Book Spotlight: The King’s Intelligencer - Discovering the Missing Princes in the Tower by Elizabeth St.John

 

London, 1674: When children’s bones are unexpectedly unearthed in the Tower of London, England’s most haunting mystery—the fate of the missing princes—is reignited.

Franny Apsley, trusted confidante to Charles II’s beloved niece and heir, Lady Mary Stuart, is caught up in the court’s excitement surrounding the find. Yet, as a dark family secret comes to light, Franny realises the truth behind the missing princes is far more complex—and dangerous—than anyone suspects. Recruited by her formidable cousin Nan Wilmot,  Dowager Countess of Rochester, to discover the truth behind the bones, Franny is thrust into the shadowy world of intelligencers. But her quest is complicated by an attraction to the charismatic court artist Nicholas Jameson, a recent arrival from Paris who harbours secrets of his own.

Pursued by Nicholas, Franny searches for evidence hidden in secret family letters and paintings, and uncovers a startling diplomatic plot involving Lady Mary, which causes Franny to question her own judgment, threatens the throne, and sets England on a course for war. With only her courage and the guidance of an enigmatic spy within the royal household, Franny must decide how far she will go to expose the truth—and whether that truth will lead to England’s salvation or her own heartbreak.

In a glittering and debauched society where love is treacherous and loyalty masked, Franny must navigate a world where a woman’s voice is often silenced and confront the ultimate question: What is she willing to risk for the sake of her country, her happiness, and her family’s safety?

A captivating historical novel of conspiracy, passion, and courage, The King’s Intelligencer is one woman's quest for a truth that could change the fate of a nation. A companion to the critically acclaimed best-selling novels The Godmother’s Secret and The Lydiard Chronicles, The King’s Intelligencer weaves together beloved characters and actual events to bring a suspenseful mystery to life.

 Buy Links:

 This title is available to read on #Kindle Unlimited.

 Universal Buy Link: https://geni.us/KingsIntelligencer

 

Elizabeth St.John’s critically acclaimed historical fiction novels tell the stories of her ancestors: extraordinary women whose intriguing kinship with England's kings and queens brings an intimately unique perspective to Medieval, Tudor, and Stuart times.

Inspired by family archives and residences from Lydiard Park to the Tower of London, Elizabeth spends much of her time exploring ancestral portraits, diaries, and lost gardens. And encountering the occasional ghost. But that’s another story.

Living between California, England, and the past, Elizabeth is the International Ambassador for The Friends of Lydiard Park, an English charity dedicated to conserving and enhancing this beautiful centuries-old country house and park. As a curator for The Lydiard Archives, she is constantly looking for an undiscovered treasure to inspire her next novel.

Elizabeth's works include The Lydiard Chronicles, a trilogy set in 17th-century England during the Civil War, and The Godmother's Secret, which unravels the medieval mystery of the missing princes in the Tower of London. Her latest release, The King’s Intelligencer, follows Franny Apsley's perilous quest to uncover the truth behind the sudden discovery of the princes' bones. In Charles II's court of intrigue and deceit, Franny must decide what she’ll risk—for England’s salvation, her family's safety, and her own happiness.

Author Links:

Website:         https://www.elizabethjstjohn.com/

Twitter:           https://x.com/ElizStJohn    

Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethJStJohn/

LinkedIn:        https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethjstjohn/

Instagram:       https://www.instagram.com/elizabethjstjohn/

Threads:          https://www.threads.net/@elizabethjstjohn

Bluesky:          https://bsky.app/profile/elizabethstjohn.bsky.social

Book Bub:       https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elizabeth-st-john

Amazon Author Page:     https://geni.us/AmazonElizabethStJohn

Goodreads:      https://geni.us/GoodreadsElizStJohn

Coming this winter: AnaRose and Medusa's Curse by Mary Ann Bernal

 

In the heart of Athens, an ancient curse is about to be unleashed…

Museum curator AnaRose Preston proudly unveils the newly renovated annex and its crown jewel—a state-of-the-art planetarium. Her routine inspection, however, is abruptly interrupted by an urgent message from relic hunter Miles Bordel. Known for his unscrupulous methods, Bordel has unearthed Alexander the Great’s drinking cup, triggering a chain of events that could resurrect an ancient curse.

Bordel navigates the treacherous waters of the Siwa Oasis and the ruins of Ammon, crossing paths with Alekos Chloros, the cunning leader of a terrorist faction called The Macedonians. Chloros seeks the Medusa amulet, a legendary artifact with the power to petrify those who dare gaze upon it. The discovery of Medusa relics by underwater archaeologists near Alonissos intensifies the race to secure the amulet.

AnaRose and her assistant Jo dive into a world of hidden relics and dark secrets. From the bustling streets of Athens to the serene waters of Alonissos, they navigate treacherous terrain above and below the sea. Their journey is fraught with peril, including underwater battles, secret war rooms, and the ever-looming threat of the amulet’s curse.

With each chapter, AnaRose and Bordel inch closer to the truth, unraveling a conspiracy that spans continents and centuries. As they confront their adversaries and their own pasts, they must stay one step ahead to prevent the amulet from falling into the wrong hands.

AnaRose and Medusa’s Curse is a thrilling adventure that weaves history, mythology, and suspense into a tapestry of intrigue. Join AnaRose as she confronts the past to secure a future free from the shadows of ancient curses.

Don’t miss out on this thrilling adventure. Preorder AnaRose and Medusa’s Curse today!

Universal Purchase Link

 

 

Book Spotlight: Amulet’s Rapture Series: (Curse of Clansmen and Kings Book 3) by Linnea Tanner

 

"Amulet's Rapture by Linnea Tanner is the story of the survival and transformation of Catrin. The plot is packed with action, politics, corruption, ambition, prophecies, and ancient magic. With a gripping plot, mindblowing storytelling, and unpredictable twists, Amulet's Rapture by Linnea Tanner is going to be among my top three favorites of this year." -- Ankita Shukla for Readers' Favorite

Blood stains her Celtic home and kingdom. The warrior Druid princess will do anything to retake her kingdom.

Although Catrin is the rightful heir to the Celtic throne in Britannia, she is lucky to be alive. After witnessing the slaughter of her family at the hands of her half-brother, who was aided by the Romans, she is enslaved by a Roman commander. He disguises her as a boy in the Roman Legion with the belief that she is an oracle of Apollo and can foretell his future. The sole bright spot in her miserable new life is her forbidden lover Marcellus, the great-grandson of the famed Roman General Mark Antony.

But Marcellus has been wounded and his memories of Catrin and their secret marriage were erased by a dark Druidess. Though Marcellus reunites with Catrin in Gaul and becomes her ally as she struggles to survive the brutality of her Roman master, he questions the legitimacy of their marriage and hesitates to help her escape and retake her kingdom. If their forbidden love and alliance are discovered, her dreams of returning to her Celtic home with Marcellus will be shattered.

Book Trailer on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjYCvgdKzQI

 Buy Links:

 Amulet’s Rapture is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

 *Amulet’s Rapture is free on Kindle on October 17^th – 21^st, 2024*

 Universal Buy Link:  https://books2read.com/Amulets-Rapture-Book3

 

 Universal Buy Links for Individual Books in Curse of Clansmen and Kings series:

 Apollo’s Raven (Book 1): https://books2read.com/Apollos-Raven

Dagger’s Destiny (Book 2): https://books2read.com/Daggers-Destiny-Book2

Amulet’s Rapture (Book 3): https://books2read.com/Amulets-Rapture-Book3

Skull’s Vengeance (Book 4): https://books2read.com/Skulls-Vengeance-Book4

 

Series Amazon Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GVCZJ8M?ref_=dbs_p_pwh_rwt_anx_b_lnk&storeType=ebooks

Award-winning author, Linnea Tanner, weaves Celtic tales of love, magical adventure, and political intrigue in Ancient Rome and Britannia. Since childhood, she has passionately read about ancient civilizations and mythology. She is particularly interested in the enigmatic Celts, who were reputed as fierce warriors and mystical Druids.

Linnea has extensively researched ancient and medieval history, mythology, and archaeology and has traveled to sites described within each of her books in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series. Books released in her series include Apollo’s Raven (Book 1), Dagger’s Destiny (Book 2), Amulet’s Rapture (Book 3), and Skull’s Vengeance (Book 4). She has also released the historical fiction short story Two Faces of Janus.

A Colorado native, Linnea attended the University of Colorado and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry. She lives in Fort Collins with her husband and has two children and six grandchildren.

 Author Links:

 Website: https://www.linneatanner.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/linneatanner

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linnea.tanner

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linnea-tanner-a021932b/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linneatanner/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@linneatanner

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/linneatanner/_created/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/linnea-tanner

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Linnea-Tanner/e/B01N6YEM04

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16474282.Linnea_Tanner

Book Spotlight: The Vow by Jude Berman

 

In a stunning work of feminist historical fiction for readers who loved Dawn Tripp’s Georgia and Whitney Scharer’s The Age of Light, Jude Berman brings painter Angelica Kauffman to life.

Accused of dressing as a boy to study in the prestigious galleries of eighteenth-century Italy, child prodigy Angelica Kauffman has set high goals for herself. She is determined to become a history painter, a career off-limits to women. To ensure her success, she has vowed never to marry.

Shattering the glass ceiling of her times, Kauffman paints royalty, mingles with illustrious artists, and becomes one of the only female founders of the Royal Academy of Arts in London. But her path is fraught with challenges and eventually she questions if a vow of a different sort is necessary if she is to answer the deepest call of her heart.

**Finalist for Historical Fiction at the 2024 American Fiction Awards**

“Jude Berman has created a spirited, engaging glimpse into the life of one of the most important artists of the eighteenth century. Kauffman was a true free spirit, dedicated to her art, and that is captured beautifully in this novel.”—Susanne Dunlap, author of The Portraitist: A Novel of Adélaïde Labille-Guiard

“With skillful prose and classical descriptions, Berman paints a vivid portrait of a woman defying the constraints of her time, making this novel an unforgettable masterpiece in its own right.” —

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/br2a8w

Publisher’s Buy Link: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Vow/Jude-Berman/9781647427887

Jude Berman has a BA in art from Smith College and an EdD in cross-cultural communication from UMass Amherst. After a career in academic research, she built a freelance writing and editing business and ran two small Indie presses. She lives in Berkeley, CA, where she continues to work with authors and writes fiction.

In her free time, she volunteers for progressive causes, paints with acrylic watercolors, gardens, and meditates. The Die, metaphysical speculative fiction about saving democracy, was published in 2024.

Visit judeberman.com for Jude’s books and judeberman.org for her art.

Author Links:

Website: https://judeberman.com/

Art website: http://www.judeberman.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judebermanauthor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judeberman/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jude.berman/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jude.berman

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jude-Berman/author/B0C9N4GDVJ

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/50381.Jude_Berman

 

Magic Unleashed: Bewitching the Immortal by Brenda Sparks is Now Available! Read an Exclusive Excerpt!

 

In the shadowed realm where death and magic intertwine, the Grim Reaper dutifully guides souls to the afterlife without question--that is until the night Azrael encounters Tabetha Calderon. Far from ordinary, the witch presents an unprecedented challenge: her soul cannot be taken.

Tabetha’s life, a delicate balance of spells and secrets, is shattered by a mysterious murder that leaves her soul restless. Desperate for justice, she and Azrael embark on a perilous journey to uncover the truth. As they unravel the web of deceit surrounding her death, their bond deepens into a whirlwind of forbidden love and desire.

As they edge closer to discovering the truth, fate intervenes, threatening to tear them apart, and Azrael faces an impossible choice between his duty and his heart. Can their love transcend death itself, or will Tabetha forever be lost to the shadows?

 

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/b/3RWBRn

Amazon Internation Buy Link: https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0DC4X1FBQ

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/bewitching-the-immortal/id6605920669

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bewitching-the-immortal-brenda-sparks/1146127649

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/bewitching-the-immortal

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/bewitching-the-immortal-holiday-immortals-novella-series-by-brenda-sparks

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217148552-bewitching-the-immortal 

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DC4X1FBQ

***

EXCERPT

An ember flew from the dying fire as if it spit the last of its breath. The sparks passed through the witch’s soul and landed in the shadow on the floor. It rolled up to the head of the shadow.

Head? What? A chill raced up the Grim Reaper’s spine. That can’t be! Souls don’t have shadows.

Azrael’s gaze raked the floor in disbelief, seeking an explanation. Finding none, he scanned the room, determined to find the cause, but though impossible, the shadow came from Tabetha’s soul.

Just as he opened his mouth to mention the oddity, Tabetha’s form solidified. The next second, the beautiful witch’s body wavered and faded until it was once again ethereal. If he’d blinked at the wrong time, he’d have missed it.

Surprise widened Azrael’s eyes, and his mouth gaped open. “How did you do that?”

“Do what?” asked Tabetha.

“Become solid?” His heart raced.

“I do not know what you are talking about.”

“You were solid. I saw you become solid. Ordinarily, souls can’t do that.”

Tabetha shrugged, and both eyebrows jacked up onto her forehead. “Maybe I’m not an ordinary soul.”

 “Perhaps you aren’t.” Azrael rubbed his chin thoughtfully before he continued, ticking each point off on a finger as he listed them. “You can’t remember how you died. You are a witch. You just became corporeal. I think you are very special indeed.”

After a thoughtful pause, during which he eyed this amazing soul, he continued. “I think we better go.”

“Are you taking me to Summerland?”

“Summerland? As in heaven for witches?” Azrael shook his hair, scattering his raven bangs about his forehead. “No. I can’t reap your soul if you can turn corporeal. I’m going to have to take you somewhere other than the afterlife.”

Tabetha fisted her hands on her hips as her deep blue eyes flared slightly. “If we aren’t going to Summerland, where are we going then?”

As much as he knew he shouldn’t, there was no other choice.

Azrael pursed his lips together. “I’m taking you to the land of the immortals.”

Brenda Sparks has always loved all things spooky and enjoys incorporating paranormal elements in her writing. She refuses to allow pesky human constraints to get in the way of telling the story. Luckily, the only thing limiting her stories is her imagination. Her characters are powerful and courageous, so she adores spending time with them in their imaginary world.

Her idea of a perfect day is one spent in front of a computer with a hot cup of coffee, her fingers flying over the keys to send her characters off on their latest adventure.

Brenda loves to connect with readers. Please visit her online or at her website: www.brenda-sparks.com

Author Links:

Website: http://brenda-sparks.com/index.html

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/brenda-sparks

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Brenda-Sparks/e/B00B7AJBBQ/ 

TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@brendasparks_author

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/forBrendaSparks

X (Twitter) Handle: @brenda_sparks https://twitter.com/brenda_sparks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendasparks/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/BrendaSparks   

Facebook Author Page : https://www.facebook.com/brenda.sparksauthor.1

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/brendasparks/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Brenda-Sparks/e/B00B7AJBBQ/ 

Blog: www.brenda-sparks.com/blog

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrendaSparks

Newsletter Sign Up: http://www.brenda-sparks.com/newsletter.html

 

Book Spotlight: Conquist by Dirk Strasser

 Capitán Cristóbal de Varga’s drive for glory and gold in 1538 Peru leads him and his army of conquistadors into a New World that refuses to be conquered. He is a man torn by life-long obsessions and knows this is his last campaign.

What he doesn’t know is that his Incan allies led by the princess Sarpay have their own furtive plans to make sure he never finds the golden city of Vilcabamba. He also doesn’t know that Héctor Valiente, the freed African slave he appointed as his lieutenant, has found a portal that will lead them all into a world that will challenge his deepest beliefs. And what he can’t possibly know is that this world will trap him in a war between two eternal enemies, leading him to question everything he has devoted his life to - his command, his Incan princess, his honor, his God.

In the end, he faces the ultimate dilemma: how is it possible to battle your own obsessions . . . to conquer yourself?

 Buy Links:

 Universal Amazon Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/4AM52K

 Publisher’s Conquist page:

https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/roundfire-books/our-books/conquist-novel

Dirk Strasser’s epic fantasy trilogy The Books of Ascension—Zenith, Equinox and Eclipse—was published in German and English, and his short stories have been translated into several European languages. “The Doppelgänger Effect” appeared in the World Fantasy Award-winning anthology Dreaming Down Under. He is the co-editor of Australia’s premier science-fiction and fantasy magazine, Aurealis.

Dirk was born in Germany but has lived most of his life in Australia. He has written a series of best-selling school textbooks, trekked the Inca trail to Machu Picchu and studied Renaissance history. “Conquist” was first published as a short story in the anthology Dreaming Again (HarperCollins). The serialized version of Conquist was a finalist in the Aurealis Awards Best Fantasy Novel category. Dirk’s screenplay version of Conquist won the Wildsound Fantasy/Sci-Fi Festival Best Scene Reading Award and was a featured finalist in the Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival and the Creative World Awards.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.dirkstrasser.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DirkStrasser

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054955883297

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirk-strasser-1249a949/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/author/B00CWMHGHO

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203225407-conquist

Dirk’s blog: https://www.dirkstrasser.com/dirks-blog

 

 

Book Spotlight: The Dragon Tree by Julia Ibbotson

 

A haunting medieval time-slip (#2 in the Dr DuLac series, sequel to A Shape on the Air, but can be read as a stand-alone)

Echoes of the past resonate through time and disturb medievalist Dr Viv DuLac as she struggles with misfortune in the present. She and Rev Rory have escaped to the island of Madeira on a secondment from their posts, yet they are not to find peace – until they can solve the mystery of the shard of azulejo and the ancient ammonite. Viv’s search brings her into contact with two troubled women: a noblewoman shipwrecked on the island in the 14^th century and a rebellious nun at the island convent in the 16^th century. As Viv reaches out across the centuries, their lives become intertwined, and she must uncover the secrets of the ominous Dragon Tree in order to locate lost artefacts that can shape the future.

For fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, Christina Courtenay.

“The idea of being able to ‘feel’ what happened in the past is enticing … The sense of the island is really wonderful … Julia brings it to life evocatively.”

~ Joanna Barnden

 “Julia does an incredible job of setting up the idea of time-shift so that it’s believable and makes sense.”

~ book tour reviewer

“… an engaging and original time-slip novel that keeps the reader turning the pages…the characters are authentic and the mystery is neatly woven between the centuries … seamless time transitions …”

~ Melissa Morgan

 Buy Links:

 This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

 Universal Buy Link:  https://mybook.to/TDT

Julia Ibbotson is fascinated by the medieval world and the concept of time. She is the author of historical mysteries with a frisson of romance. Her books are evocative of time and place, well-researched and uplifting page-turners. Her current series focuses on early medieval time-slip/dual-time mysteries. Julia read English at Keele University, England, specialising in medieval language / literature / history, and has a PhD in socio-linguistics.

After a turbulent time in Ghana, West Africa, she became a school teacher, then a university academic and researcher. Her break as an author came soon after she joined the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme in 2015, with a three-book deal from Lume Books for a trilogy (Drumbeats) set in Ghana in the 1960s. She has published five other books, including A Shape on the Air, an Anglo-Saxon timeslip mystery, and its two sequels The Dragon Tree and The Rune Stone.

Her work in progress is a new series of Anglo-Saxon mystery romances, beginning with Daughter of Mercia, where echoes of the past resonate across the centuries. Her books will appeal to fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, and Christina Courtenay. Her readers say: ‘Julia’s books captured my imagination’, ‘beautiful storytelling’, ‘evocative and well-paced storylines’, ‘brilliant and fascinating’ and ‘I just couldn’t put it down’.

Author Links:

Website: https://juliaibbotsonauthor.com

Twitter:   https://x.com/JuliaIbbotson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JuliaIbbotsonauthor

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-julia-ibbotson-62a5401a/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/julia.ibbotson

Pinterest:   http://www.pinterest.co.uk/juliai1

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/julia-ibbotson

Amazon Author Page:  https://Author.to/JuliaIbbotsonauthor

Goodreads:   https://www.goodreads.com/juliaibbotson