain is dangerous — but you also never forget he’s wounded.

The novel moves confidently across continents, and each location feels atmospheric rather than decorative. The sense of place is strong, whether the story is steeped in heat, danger, or emotional tension. The stakes always feel personal, even when the plot spirals into wider conspiracies and darker corners of the diamond world.

This isn’t just a thriller filled with shootouts and betrayals; it’s about resilience, consequence, and the cost of living a life built on secrets. At times the story throws a lot at you, but the relentless pace suits the life Cain leads — chaotic, unpredictable, and never really safe.

By the time you reach the final pages, you feel like you’ve lived every hit, heartbreak and hard decision right alongside Cain. Rough Diamond – Rough Justice isn’t just exciting — it has heart, grit, and a raw honesty that sticks with you after you put it down. If you like thrillers that make you feel something as well as keep you on edge, this one’s definitely worth reading.

You can pick up your copy of this book on Amazon.

Avien Gray

Avien Gray, the English author behind Rough Diamond – Rough Justice, brings a wealth of experience to his gripping debut novel. Born in the UK, Gray has led a dynamic, bachelor’s life marked by an impressive array of skills and global adventures. He has a driver’s license, motorbike license, and pilot’s license. His physical discipline extends to martial arts, where he earned a karate black belt, complemented by a lifelong passion for photography that captures the world through his discerning lens.

Gray’s rumoured travels paint the picture of a man unbound by borders. He is said to have spent many months in Saudi Arabia, Australia, the USA, South Africa, Europe and China. This rich tapestry of experiences infuses his writing with authenticity, lending a vivid, worldly edge to the thrilling narrative of his complex protagonist: a man called Cain.

Avien and his best friend shared a flat and went out with various female friends together. They had a great time. As it says in the book when Cain is talking with his best friend: a Royal Protection Officer.

 ‘We will have to write that book when we retire,’ Cain said.

 They looked at each other with knowing smiles – for a long few seconds.

 ‘All those secrets,’ said Jerry. ‘Perhaps we will.’

 And time moved on.

But in real life, his best friend tragically died – leaving Avien to write their book alone.

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Friday, 16 January 2026

Read my book review of The Irish Midwife by SeΓ‘na Tinley

 

The Irish Midwife

By SeΓ‘na Tinley


Can she finally put herself first, in order to find love?

Peggy Cassidy is a milly, working in the Belfast linen mills to just about get by. But Peggy also has another job - a secret one. She works as a handywoman - an illegal midwife, tending to the women of her community in their time of need.

When Peggy is offered the chance to leave Belfast to receive formal midwifery training in Dublin, it sets off a chain of events that will change her life forever.

But amongst her middle-class colleagues, Peggy must keep the truth about her past secret at all times. If the realities of her life in Belfast are revealed, she could lose everything she has worked for.

And when she meets a well-to-do doctor down in Dublin, she must make a decision: should she protect her family and her history? Or can she let herself fall in love?

Book Rating:

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š⭐ = A book in a million
πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š = I could not put this book down. I Highly Recommend it.
πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š = A really great read.
πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š = It was enjoyable.
πŸ“šπŸ“š = It was okay.
πŸ“š = Um...! πŸ˜•

My Review

The Irish Midwife

πŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“šπŸ“š⭐ = A book in a million

The Irish Midwife by SeΓ‘na Tinley had been sitting patiently on my reading list for a little while, quietly waiting its turn while I caught up with other books and reviews. But it was always there, calling to me. I had a feeling that once I started it, I would be completely drawn in – and I was absolutely right.

What can I say but WOW! This is one of those novels that doesn’t just pull you in, it claims you. From the very first pages, I found myself utterly immersed in the story, the setting, and the lives of the characters. Compelling doesn’t quite cover it – this book is completely addictive. I found myself thinking about it when I wasn’t reading and sneaking in “just one more chapter” whenever I could.

Tinley’s ability to bring the past vividly to life is remarkable. The sense of time and place is so authentic that I felt as though I had stepped straight into the heart of the story. The characters are richly drawn, deeply human, and impossible not to care about. At the centre of it all is a protagonist whose quiet strength, compassion, and resilience shine through every page. Her journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring, and I was emotionally invested from beginning to end.

What I particularly loved was the way Tinley highlights the often-overlooked role of women and the immense emotional labour they carried. There is no melodrama here – just beautifully observed moments, honest emotion, and a deep respect for the lives being portrayed. The writing is lyrical yet accessible, and every detail feels purposeful.

This novel is a real gem. For anyone who enjoys well-researched historical fiction with strong female characters and an emotionally resonant story, The Irish Midwife is an absolute must-read. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

You can pick up your copy on Amazon.

SeΓ‘na Tinley


SeΓ‘na Tinley is an Irish author of saga historical romance. She also writes regency romance as Catherine Tinley.

After a career encompassing speech & language therapy, Sure Start, being President of a charity, and managing a maternity service, she now works as NI Country Director for a leading UK charity.

SeΓ‘na was appointed as chair of the Romantic Novelists' Association in August 2024.

She lives in Ireland with her husband, children, and dog. 

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Dragonslayer's Valkyrie: The Legend of Sigurd and Brynhildr by Jennifer Ivy Walker

Dragonslayer's Valkyrie:  The Legend of Sigurd and Brynhildr  by Jennifer Ivy Walker Publication Date: June 21st, 2026 Publisher: Green ...