The Black Madonna by Stella Riley Read an Excerpt

Publication Date: 31st May 2013
Publisher: Stella Riley
Series: Roundheads & Cavaliers (Book 1 of 4)
Page Length: 622
Audio Book Narrated By: Alex Wyndham
Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance

Synopsis

As England slides into Civil War, master-goldsmith and money-lender, Luciano Falcieri del Santi embarks on his own hidden agenda. A chance meeting one dark night results in an unlikely friendship with Member of Parliament, Richard Maxwell. Richard’s daughter, Kate – a spirited girl who vows to hold their home against both Cavalier and Roundhead – soon finds herself fighting an involuntary attraction to the clever, magnetic and diabolically beautiful Italian.

The Drums of War by Michael Ward Book Review

Synopsis

London 1642.

The King has fled London with the drums of war ringing in his ears. Across the country, lines are being drawn and armies raised.

Influential royalist Lady Carlisle switches sides and presses spice trader Thomas Tallant and his partner Elizabeth Seymour into Parliament's service.

Soon Thomas faces double-dealing in his hunt for a lethal hoard of gunpowder hidden on the river, while Elizabeth engages in a race against time to locate a hidden sniper picking off Parliamentary officers at will in the city.

The capital also witnesses a vicious gang of

Dead Heat to Destiny by J.B. Rivard Read an Excerpt

Publisher: Impressit Press
Publication date: February 7, 2023
Format: Ebook and paperback
Genre: Historical Fiction - Adventure, World War I

Synopsis

Destined for success in the booming world of high fashion, young Adrienne Boch deflects the romantic pursuit of Will Marra, an American student in Paris. Her cousin, Gregor Steiner, completes his training as an officer in the Imperial German Navy. They, like the entire world, are unprepared when World War I begins. As the invading German army threatens Paris, Gregor advances to captain a U-boat, Will becomes a pilot in the U.S. Army, and Adrienne’s family flees an overrun Belgium. In Central America, a spy is

The Flame Tree by Siobhan Daiko New Release Book Blast

Publication Date: January 19th, 2023
Publisher: Asolando Books
Series: The Hong Kong Collection
Page Length: 300
Genre: Asian Historical Fiction

Synopsis

In the spring of 1939, dashing young William Burton and the beautiful Constance Han set sail from London on the same ocean liner to Hong Kong.

Romance blossoms while they enjoy games of deck quoits and spend sultry tropical evenings dancing under the stars. Connie is intrigued by Will’s talent for writing poetry, and she offers to give him Cantonese lessons to help him with his new job— a

Caledon by Virginia Crow Book Review - Blog Tour

Publication Date: 22nd January 2019
Publisher: Crowvus
Page Length: 180 (A4 size) – the book is approx. 80,000 words
Series: Caledon (Book One)
Genre: Historical Fantasy

Synopsis

"Go out and tell all those you meet, Caledon has risen. Caledon will be protected and defended. And to you who would cause her harm, be prepared. A new fight has come."

After the destruction of the Jacobite forces at Culloden, Scotland is divided, vulnerable and leaderless, with survivors from both sides seeking to make sense of the battles they have fought against their fellow Scots.

New Release Challenge 2023 - My Sign Up Post

Hosted by: Brandee and Lexie at (un)Conventional Bookworms
Challenge period: 1st January to 31st December, 2023
Sign Up: By 1st September, 2023
Aim: To read and review books released in 2023.
Twitter Hashtag: #2023NewReleaseChallenge

All the information can be found here on the sign-up page.

HIstorical Fiction Reading Challenge 2023 - My Sign Up Post

Hosted by: Marg @ The Intrepid Reader
Challenge period: 1st January to 31st December, 2023
Sign up: anytime during the year
Challenge hashtag: #histficreadingchallenge

All the details are available on the sign-up page.

There are six different reading

European Reading Challenge 2023 - My Sign Up Post

Hosted by: Gilion @ Rose City Reader

Challenge period: 1st January to 31st December, 2023, with until 31st January, 2024, to finish reviews and write a wrap-up post.

Aim: To read books set in European countries or books by European authors, any genre – fiction, nonfiction, novels, short stories, memoirs, travel guides, cookbooks, biography, poetry, etc. No two books

Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge 2023 - My Sign Up Post

Hosted by: Carol @ Carol's Notebook
Challenge period: 1st January to 31st December, 2023
Sign Up: Ends March 15, 2023
Aim: To read any book that is from the mystery/suspense/thriller/crime genres. Any sub-genres are welcome as long as they incorporate one of these genres and books need to be at least 100 pages long.
Challenge Hashtag: #CloakDaggerChal

2022 Reading Challenges - Wrap Up

This is my wrap-up post for the various challenges I participated in during 2022. I failed most of them. In hindsight I probably set my goals too high (I based them on my 2021 results).

Sisters of Castle Leod by Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard Book Review - Blog Tour

Publication Date: January 19, 2023
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Page Length: 293
Genre: Historical Fiction, Biographical Historical Fiction
Cover Art: oil on glass painting, © Alison Hale, https://alisonhale.co.nz/ 

Synopsis

**Finalist in the 2022 American Writing Awards**

Millions are fans of Diana Gabaldon’s popular Outlander books and television series, but few know that Gabaldon’s fictional Castle Leoch was inspired by a real Scottish castle, Castle Leod. The two sisters who lived there at the turn of the twentieth century were among the most fascinating and talked-about

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

It's Christmas morning, 1902, and Dr Watson calls on Sherlock Holmes to invite him and his brother, Mycroft, for Christmas dinner. Holmes refuses the invitation, as Watson new he would and remains steadfast despite Watson's cajoling.

When sand is found substituted for the wine in a bottle of Beaune, a Christmas gift from Holmes to Watson, Holmes fears that the new king's (Edward VII) life is in danger. What follows is a madcap dash around London, with Holmes and Watson one step behind those they are pursuing, ending with a delightful twist, making this a very heartwarming novella.

While not the mystery I anticipated, it was very entertaining and shows that the great detective could be outwitted. A great Christmas read!

Thanks to Ellen Whitfield of Books Forward for a review copy.