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I’m delighted to welcome Paul Bernardi and his new book, Uprising, to the blog #Uprising #HistoricalFiction #AngloSaxon #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome Paul Bernardi and his new book, Uprising, book 2 of the Rebellion series, to the blog. Here's the Blurb Summer 1067.Northumbria.Oslac, thegn of the village of Acum, feels cheated - having been robbed of the chance to kill his enemy by his own kinsman.Instead, Gundulf, the erstwhile Lord of Hexham and…
I’m delighted to share an excerpt from Death and the Poet, a Roman-era historical mystery by Fiona Forsyth HistoricalMystery #RomanHistoricalFiction #AncientRome #Ovid #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
Here's an exciting excerpt from Death and the Poet Ovid gives a recital July 2, or 6 days before the Nones The recital took place in the late afternoon at the town’s main square on top of the hill overlooking the harbour. Entertainment in Tomis was infrequent and modest, with maybe a serious theatre performance…
I’m delighted to spotlight Metropolis by Colin Garrow, a historical crime novel set in Edinburgh #blogtour #histfic – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Edinburgh, 1936. People are disappearing. The police are clueless. Can Finlay MacBeth track down the perpetrator before someone else goes missing? Haunted by his recent past, Professor Finlay MacBeth returns to his home town to take up a new post at the university. Within hours, his reputation for solving the occasional murder…
Pagan Warrior is 10 today #bookbirthday #histfic – MJ Porter
The book birthday's keep coming in 2025 On this day in history..... Pagan Warrior, then titled Hædfeld first hit the 'shelves,' as it were. Until the release of Men of Iron earlier this year, Pagan Warrior had been the furthest back in time I'd written about. So, what prompted me to write about Penda, the…
Warfare during the Saxon period. What we know and what we don’t about the battle of Hædfeld. #GodsAndKingsTrilogy #histfic – MJ Porter
Thanks to some spectacular archaeological finds, we can visualise how a Saxon warrior might have looked. The reconstructions of the Sutton Hoo helm, and that found with the Staffordshire Horde (as well as a few others), present us with elaborate helmets crested with dyed-horse hair in a way very reminiscent of the Roman era. They…
I’m welcoming the Boy with Wings by Mark Mustian to the blog, with a fab post about historical research LiteraryFiction #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
Historical research for BOY WITH WINGS Boy With Wings is set mostly in northern Florida, where I’ve lived all my life, and as such I had some familiarity with the historical predicate of the story, but not all of it. I knew almost nothing about sideshows, or “freaks,” which necessitated quite a bit of research on…
I’m reviewing Esperance by Adam Oyebanjo #newrelease #specfic #mystery – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb The history-bending speculative fiction from Adam Oyebanji, award-winning author of BRAKING DAY.An impossible death: Detective Ethan Krol has been called to the scene of a baffling murder: a man and his son, who appear to have been drowned in sea-water. But the nearest ocean is a thousand miles away.An improbable story: Hollie Rogers doesn't…
I’m sharing an excerpt from Tangled in Water by Pam Records HistoricalFiction #Prohibition #Mermaid #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
Excerpt “Hello there, Nattie, honey,” called Mimi in her honey-sweet voice as she popped out of the door behind the curtains. Mimi wasn’t much older than the chorus line girls. She was like a big sister, looking out for them, scolding and nagging, doing her part to make the performances alluring. Mimi liked to say…
I’m delighted to welcome Janet Wertman and her new book, Nothing Proved, to the blog #HistoricalFiction #TudorFiction #ElizabethTudor #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome Janet Wertman and her new book, Nothing Proved, to the blog with a guest post. Guest Post Thank you for having me on your blog to talk about my historical research, though I feel a little guilty given how much more information I have available to me than you do! The…
I’m delighted to spotlight This Ruined Place by Michael Lawrence #blogtour #histfic #WW2 – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Evy Miller thinks a summer with her grandparents in sleepy Dorset will be painfully dull. Her suspicions are confirmed when Juby, a wild-haired, lanky old man, strolls through her grandparents' doorway. At first, she thinks he’s nothing more than an odd duck who charms her grandmother and annoys her grandfather. The last…
I’m spotlighting Troubled Times for Tilly by Kay Seeley #histfic #saga #blogtour #competition – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb A gripping saga of courage, resilience and fractured dreams, set in Victorian London. Life on the river has never been easy for Tilly and Sam, but through hard work and determination, they’ve built a home filled with love. Joey, Tilly’s eldest son, has lived between two worlds—cherished as her child but granted…
It’s happy release day to Killer at the County Show by Kate Wells, a fabulous contemporary mystery set in the Malvern Hills #mystery #newrelease #blogtour – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Foul play at the sheep show… Tensions are high at the Three Counties Show when accusations of cheating add fuel to a longstanding feud. For Jude Gray, whose only hope was to not make a fool of herself showing her Kerry Hill sheep, farming life has never been so dramatic. When a…
It’s a happy release day to The Monstrous Murders by Elizabeth R Andersen, the third Alewives of Colmar mystery, and I’m reviewing it on the blog #histfic #histficmystery – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb As winter draws to a close, something suspicious lurks outside the walls of Colmar.Appel, Gritta, and Efi, the three alewives of Colmar, are enjoying a calm month of brewing and friendship after solving the deeply unsettling riddle of the severed hands. But peace is not destined to last for long. The disappearance…
I’m reviewing Summer Paths, an anthology of short stories, #BlogTour #BookReview – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb This, the fourth and final selection of stories, completes the Seasonal Paths series created by a consortium of best-selling and award-winning North Atlantic writers. In this anthology you will encounter unintentioned consequences, love in later life, the pull of family dynamics, misguided assumptions and murderous soulmates. These yarns will take you to…
I’m delighted to welcome Wendy J.Dunn and her new book, Falling Pomegranate Seeds: The Katherine of Aragon Story, to the blog #HistoricalFiction #TudorFiction #KatherineOfAragon #Duology #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome Wendy J.Dunn and her new book, Falling Pomegranate Seeds: The Katherine of Aragon Story, to the blog with a snippet. Snippet Furious, Ahmed bounded up from the cushions and stood over her. “Why doesn’t she write and tell me that now? My father writes to me but my mother, never.” Beatriz…
I’m delighted to welcome Linnea Tanner and her audiobook, Apollo’s Raven, to the blog #HistoricalFantasy #HistoricalFiction #Rome #Britannia #CelticMyths #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome Linnea Tanner and her audiobook, Apollo's Raven, Curse of Clansmen and Kings Series, to the blog with a book trailer. Book Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqSdT5wK4aI Here's the Blurb A Celtic warrior princess is torn between her forbidden love for the enemy and duty to her people. AWARD-WINNING APOLLO'S RAVEN sweeps you into an…
I’m delighted to welcome Carolyn Hughes and her new book, Sister Rosa’s Rebellion, to the blog with a fab post about life as a nun MedievalFiction #HistoricalFiction #Meonbridge #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
The working lives of medieval nuns In this post, I’m going to share something of what I’ve learned about the life of medieval nuns, and the other people who lived and/or worked in or for the priory. To paint a picture of how life might have been for Sister Rosa and her sister nuns, I’ve…
I’m delighted to welcome Jane Hunt and her new book, The Finding, to the blog #HistoricalFiction #WorldWarII #BlogTour #BookBlast #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome Jane Hunt and her new book, The Finding, to the blog. Here's the Blurb This poignant novella is a tale of forbidden love, resilience, and the human cost of war. In the quiet fields of Wiltshire during World War II, Eveline, a sheltered young woman, stumbles upon a life-altering discovery: a…
I’m delighted to welcome a returning Christina Courtenay to the blog with her newest release, Shadows in the Spring#newrelease #histfic #guestpost #blogtour – MJ Porter
Caerleon and a Roman legion/legionary in AD 80 Here in the UK we are very lucky to have quite a few Roman sites to explore, which is very helpful when writing a story set during that era. The Romans were here for nearly 400 years, so they have left a lot of traces behind. My…
I’m sharing my review for Fields of Glory by Michael Jecks #newrelease #histfic #blogtour – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb 1346. France. King Edward III is restless. Despite earlier victories the French crown remains intact. Determined to bring France under his own rule, Edward has devised a new plan of attack – one which he believes will finally bring the French army to its knees: a final, cataclysmic battle ... Berenger Fripper, Vintener…
I’m delighted to welcome Katherine Mezzacappa and her book, The Ballad of Mary Kearney, to the blog #HistoricalFiction #IrishHistory #WomensFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome Katherine Mezzacappa and her book, The Ballad of Mary Kearney, to the blog with an excerpt. Excerpt The Revd. Samuels Regrets Much but Tells Only his Diary 20th June 1766 I have this day done myself much harm, more than at other times, and the good Lord knows that I do…
I’m delighted to welcome Andrea Matthews and her book, The Cross of Ciarán, to the blog #TimeslipRomance #HistoricalRomance #CelticRomance #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome Andrea Matthews and her book, The Cross of Ciarán, to the blog. Here's the Blurb When a fifth century pagan priest is unearthed in Ireland fifteen hundred years after being entombed, archaeologist Caitlin O’Connell is convinced it’s the find of the century. The body is in perfect condition, right down to…
#TheLastKing is 5 years old, and for one day only, it is FREE on Amazon Kindle. Enter the HUGE competition #bookbirthday #histfic – MJ Porter
books2read.com/u/31RBva If you've been with Coelwulf, Rudolf, Icel, Edmund and Pybba since the beginning, then you're probably with me in trying to work out how five years have gone by since the first book's release. There are now ten books in all, as well as a short story collection, Coelwulf's Company, and the prequel series…
I’m delighted to welcome Susan Lanigan and her new book, White Feathers, to the blog #HistoricalFiction #IrishHistoricalFiction #saga #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome Susan Lanigan and her new book, White Feathers, to the blog with guest post. Guest Post My Research Process By Susan Lanigan When I was constructing the narrative of White Feathers, I needed an outline, but I was not sure in advance of everything that would occur. The advantage of writing…
I’m welcoming Chris Bishop and his new book, Oscar’s Tale, to the blog HistoricalFiction #AngloSaxon #Vikings #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Oscar’s Tale is that of a Saxon boy who sets out to find and rescue his father who has been taken by Viking slavers. The story begins in 877, just prior to the Viking attack on Chippenham in which King Alfred was routed. Against this backdrop, Oscar is obliged to set out…
I’m sharing my review for The Hero Virus by Russell Dumper #blogtour #bookreview #thriller – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb The Hero Virus tells the thrilling story of Chris Taylor, who is hanging on to life by a thread. Recently widowed, his only reason to carry on is his faithful Labrador, but even that doesn’t stop his willingness to gamble with death every day. When his companion suffers a violent demise, Taylor thinks…
I’m welcoming The Dressmaker’s Secret Earl by Susanne Dunlap to the blog #blogtour #RegencyRomance #BookReview – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb A marriage of convenience to a scoundrel? Not if Augusta can help it. The impoverished daughter of a baronet, Augusta has no intention of being bartered away like a prize horse. Instead, she flees to London, determined to forge her own path as a modiste. But fate has other plans. On her…
I’m delighted to welcome Brigitte Barnard and her new book, The Tudor Queens’ Midwife to the blog #TheTudorMidwife #HistoricalFiction #TudorFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to share two treats with readers today, a short post about the author's research, and also an excerpt for the novel. Enjoy. Research, by Brigitte Barnard. My research has spanned some 20+ years of obsessive reading about the Tudor dynasty. I am a homebirth midwife, so I decided to write a book from…
I’m delighted to welcome back Helen Hollick with Kathy Hollick and their book, Ghost Encounters, to the blog #GhostEncounters #Ghosts #NorthDevon #FriendlyGhosts #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome back Helen Hollick with Kathy Hollick and their book, Ghost Encounters: The Lingering Spirits of North Devon, to the blog with an excerpt. Excerpt Almost everyone assumes that ghosts are hostile and frightening. An assumption perpetuated by intentionally scary stories, religious taboo, movies and TV docu-drama ‘haunted house’ shows. Non-believers –…
I’m delighted to welcome a returning Helen Golden to the blog with her new book, I Kill Always Love You. #bookreview #cosymystery #blogtour – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb A perfect sunny getaway with no drama. Or so they’d hoped… BREAKING NEWS Woman Taken in for Questioning in Death of Actress’ Husband Police in Portugal this morning told reporters that a woman is being questioned in connection with the murder of the film producer Jason ‘JT’ Kenda, who was married to…
I’m sharing my review for The Viscount’s Pearl by Melissa Addey #regencyromance #blogtour #bookreview – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb He’s a carefree rake who wants a marriage of convenience. She’s an awkward spinster who doesn’t want to marry at all. Fate has other plans in store for them both. Laurence enjoys his dalliances with the married ladies of society, and thinks marriage is only a matter of convenience. He’s on the…
I’m delighted to welcome Justin Newland and his book, The Midnight of Eights, to the blog #HistoricalFiction #ElizabethanFiction #AgeOfDiscovery #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome Justin Newland and his book, The Midnight of Eights, The Island of Angels series, to the blog with a guest post. Guest Post My novel, The Midnight of Eights, is set in Elizabethan times, and explores England’s coming of age in that period. This guest post muses on the state of…
It’s happy publication day to The Viscount’s Forbidden Flirtation by Sarah Rodi #historicalromance #newrelease #blogtour #Mills&Boon – MJ Porter
Here's the blurb Lieutenant Colonel Ezra Hart finds himself in urgent need of a wife—inheriting the viscountcy relies on it! But while he’s dutifully spinning the Season’s jewels around Society's ballrooms he finds himself desiring the one woman he shouldn’t covet… French émigrée Seraphine Mounier is as beguiling as she is vivacious, but Ezra knows…
I’m delighted to welcome Howard Jay Smith and his book, Viva Violetta & Verdi, to the blog #HistoricalFiction #BiographicalHistoricalFiction #Verdi #ClassicalMusic #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBook Club – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome Howard Jay Smith and his new book, Viva Violetta & Verdi, to the blog with a prologue. Prologue Oh, My Country, So Beautiful And Lost Milan, February 27, 1901 On the morning of Verdi’s funeral, I awoke well before dawn. After a double shot of espresso and a cornetto, one freshly…
I’m delighted to welcome Julia Ibbotson and her book, The Rune Stone, to the blog #medieval #TimeTravel #Romance #Mystery #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub – MJ Porter
I'm delighted to welcome Julia Ibbotson and her book, The Rune Stone, book 3 in the Dr DuLac series (but can be read as a standalone), to the blog. Blurb A haunting time-slip mystery of runes and romance When Dr Viv DuLac, medievalist and academic, finds a mysterious runic inscription on a Rune Stone in…
I’m super excited to announce the special 5th birthday edition of The Last King, available for preorder now – MJ Porter
Back in 2020, I finally wrote a book I'd wanted to write for a long time - the story of Mercia's last king, Coelwulf II (although, I think I should have spelt his name as Ceolwulf but hey ho). The book I eventually wrote has spawned my most successful series to date and has also…