Buccaneer: The Early Life and Crimes of Philip Rake by Chris Thorndycroft Release Day Spotlight

Publication Date: August 1st, 2023
Publisher: Chris Thorndycroft
Series: The Molucca Star Quartet
Page Length: 232
Genre: Historical action and adventure

Synopsis

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

Woodes Rogers is looking for Libertatia - the fabled pirate kingdom of the legendary buccaneer Henry Avery - and the hoard of

A Matter of Faith by Judith Arnopp Spotlight

Publication Date: March 20th, 2023
Publisher: self-published
Series: The Henrician Chronicle
Page Length: 209
Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis

Finally free of Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII, is now married to Anne Boleyn and eagerly awaiting the birth of his son. In a court still reeling from the royal divorce and growing public resentment against church reform, Henry must negotiate widespread resentment toward Anne. He places all his hopes in a son to cement his Tudor blood line, but his dreams are shattered when Anne is delivered of a daughter.

Burying his disappointment, Henry focuses on getting her with child again, but their marriage is

The Hearts of All on Fire by Alana White Spotlight

Publication Date: September 27, 2022
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Series: The Guid’Antonio Historical Mysteries
Page Length: 392
Genre: Historical Mystery

Synopsis

Florence, 1473. An impossible murder. A bitter rivalry. A serpent in the ranks.

Florentine investigator Guid’Antonio Vespucci returns to Florence from a government mission to find his dreams of success shattered. Life is good—but then a wealthy merchant dies from mushroom poisoning at Guid’Antonio’s Saint John’s Day table, and Guid’Antonio’s servant is charged with murder. Convinced of the youth’s innocence and fearful the killer may strike again

The Case of the Disappearing Beaune: A Sherlock Holmes Christmas Mystery by J. Lawrence Matthews Spotlight

The end of the year is fast approaching and there is a plethora of Christmas-themed novels being released.

My Christmas reading usually takes the form of historical mysteries and I'm excited to share that the latest novella from J. Lawrence Matthews, the author of One Must Tell the Bees, is another interesting case involving Sherlock Holmes and, of course, Dr Watson.

Synopsis

Christmas morning, 1902: Sherlock Holmes discovers that the wine in a bottle of French Beaune (intended as a gift for Dr. Watson) has been switched with sand, and he suspects it means threat to the newly crowned King of England. Or does it? With Dr. Watson's help, he soon finds out...

I'm adding this to my Christmas reading list!

Spotlight On: A Turbulent Beginning, The Mallory Saga, Book 5 by Paul Bennett

The Mallory Saga Series

Follow the Mallory family as they attempt to live a peaceful life on the PA frontier in 1756.

They face tragedy and loss as they become embroiled in The French and Indian War - Clash of Empires.

In Paths to Freedom, the colonies are heading to open revolt against King George III, and the Mallory's are once again facing the spectre of war.

Crucible of Rebellion continues the Mallory story through the early years of The Revolutionary War.

Book 4, A Nation is Born completes the Revolution and The Mallory's have played

A Dress of Violet Taffeta by Tessa Arlen Spotlight and Excerpt

Publication Date: July 5, 2022
Publisher: Berkley Books
Length: (352) pages
Format: Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook 
Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis

A sumptuous novel based on the fascinating true story of La Belle Époque icon Lucy, Lady Duff Gordon, who shattered the boundaries of fashion with her magnificently sensual and enchantingly unique designs.

Lucy Duff Gordon knows she is talented. She sees color, light, and texture in ways few people can begin to imagine. But is the male dominated world of haute couture, who would use her art for their own gain, ready for her?  

Gwenna The Welsh Confectioner by Vicky Adin Spotlight

Publication Date: 24th July 2017
Publisher: Vicky Adin Author
Page Length: 396 Pages
Series: The New Zealand Immigrant Collection - suspenseful family saga fiction about overcoming the odds
Genre: Historical Women’s Fiction

Synopsis

Against overwhelming odds, can she save her legacy?

Gwenna's life is about to change. Her father is dead and the family business on the brink of collapse. Thwarted by society, the plucky sweet maker refuses to accept defeat.

Amid the bustling vibrancy of Auckland’s Karangahape Road, she promised her father

Spotlight On: The Feathered Nest by Ellen Read

Publisher: Crimson Cloak Publishing
Publication Date: 14th March 2022
Series: The Thornton Mysteries, Book 4
Page Length: 372 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction / Cosy Murder Mystery

Synopsis

Murder comes to Norfolk Island, but is the killer after Alexandra Archer’s Tahitian black pearl or a lost illustration of the rare Green Parrot?

The Thorntons, along with a small team of people, mount an expedition to Norfolk Island, a small island in the South Pacific, to study the Green Parrot and set up research programmes to help protect it and other endangered birds.

As a birthday surprise, Alexandra’s father tells her she is to be the official photographer for the expedition. Her father gives her a black pearl

Spotlight on Her Country Gentlemen by Sian Ann Bessey, Sarah M. Eden & Rebecca Connolly

Publication Date: March 8, 2022
Publisher: Mirror Press
Series: Timeless Georgian Collection (Book 1)
Length: (300) pages
Format: Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook
Genre: Historical Romance, Georgian Romance, Inspirational Fiction
ISBN: 978-1952611216
Tour Dates: March 7-20, 2022

Synopsis

Her Country Gentleman is the first book in the Timeless Georgian Collection, a new anthology series from Mirror Press. The book features three novellas from bestselling historical romance authors whose stories reveal that not all love is found in London.

Mendota and the Restive Rivers of the Indian and Civil Wars 1861-65 by Dane Pizzuti Krogman Spotlight

Publication Date: 15th March 2021
Series: The Simmons family saga
Publisher: Independently Published
Page Length: 416 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis

This is the fictional story set in Mendota, Minnesota of the Simmons family who are faced with the consequences of the Dakota Sioux Uprising of 1862 that swept across the state as well as the Civil War.

The father, Dan enlists in the 1st regiment of Minnesota volunteers as a teamster. His two sons, who are both underage join the 2nd Regiment. John, aged 16 becomes a bugler and William, aged 15 becomes a drummer. Their sister, Sara is left behind with their

The Sterling Directive by Tim Standish Spotlight

Publication Date: 20 August 2020
Publisher: Unbound
Page Length: 304 pages
Genre: Alt-historical thriller

Synopsis

It is 1896. In an alternative history where Babbage’s difference engines have become commonplace, Captain Charles Maddox, wrongly convicted of a murder and newly arrested for treason, is rescued from execution by a covert agency called the Map Room. 

Maddox is given the choice of taking his chances with the authorities or joining the Map Room as an agent and helping them uncover

The Woodsman's Rose by Gifford MacShane Spotlight

Publication Date: January 25th 2021
Publisher: Independently Published
Series: (Donovan Family Saga, Book 2)
Page Length: 329 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction / Western Romance

Synopsis

1880s Arizona

Daniel Donovan wants nothing more than to get married, unless it's to restore his friendship with his closest friend, Alec Twelve Trees.

Alec is raging about his mother's murderer, whose identity Daniel knows but will not reveal, as the killer is dead and the family he left behind would be compromised if the knowledge

Restitution by Janet Lee Berg Spotlight

Publication Date: 30th September 2020
Publisher: Koehler
Series: Sequel to "Rembrandt's Shadow"
Page Length: 262 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis

“Restitution” is the riveting, multigenerational story of Sylvie Rosenberg, a Holocaust survivor traumatized by the memory of her art dealer father forced to trade paintings with the Nazis in an attempt to save their large extended family.  Sylvie’s adult life in 1970s New York is plagued by survivors’ guilt and bitterness.  But when her self-destructive ways threaten to upend the life of her Vietnam-vet son, Sylvie finally needs to face

Beneath Black Clouds and White by Virginia Crow Spotlight

Publication Date: 11th April 2019
Publisher: Crowvus
Print Length: 637 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction/Military Fiction/Family Saga

Synopsis

Despite adoring his family and enjoying frequenting gaming tables, Captain Josiah Tenterchilt’s true love is the British Army and he is committed to his duty. As such, he does not hesitate to answer the army’s call when King Louis XVI of France is executed.

Accompanied by his wife to Flanders, Josiah finds his path crosses with a man who could not be more different from him: an apprentice