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I’m excited to spotlight Escape to the French Riviera by Helga Jensen #newrelease #romance – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Can Lucy find her second-chance romance in the glamour of the French Riviera? When aspiring author Lucy attends a rich friend’s 50th birthday party in glamorous Monaco, she has no idea that her life is about to change forever. Heartsore after a broken marriage, she is not looking for love so when…
I’m delighted to welcome Barney Campbell and his new book, The Fires of Gallipoli, to the blog #TheFiresOfGallipoli #HistoricalFiction #WWI #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome Barney Campbell and his new book, The Fires of Gallipoli, to the blog with an excerpt. Excerpt Edward’s thick jumper proved its mettle and he slept soundly, stirring only around midnight as a snuffling deer broke nearby branches around the edge of the tree. He was awake for a few minutes…
I’m sharing my review for Whisper of War and Storms by CL Mecca #romantasy #blogtour #newrelease – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb A spellbinding, epic romantasy adventure of tangled secrets and dark magic for fans of Sarah J Maas, Callie Hart, Rebecca Yarros and Jennifer L Armentrout. A lost princess. A forbidden love. A destiny she never knew awaited her. When a forgotten ring reveals Mevlida Brennan’s true heritage as the long-lost princess of…
I’m delighted to welcome Lois Cahall and her new book, The Many Lives & Loves of Hazel Lavery to the blog #HistoricalFiction #BiographicalFiction #WomenInHistory #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome Lois Cahall and her new book, The Many Lives & Loves of Hazel Lavery to the blog with an excerpt. Excerpt Alice was out on Regent Street for drinks at the Café Royal, a thriving Victorian restaurant known to cater to the upper crust and apparently British spies. And then she…
I’m delighted to welcome IM Foster and her new mystery Murder on West Lake to the blog #blogtour #newrelease HistoricalMystery #CozyMystery #RomanticMystery #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb A scream shattered the tranquil air, echoing off the ice-covered lake, and Daniel's heart froze. He knew that voice all too well. After a pleasant afternoon of ice skating on the frozen waters of West Lake, local librarian Kathleen Brissedon stumbles across a gruesome sight in the nearby gazebo. It only takes…
I’m delighted to be reviewing The Secrets of the Rose by Nicola Cornick #blogtour #dualtimeline #historicalfiction – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Bestselling author Nicola Cornick’s brand-new heart-breaking historical tale of unforgettable courage, hidden secrets and lasting love, perfect for fans of Barbara Erskine, Philippa Gregory and Christina Courtenay. 1715: With the country on the brink of rebellion, Dorothy Forster’s life at Bamburgh Hall is ruled by the men in her life – her feckless…
Happy 3rd Book Birthday to Son of Mercia. #bookbirthday #TheEagleOfMerciaChronicles #competition – MJ Porter
Happy book birthday to the wonderful Son of Mercia, the first book telling the story of young Icel in early ninth-century Mercia (fans of The Last King will have met Icel before, but it's not necessary to have read the later series to enjoy Son of Mercia). If you're signed up to my newsletter, I'm…
I’m reviewing Crusade by Richard Cullen, the 2nd part in a new historical fiction action and adventure series set in the thirteenth century #blogtour #histfic – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Continuing the epic historical adventure series from Richard Cullen, featuring The Black Lion… Stripped of his birthright, Estienne Wace seeks to prove his worth in the deserts of Outremer! Egypt 1219AD. Abandoning the safety of England for the perilous shores of the Levant, Estienne Wace is thrust into the turmoil of the…
I’m excited to share my review for Death on Ice by RO Thorp #mystery #cosymystery #newrelease – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb A scientist nobody liked has been murdered on the Arctic ice . . Meet the Blanchard twins:Rose is practical, sharp, and protective. Specialty: manta rays.Finn is too sweet and kind for his own good. Specialty: sharks. Rose and Finn are looking for sharks on the sea bed. When they return to the…
Today I’m reviewing the new James Ryker novel, The Enemy Within by Rob Sinclair #blogtour #thriller #newrelease – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb The BRAND NEW, action-packed Ryker thriller from million-copy bestselling author Rob Sinclair. His past is coming back with a vengeance… Ex-intelligence agent James Ryker has done many things in the past he’d prefer to forget. The last time he saw Gregor Minko - son to one of Ukraine’s most dangerous and politically…
I’m delighted to welcome Nitin Nanji and his book, Lalji’s Nairobi, to the blog #HistoricalFiction #AfricanHistoricalFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome Nitin Nanji and his book, Lalji's Nairobi, to the blog with an excerpt. Excerpt 1 The next morning brought an early visitor to their door in the shape of the village Sarpanch, Thakorbhai. The Sarpanch was the elected head of the village and led the Panchayat. His role was to officiate…
I’m delighted to share my review for Mary Tudor: The French Queen by Amy McElroy #nonfiction #TheTudors – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Mary Tudor, Henry VIII's sister, lived a remarkable life. A princess, duchess and queen, she was known as the English Rose for her beauty. Mary Tudor, Queen of France, aims to explore the life of one of the few who stood up to Henry VIII and lived to tell the tale. Henry…
I’m delighted to share my review for Adam Lofthouse’s Raven #historicalfiction #blogtour #Roman – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Chief Killer. Battle Turner. Oathbreaker. Alaric is an enemy of Rome. 144 AD. Alaric Hengistson, leader of the Ravensworn, revels in his many fear-fuelled names whispered in the hearth flames. Cunning in battle, a ruthless war lord. He sleeps sound in the knowledge that he has been chosen by the Gods for…
I’m delighted to be sharing my review for The Old Girls’ Chateau Escape by Kate Galley #blogtour #newrelease #comedy – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Two old friends. One unexpected adventure! When, at the age of 71, Gina Knight's husband of four decades left her unexpectedly, she thought her life over. Until she met Dorothy Reed – a woman so full of the joie de vivre you'd think she was 21, not nearly 90. Gina would do…
I’m sharing my review for Dolos by L.H. Fox, a thrilling tale of cryptocurrency #blogtour – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Sebastian Locke’s quiet life is shattered when a cryptic clue to his parents’ deaths drags him into a conspiracy poised to wreck the global economy.Unaware of the explosive secret he holds, Sebastian Locke—a brilliant yet tormented undergraduate of The London School of Economics—finds himself at the centre of a conspiracy that threatens…
I’m sharing my review for Notes on a Drowning by Anna Sharpe #legalthriller #newrelease – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Alex knows she risks getting fired from her law firm if she takes on another unpaid case, but when she hears Rosa's desperate voice at the other end of the phone, she knows she has to help: the body of Rosa's shy teenage sister, Natalia, has been dragged, lifeless, from the Thames. Alex can't help…
I’m sharing my review for the delightful, The Dog Sitter Detective Plays Dead cosy-mystery by Antony Johnston – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Gwinny is at a stately home in the Yorkshire Dales, filming a small part in a gender-swapped remake of Dracula while looking after the dog of an elderly friend who lives nearby. During filming, an actor is found dead inside a locked trailer – with a stake through their heart! The film’s…
I’m excited to share Stephanie Wood’s covers for her The Greek Retreat Trilogy #blogtour #coverreveal #romance – MJ Porter
Jessica is escaping to the Greek Retreat to discover if running away from a broken engagement really can lead to a happy ever after. She doesn’t believe life works that way, but her future could depend on it.The Greek island of Kynos is an idyllic hideaway, offering its visitors the space and time needed to…
I’m delighted to be reviewing Murder on the Menu by Katie Marsh #cosycrime #newrelease #blogtour – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Since Amber started the Bad Girls’ Detective Agency, she’s been feeling the pressure. So – when she and her best friends win a trip to a new luxury castle retreat on a remote island – she hopes it will be a chance to relax in style. The girls are all excited to…
I’m delighted to be sharing my review for Dashiki: A Cozy Mystery by Florence Wetzel #blogtour – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb A cozy mystery with a dash of romance set in the vibrant world of jazz.During an interview with reclusive jazz singer Betty Brown, journalist Virginia Farrell is shown priceless tapes from the iconic 1957 Thelonious Monk-John Coltrane gig at the Five Spot. When Betty is found murdered, Virginia is determined to recover…
I’m delighted to welcome Mercedes Rochelle and her The Plantagenet Legacy to the blog with an excerpt #HenryIV #Plantagenet #Lancaster #Medieval #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome Mercedes Rochelle to the blog with an excerpt from The Accursed King. MURDER OF THE DUKE OF ORLÉANS It was St. Clement’s day, 23 November. Isabeau of Bavaria, the Queen of France was ill and in mourning for her twelfth child, who died at birth ten days before. Louis hoped to…
I’m reviewing Death in the Hills by Kate Wells, a fabulous contemporary mystery set in the Malvern Hills #mystery #newrelease #blogtour – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb This is no peaceful walk in the countryside… When Jude Gray and DI Binnie Khatri join a local walking group, their expectations for a peaceful outing to the Malvern Hills takes a grim turn. Arguments abound, and the hike ends in tragedy when one of the walkers is found dead in her…
I’m delighted to welcome E.J. McKenna and her new book, No Good Deeds, to the blog #NoGoodDeeds #HistoricalFiction #FeministWestern #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome E.j. McKenna and her new book, No Good Deeds, to the blog with an excerpt. Excerpt “You know what I want beyond all else in this world? Four walls and a roof. All my own. Don’t even need another room.” She gave an embarrassed laugh. “I know it’s simple, but I…
I’m delighted to welcome Helen Hollick and her book, Harold The King, to the blog #1066 #BattleOfHastings #NormanConquest #AngloSaxon #EnglishHistory #PublicationSilverAnniversary #BlogTour #BookBlast #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome Helen Hollick and her book, Harold The King (UK)/ I Am The Chosen King (USA/Canada), to the blog. Blurb First published in 2000 – Celebrating a Silver Anniversary! The events that led to the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 - told from the English point…
I’m delighted to be taking part in the cover reveal for Somewhere in Hollywood by Lisa Czarina Michaud #coverreveal – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Welcome to the bouncy castle of Los Angeles in 2004. At the dawn of social media, Carla and Pete embark on a quest for meaning in a city where dreams often fade into the smog. They came for indie rock stardom, only to find themselves sidelined by life's realities and their own…
It’s happy release day to Betrayal of Mercia, so I’m sharing a post about the maps in the book (and the maps) – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb A King in crisis, a Queen on trial, a Kingdom’s survival hangs in the balance. Londonia, AD835The deadly conspiracy against the children of Ealdorman Coenwulf is to be resolved. Those involved have been unmasked and arrested. But will justice prevail? While the court convenes to determine the conspirator’s fate, King Wiglaf’s position…
It’s happy release day to Betrayal of Mercia, so I’m sharing a post about Crime and Punishment in Saxon England – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb A King in crisis, a Queen on trial, a Kingdom’s survival hangs in the balance. Londonia, AD835The deadly conspiracy against the children of Ealdorman Coenwulf is to be resolved. Those involved have been unmasked and arrested. But will justice prevail? While the court convenes to determine the conspirator’s fate, King Wiglaf’s position…
It’s happy release day to Betrayal of Mercia, so I’m sharing a post about Mercia’s alleged ‘Bad Queens.’ – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb A King in crisis, a Queen on trial, a Kingdom’s survival hangs in the balance. Londonia, AD835The deadly conspiracy against the children of Ealdorman Coenwulf is to be resolved. Those involved have been unmasked and arrested. But will justice prevail? While the court convenes to determine the conspirator’s fate, King Wiglaf’s position…
I’m reviewing The Cream Tea Killer by Judy Leigh, the third book in her new #cozycrime series #blogtour – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Morwenna Mutton should be living the quiet life of a librarian and grandmother in Cornwall’s beautiful Seal Bay – if only dead bodies would stop turning up… After the excitement of her last investigation, amateur sleuth Morwenna is looking forward to things getting back to normal. When local DJ Irina asks to…
2024 – A Reading Year in Review – MJ Porter
I did attempt to share my reading each month on Instagram, but it was a lot of work, and so it fell somewhat by the by as the year progressed. So, let's get into the nitty gritty details of what I did read in 2024. Goodreads tells me I've read 105 books this year. Unlike…
It’s happy release day to The Last Deceit, book 10 in The Last King series, so I’m sharing a blog post about my decision to include a fictional character – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Deceit and ambition threaten to undo the most fragile alliance.King Coelwulf of Mercia has unwillingly accepted the need to ally with the kingdom of Wessex under the command of King Alfred. But King Alfred of Wessex must still prove himself, and Coelwulf can’t remain absent from Mercia indefinitely.Returning to London, a place…
It’s happy release day to The Last Deceit, book 10 in The Last King series, so I’m sharing a blog post about the Gaini – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Deceit and ambition threaten to undo the most fragile alliance.King Coelwulf of Mercia has unwillingly accepted the need to ally with the kingdom of Wessex under the command of King Alfred. But King Alfred of Wessex must still prove himself, and Coelwulf can’t remain absent from Mercia indefinitely.Returning to London, a place…
It’s happy release day to The Last Deceit, book 10 in The Last King series, so I’m sharing some photos of Old Sarum and Stonehenge – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Deceit and ambition threaten to undo the most fragile alliance.King Coelwulf of Mercia has unwillingly accepted the need to ally with the kingdom of Wessex under the command of King Alfred. But King Alfred of Wessex must still prove himself, and Coelwulf can’t remain absent from Mercia indefinitely.Returning to London, a place…
2024 – A Writing Year in Review – MJ Porter
Check out my 2022 and 2023 posts. So, what have I been writing/editing in 2024? As ever, it's time to turn to my trusty diary to find out, but I've also been keeping a spreadsheet this year so it's much easier to work out exactly what I've been writing, and when I was writing it.…
I’m delighted to welcome Peggy Joque Williams and her book, Courting the Sun, to the blog #HistoricalFiction #Versailles #LouisXIV #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome Peggy Joque Williams and her book, Courting the Sun: A Novel of Versailles, to the blog with some research. Research and Background Peggy Joque Williams Researching Dining Traditions in 17th Century France As I was writing Courting the Sun: A Novel of Versailles, I found myself researching the dining traditions of…
I’m delighted to welcome JR Tomlin and her new book, On a Sword’s Edge, to the blog #OnASwordsEdge #HistoricalFiction #ScottishHistoricalFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome JR Tomlin and her new book, On a Sword's Edge, The Swords of Scotland book, to the blog with a guest post. Guest Post Research for a historical novel tends to have a thousand parts, a few looming large and others twinkling bagatelles. Those large parts, of course, you must get…
I’m welcoming A Christmas Surprise in Pelican Crossing by Maggie Christensen to the blog #blogtour #Christmas #Romance – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Christmas is coming to Pelican Crossing, bringing with it a host of surprises. Fifty-eight-year-old widow Rachel Mason thought she had her life all figured out – running her quaint Bed and Breakfast, spending time with her grandkids, and keeping her loyal West Highland Terrier by her side. But when her son announces a Christmas…
I’m delighted to welcome Rosemary Hayes and her book, Traitor’s Game, to the blog #HistoricalFiction #Spies #NapoleonicWars #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome Rosemary Hayes and her book, Traitor's Game, book 1, Soldier Spy series, to the blog with some background and research. Background and Research When I was asked to write a series of novellas set during the Napoleonic Wars, I knew I would find it a daunting task. The wars took place…
I’m delighted to welcome Liza Perrat and her new book, Lake Of Widows, to the blog #HistoricalFiction #WomensFiction #DualTimeline #HistoricalFrenchFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome Liza Perrat and her new book, Lake Of Widows, book 2 in The Women of the Lake trilogy, to the blog. Here's the blurb Three women. One shared struggle. Can they survive? 1970. When Adrienne Chevalier’s perfect life in a chic quartier of Lyon unravels, she flees to rural Sainte-Marie-du-Lac to…
I’m reviewing Starting Over at Starlight Cottage by Debbie Viggiano #blogtour #romance – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb 49-year-old Tilly Thomas would never have known any different if she hadn’t unexpectedly turned up at hubby Robin’s office to surprise him with an off-the-cuff evening at the theatre. Instead, the surprise is on Tilly when she interrupts Robin and his young PA in a compromising position. Stumbling from the office, blinded by…