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Featured Spotlight on "The Herb Knot" by Jane Loftus - Blog Tour and Book Excerpt
BOOK EXCERPTThe oars were being readied as Rafi ran to the workshop. They would push against the side of the quay and propel the cog into the middle of the Leie, which would join with the Scheldt. Then, they would be in open water. He did not have much time.Jacob was in the workshop, parading around in a new hat. ‘What do you think?’‘Where is Van Loo? Has he left for the guild yet?’Jacob nodded sulkily towards the office. The room still reeked of yesterday’s herring. How many times had Rafi lain
The Dark Side of the Sun King's Dazzling Court
Meet Madame de Montespan, the Sun King’s mistress with a shocking secret! Nearly 1 1/2 years ago, I watched a fascinating programme on France 3 about Madame de Montespan, the longtime maîtresse en titre of the Sun King, Louis XIV. For many years, I’ve been intrigued by Louis XIV and his court, and especially by an event I'll mention below. So it was time I explored that era – and its people – further… Born Françoise de Rochechouart, of old French nobility, she was married to the Marquis de Monte
A Perfect Novel for Lord of the Rings Fans - an Editorial Review of "The Quarry"
Book Blurb:Set in early medieval Britain and perfect for Lord of the Rings fans, this fourth installment of The Druid Chronicles tells the story of a Saxon sheriff who’s on the hunt for fugitive Druids—unaware that he is being pursued as well.Forced to flee their previous sanctuary, a small band of goddess-worshipping Britons reach a high mountain valley, believed to be the site of their cult’s ancestral home, to find its stone towers reduced to rubble. With only a matter of months before winter
A Raven Between Two Tropical Birds - an Editorial Review of "To Be True"
Book Blurb:If you have to choose between going too far or being too late, always choose too far.Marion Pallas is the plain middle sister, the raven between two tropical birds, and that is how the ladies in 1920's London high society treat her with their malignant whispers and snide comments. When Marion exacts her revenge, her misdeed launches a plot to save her involving a motley crew of characters including a Canadian playwright and his theatre company, a notorious gang of female thieves, a co
Featured Spotlight on "The Winding Dirt Road" by Jiu Da - a Blog Tour and Book Excerpt
BOOK EXCERPT"Throughout it all, our wise man was so obsessed and preoccupied with being the most devoted servant to feed one man above him while willingly bypassing the needs and interests of tens of millions below, manifesting conduct morally repugnant and contradictory to all human values." ~ Event Horizon
A Breakneck Flight for Survival After the Civil War - an Editorial Review of "Coldiron"
Book Blurb:Fulton Missouri residents Sarah and Ruth discover the story of Samantha Coldiron’s flight from the man trying to kill her, and a series of mishaps in a quest for life-saving salt at the end of the Civil War led to a cache of gold that’s never been recovered, as far as they know.In alternating chapters, Sarah and Ruth’s breakneck journey to North Carolina in 1984 and Samantha’s harrowing flight out of North Carolina trying to escape Frank Daniels in 1864 are told. Sarah and Ruth only h
A Story of Courage in the Face of Tyranny - an Editorial Review of "Scapegoat"
Book Blurb:Bruges, 1558—a city of faith and ferocity, grandeur and terror, where whispers can turn to accusations, and justice serves power above truth. When young Matthias arrives in Bruges, he is drawn into the orbit of François van Daele and Willem de Clerc, two men living quietly in the shadows—until a jealous rival brands them as sinners. Dragged into a society ravenous for vengeance, they face sentences of unspeakable cruelty—caught in a corrupt inquisition where innocence is condemned, an
The Perogatives of Patronage and Power in American Politics - an Editorial Review of "A President's Story Too"
Book Blurb:Between Lincoln and FDR, the Presidency and the United States come of ageIn the wake of the Civil War, fourteen men will succeed Abraham Lincoln and attempt to reunify the United States. As their personal tales intertwine and overlap on their way to the Presidency, they defer to Congress until it is clear that Democrats and Republicans are more concerned with the prerogatives of power and patronage than Lincoln’s pledge of freedom and opportunity for all Americans. The 19th-century Pr
La Cosa Nostra in the Big Easy - an Untold Emigrant Tragedy
'COBBLESTONES: A NEW ORLEANS TRAGEDY' by former Federal Prosecutor and FBI Agent Sal R. Perricone - Now available on pre-order and releasing in two days! Get your copy today and learn more about #neworleans history and the #sicilianvendettas in the early 1800s!!BUY TODAY: https://geni.us/M2sa The turbulent history of Post-Reconstruction New Orleans collides with the plight of Sicilian immigrants seeking refuge in America.Antonio, a young man fleeing Sicily after avenging his father's murder, emb
A Confronting Story About an Underrepresented Voice in History - an Editorial Review of "The Trails of Thomas(ine) Hall"
Book Blurb: Coming SoonBook Buy Link: Coming SoonAuthor Bio: Vaughn Roste is most drawn to telling dramatic true stories from underrepresented voices. A recovering academic, he has two WWII features optioned and another short produced (FIREFIGHTER, 2021, on Youtube). A published author of plays, song lyrics, and poems, his first book, The Xenophobe’s Guide to the Canadians was published by Oval Books in England.Editorial Review:““It’s time for me to make my own way in the world, Auntie. You know
A Dystopian Historical Tale of Injustice - an Editorial Review of "Upstream"
Book Blurb:Upstream is Jennifer M. Lane’s stunning conclusion to the story that began in Downriver. This dystopian historical tale of social justice, set in Pennsylvania’s coal country and on Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, is filled with adventure and heart.The closer Charlotte gets to the killer and the cure, the more she forgets to live.It’s 1901. It’s been a year since Charlotte arrived on the Chesapeake Bay and discovered the poison that killed her parents was in the water… and killing people do
Featured Spotlight on "Ping" by Lisa Lucas & Steve Landsberg - Blog Tour and Book Excerpts
BOOK EXCERPT:Yanking out a chunk of hair from the back of her head made Jenny feel weirdly good. It was almost irresistible – an urge she had never known – an urge she knew she needed to get under control before the bald patches could no longer be hidden."PING" by Lisa Lucas & GROK co-founder Steve Landsberg
A Fiery Woman Joins a Cattle Drive in America's Untamed Frontier - an Editorial Review of "Red Haired Distraction"
Book Blurb:Step into the rugged Texas frontier with Red-Haired Distraction, a captivating Western novel that blends action, heart, and unforgettable characters. Follow Angelina Montgomery—a fiery young woman determined to defy expectations—as she joins a cattle drive to save her family’s ranch. Alongside her is Joe Bob Bennett, an earnest cowboy with everything to prove, and Jack Thornton, a seasoned foreman with a mysterious past.Angie Montgomery, a spirited young woman, desires to prove hersel
A Feminist, a Poet, a Dramatist and a Nun: an Editorial Review of "Sor Juana, My Beloved"
Book Blurb:" A compelling narrative!" (Kirkus Reviews)"A passionate exploration of Sor Juana's life." (Donovan's Literary Services)"Mesmerizing read."These are but a few of the extraordinary reviews of SOR JUANA, MY BELOVED. (Kathryn Henderson, Professor Emerita)From the author: Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, the brilliant 17th century Mexican nun, had two passions in life: Poetry and the Viceroy's wife.Exploring those passions in creating this biography led me on a five-year journey, scouring every
Iron Age Archaeology & Indiana Jones-type Adventure - an Editorial Review of "Scorpions Ascent"
Book Blurb:Scorpions Ascent is an action-packed young adult novel that blends Iron Age archaeology with the thrill of Indiana Jones adventure.Tzakhi dreads being apprenticed to the smelting fires of King Solomon’s mines, but when his father is kidnapped, he has the opportunity to rescue him and demonstrate that he already has a different set of skills.Tzakhi’s father Nachshon is steward over the mines of the Arava, and Tzakhi’s older half brothers serve the fires. Tzakhi loves working with the a
The Wrongful Imprisonment of a French Nobleman - an Editorial Review of "The Lost Seigneur"
Book Blurb:The Lost Seigneur is a sequel to award-winning Chateau Laux. Set in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, it is the story of Jean-Pierre du Laux, a nobleman in southern France, who was wrongfully imprisoned during a time of religious intolerance and subsequently endeavors to return to his family. Many years have passed since he saw them and any reunion would have been impossible, without the unlikely help of a youthful companion that he meets along the way.Book Buy Link: https://gen
When the Past That Haunts You Isn't Your Own - an Editorial Review of "The House on Chambers Road"
Book Blurb:Sometimes the past that comes back to haunt you isn’t yours…C.J. McGroarty blends the gothic touches of a good ghost story with the rich, evocative details of historical fiction in this tale of love, loss, and redemption.Interior designer Libby Casey desperately wants to move on from her grief and the painful secret that has plagued her since her husband’s death. When she buys an 18th-century house on the outskirts of town that she feels inexplicably drawn to, she thinks she has a cha
A Spectacular Crusading Adventure Novel - "The Will of God" by Julian de la Motte - Blog Tour and Book Excerpts
BOOK EXCERPT:And so there had been, far more than a ‘little something’ in fact. Grandesmil was carrying in his panniers documents that entitled him to vast swathes of new lands in the Cotentin and he was carrying in his head visions of the likely reaction to William’s death of certain of his more immediate family. And thus, to Robert his eldest son: The boy had been with the King of France for four years now. Kept on a short leash and harboured by William’s greatest enemy; a boy caught in rebell
Featured Spotlight on "Unspoken" by Jann Alexander - Blog Tour & Book Excerpt
BOOK EXCERPTWILLA MAEThere are times my memories are so clear.The odor of burning paper that accompanies a blue norther in March, with its low, blue-gray clouds stretching across the horizonI can smell the acrid reek behind the glove factory where the smiths tanned the hides they hung and stripped. The smooth feel of the leather on the table where my sewing machine sat, as I fed it into the stitcher, the smell of it I came to love once it was tanned and dyed. The plum leather was my favorite of
The Only Three People on Earth Who Can Stop Hitler - an Editorial Review of "Thomas Edison and the Magi Solution"
Book Blurb:Spring, 1945. As World War II comes to an end, John Dawkins, Thomas Edison’s intrepid former assistant, is summoned by an ailing President Roosevelt to investigate a terrifying secret report that Adolph Hitler, faced with certain defeat, has made an unholy deal with the Devil to annihilate the world. Along with his wife, Sophie, an ace newspaper reporter, and their ten-year-old son, Joshua, John journeys to war-ravaged London to join forces with theatrical playboy (and undercover agen
Featured Spotlight on "A Mischief of Murder" by Helen Hollick - Blog Tour and Book Excerpt
BOOK EXCERPT:I was dismayed to discover that the visitor was none other than Detective Sergeant Frobisher. We’d had run-ins with him before, an arrogant, very rude man who always rubbed Laurie – and me – up the wrong way with his snide, ungentlemanly remarks. Mind, the last time we were here in Devon Aunt Madge had soundly put him in his place – twice. Being on the sharp end of her tongue is not for the faint hearted. And matters had come to a head (well, a bloody nose), when Laurie had firmly p
A Sweeping Three Book Victorian Trilogy That Will Transport You!
NEW RELEASE ALERT!!"Under the Sword" by Luv Lubker- Book Three of the "Rival Courts" seriesJoin Queen Victoria's eldest daughter and her husband, future German Emperor Frederick III in this third installment of The Rival Courts family saga, as they climb the treacherous path to their dream of German unification in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870.In the calm after the storm, Vicky and Fritz have it all: a devoted marriage, a growing family, and the promise of a bright future. But Fritz's Uncle Ka
Fate That is Written in the Cards - an Editorial Review of "The Prince of Cups"
Book Blurb:Fate was written in the cards—desire would seal it in fire.In the twilight of Renaissance Florence, where Savonarola's sermons stir revolt and the Borgias’ assassins move in shadows, a forbidden love ignites. Veronica Danti, a fiery gypsy bound by an unwanted marriage, meets the man foretold in her Tarot cards: Antonio di Fabiani, noble exile and reluctant combatant in a deadly game of power and passion. Amid the echo of cathedral bells and the secrets of courtesans and spies, their d
Featured Spotlight on "Marguerite: Hell Hath No Fury!" by Judith Arnold - Blog Tour and Book Excerpt
BOOK EXCERPT1443 – Having produced an heir for England, Marguerite returns to court, hoping for a warm welcome.After an uneasy Christmas season, the new year sees the divisions at court widening and deepening. I am convinced the great fissure has grown so wide that it will never now be healed. The uneasy friendship that once existed has inflated into the blackest enmity. York is like a great chained beast that, once unleashed, will tear me to pieces. I am the Frenchwoman, the whore, and he has e
The Brutal Realities of the Gold Rush Through the Eyes of a Young Girl - an Editorial Review of "Heroes of Gold Country"
Book Blurb:Anna Claire Freiler is not like other nine-year-old girls. Strong-willed, high-strung, and fiercely independent, she refuses to conform to the expectations placed on young girls in a society that often devalues them. While others host tea parties and tend to dolls, Anna Claire prefers climbing trees, collecting rocks, and testing boundaries-much to her family's frustration.After a long and arduous journey from Minnesota, the Freiler family arrives in the Montana Territory, drawn by th
Featured Spotlight on "A Prodigy in Auschwitz" by Fred Goldman - Blog Tour
BOOK EXCERPTSimon was one of the first to notice the disturbance among the starlings roosting in the sycamore trees bordering the east and west sides of the square. He heard their pitched chorus and the flapping of their wings seconds before hundreds of them flocked to the sky, creating two formations before joining into one large configuration. They moved swiftly, twisting, turning, changing shapes, and creating an astonishing spectacle to those watching below. As the progression of movements a
A Story Lost to Time, then Found Again - Spotlight on "An Echo of Ashes" by Ron Allen Ames
Book Excerpt:The bull then noticed Russell and immediately charged. “RUSSELL!” Ella screamed as Ruth restrained her from running into the corral.From behind the pole, Russell held out the gun with his right hand and fired. Boom! Boom! Boom! Did he miss? The bull was almost on him! He frantically shot again. Boom! Boom! The hair flew from the animal’s brisket as the second bullet ripped through the beast’s jaw. The bull whirled and trotted back as it snorted and gurgled in the blood that ran from
Featured Spotlight on "The Lydiard Chronicles" by Elizabeth St. John
The Lydiard Chronicles (A Trilogy)Elizabeth St.JohnPublication Date: 2016-2020Publisher: Falcon HistoricalGenre: Historical FictionAny Triggers: NoThe Lydiard Chronicles:The Lady of the Tower (Book #1)By Love Divided (Book #2)Written in Their Stars (Book #3)by Elizabeth St.JohnBlurb:Duty, passion, and power collide in The Lydiard Chronicles, a gripping trilogy inspired bytrue events. Follow three courageous women—survivors, strategists, and storytellers—who defy the constraints of society to sha
Defending a City from Saladin's Army - an Editorial Review of "Sands of Bone"
Book Blurb:Ninety years have passed since the Christians wrested control of Jerusalem from their foes, and the Kingdom of Jerusalem’s army is a pile of corpses strewn about the Horns of Hattin. The few survivors stumble back for the only place of refuge spared of Saladin’s wrath, Jerusalem.Robert Cutnose reluctantly joins with the Lord Balian de Ibelin in an attempt to defend a city of refugees from Saladin's army. Both men have drawn the ire of old enemies within the Order who secretly wish to
Blog Tour for "Shattered Peace: A Century of Silence"
Book Title: Shattered Peace: A Century of SilenceSeries: n/aAuthor Name: Julie McDonald ZanderPublication Date: March 27, 2025 (Official book launch was May 10, 2025)Publisher: St. Helens PressPages: 290Genre: Historical Fiction, Time-slip, World War IAny Triggers: It contains references to date rape, war violence, post-traumatic stress disorder, and faith and redemptionShattered Peace: A Century of Silenceby Julie McDonald ZanderBlurb:A forgotten diary. A century-old secret. A town still haunte
Action and Adventure in the Mediterranean Sea - an Editorial Review of "The Voyage of the Evangelist"
Book Blurb:The Voyage of the Evangelistis a fictional blending of two events which appear in the historical record for the eastern Mediterranean Sea in 828 CE. First, two Venetian merchants, anchored in the harbor of Alexandria, Egypt, smuggled the remains of St. Mark out of that city with the aid of two Coptic churchmen by hiding them under palettes of pork in the hold of their galley which the Moslem guards would not touch, and took them back to Venice where they were ultimately installed at t
A Jewish Family Caught in the Chaos of WWII - an Editorial Review of "Moral Borders"
Book Blurb:Moral Borders by Lee R. Rosenberg is a gripping historical novel that delves into the harrowing experiences of a Jewish family caught in the chaos of World War II. Spanning themes of survival, sacrifice, and the enduring human spirit, this powerful narrative explores the fates of Jacob, Sarah, and their children as they are torn from their lives and thrust into unimaginable circumstances.Set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Europe, the story intertwines personal struggles with th
A Texas Girl Determined to Salvage the Wreckage - an Editorial Review for "Unspoken"
Book Blurb:“Reminds me, in tone, of Texas classics like The Time it Never Rained and Giant. I loved it. Alexander is a great new talent in the genre of Texana.” –W.F. Strong, author, Stories From Texas, and radio commentator for NPR TexasA Farm Devastated. A Dream Destroyed. A Family Scattered. And One Texas Girl Determined to Salvage the Wreckage.Ruby Lee Becker can't breathe. It's 1935 in the heart of the Dust Bowl, and the Becker family has clung to its Texas Panhandle farm through six years
When the Enemy Turns to Dirty Tricks - an Editorial Review of "Cold Victory'
Book Blurb:You know you're winning when the enemy turns to dirty tricks ....With the Airlift gaining momentum, the Russians turn to more devious tactics to thwart the forces of democracy. Key players — or their loved ones — are targeted in unscrupulous attacks. Simultaneously, the policy of "collective guilt" has been replaced by "collective amnesty," enabling former Nazis to worm their way back into positions of power. Yet throughout this dangerous dance with the henchmen of dictators, women ar
Blog Tour and Book Excerpt for "The Standing Stone on the Moor"
Book Title: The Standing Stone on the MoorSeries: Talbot Saga Book #3 (can be read as a standalone)Author: Allie CresswellPublication Date: 20th June 2025Publisher: Allie Cresswell LimitedPages: 531Genre: Historical RomanceThe Standing Stone on the Moorby Allie CresswellBlurb:Yorkshire, 1845.Folklore whispers that they used to burn witches at the standing stone on the moor. When the wind is easterly, it wails a strange lament. History declares it was placed as a marker, visible for miles—a signp
Music and Politics in the 1960s - an Editorial Review of "The Guitarist Association:
Book Blurb:The Guitarist Association is a story about three friends who live in one of the most exciting times in American History: the 1960s. It's about their perspective toward music, politics, and the changing times through the television program they have. It’s about music people love and still relate to even today. This vivid, engaging tale brings the reader back to one of the greatest eras in music.Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/tHvAAuthor Bio:T.M. Greene was born in Washington, D.C. He en
Arizona's First Woman Lawyer - an Editorial Review of "A New York Lady in Helldorado"
Book Blurb:There are many books and movies about the OK Corral and the men and women made famous because of those deadly thirty seconds. But there is another whose life was deeply impacted by that event. A NEW YORK LADY IN HELLDORADO; this story with true crime appeal tells about the first woman to win a case in the US Supreme Court without a man's help. Sarah Herring, now forgotten, didn't get there overnight. It took hard work and guts.Wild and politically divided, Tombstone is the last place
New Release Book Blast for "Fate: Tales of History, Mystery and Magic"
Book Title: FATE: Tales of History, Mystery and MagicAuthors: Annie Whitehead, Jean Gill, Marian L Thorpe, Helen Hollick, Alison Morton, Elizabeth St.John, R. Marsden, Anna Belfrage, J. P Reedman, Debbie Young.With an introduction by Cathie Dunn and endword by Helen HollickPublication Date: 16th June 2025Publisher: Taw River PressPages: 244Genre: anthology: short stories of history, mystery and magicAny Triggers: some adult contentFATE: Tales of History, Mystery and MagicAuthors: Annie Whitehea
A Feline's Point of View During WWI - an Editorial Review of "The Cats of No Man's Land"
Book Blurb: Coming SoonBook Buy Link: Coming SoonAuthor Bio: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569255030232#Editorial Review:“Another night’s desperate battles are coming to an end in No Man’s Land. Like the vanishing stars above, the surviving combatants must flee before the rising sun. Most have already retreated underground, returning to their trenches and bunkers. Most, but not all. For indeed not all who fight here are men. Skirting a rain-filled shell crater, a solitary cat continu
Anne Boleyn Comes to Life - an Editorial Review of "A Heretic's Gift"
Book Blurb:1521Anne Boleyn returns home from the liberal French court to find England under King Henry VIII a hotbed of religious intolerance. Here, her knowledge of the Bible and passion for reform makes her a target for those of the King’s advisors intent on stamping out what they see as heresy. It also brings her to the attention of the King, but is it her opinions he is interested in or her body?Anne’s childhood friend, Thomas Wyatt, now married but admiring her from a distance, warns her to