Book Spotlight: Muldoon’s Misfortunes by E.V. Sparrow

 

A cursed widower forsakes his faith to ensure his hope.

 On a verdant island beset by poverty and death, Mick Muldoon dares to escape his misfortunes. Is working a farm and raising a family such an impossible thing to ask? Wasn’t God supposed to answer prayers—not turn a deaf ear?

 After surviving the treacherous voyage to America, Mick discovers the rumors of ample opportunity aren't exactly true. His defective body hampers employment and keeps him dependent upon his peculiar sister. However, an unexpected invitation to move to the heartland guarantees his dreams.

 Mick’s own dreadful choices hamper his hopes when he accepts work as a widow’s farmhand. Unbeknownst to him, there’s deception afoot. Mick’s inattention to love causes catastrophe as single fatherhood cruelly shatters his family. Will God miraculously hear his prayers this time?

In Book 1 of Those Resilient Muldoons series, this misguided, wayward widower encounters God’s unexpected presence.

Fall 2024, The BookFest Awards, First Place: Historical Fiction, General

 

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/m20D6R

 This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

 

A short story writer turned novelist Sparrow published a prequel Historical Fiction eBook novella, Muldoon’s Minnesota Darling in May 2023, and Muldoon’s Misfortunes, Historical Fiction Book 1 in Those Resilient Muldoons series in July 2024. Sparrow and enjoys leading readers to Encounter God’s Unexpected Presence through her broken characters.

Before writing, Sparrow travelled extensively overseas and worked in two countries. She married, had a family, and worked for a nonprofit program for older, homeless mentally ill in California. She also volunteered in many community services, including the Divorce Care program. After a divorce, she remarried, and together they have eleven grandchildren that enrich life immensely.

 Author Links:

 Website: https://evsparrowworld.wordpress.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/evSparrow

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-e-v-s-3438918/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erin.sparrow.world/

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

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/e-v-sparrow

https://www.bookbub.com/books/muldoon-s-misfortunes-those-resilient-muldoons-book-1-by-e-v-sparrow

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/E.-V.-Sparrow/author/B084F45QJ2

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29663267.E_V_Sparrow

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210630737-muldoon-s-misfortunes

 

Book Spotlight: Strait Lace by Rosemary Hayward

 

It is 1905. Edwardian England. Harriet Loxley, the daughter of a vicar and niece to a prominent Nottingham lace manufacturer, spends her days playing cricket with her brother, scouring the countryside for botanical specimens, and never missing an opportunity to argue the case for political power for women. Given the chance to visit the House of Commons, Harriet witnesses the failure of a historic bill for women’s voting rights. She also meets the formidable Pankhurst women.

When Harriet gets the chance to study biology at Bedford College, London, she finds her opportunity to be at the heart of the fight. From marching in the street, to speaking to hostile crowds, to hurling stones through windows, just how far will Harriet go?

 Buy Link:

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

 

 

Rosemary Hayward is the author of Margaret Leaving, a historical mystery uncovering little known events that occurred in the immediate aftermath to World War II. She is also the creator of Your Next Book, a deeply nerdy monthly newsletter describing a book picked from her bookshelf, or Kindle.

She is British by birth but now lives part of the year in California and part in southern Spain.

 Author Links:

 Website: www.rosemaryhayward.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Rosemary-Hayward-1460369174026124

LinkedIn: https//www.linkedin.com/in/rosemary-hayward-6544ba60

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

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hayward0738/_saved/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rosemary-hayward

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Rosemary-Hayward/author/B06XR7GZR4

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16658743.Rosemary_Hayward

 

 

Set Sail for Adventure: "Cider's Revenge" by Johnny Pearson – FREE Kindle eBook March 11-12, 2025

 

Ahoy, book lovers! Kindred Media Press is excited to unveil Cider's Revenge: Mutiny on the High Seas, a thrilling middle-grade chapter book that promises to ignite imaginations and whisk readers away on an epic journey. And here's the best part—the eBook is completely FREE for a limited time until March 12, 2025.

Meet the daring and clever Gilly O’Sullivan, a fiery-haired orphan who dreams of life beyond the orphanage walls. Alongside his mischievous and loyal pet rat, Cider, Gilly hatches a bold plan to escape and join the notorious world of pirates. His journey brings him aboard the infamous pirate ship, the Sea Chant, where the ruthless Captain Claude Lamont rules with an iron fist.

But Gilly’s story is far from ordinary. Forced to perform grueling chores and care for neglected prisoners, he discovers his own courage and tenacity. As he befriends the ship's mistreated captives, Gilly concocts a daring mutiny to overthrow the heartless captain.

With bravery and friendship as their guiding compass, Gilly, Cider, and their newfound allies embark on a high-seas adventure that includes rescuing the oppressed and battling devious pirate schemes. This swashbuckling tale is perfect for readers of all ages who crave excitement, heroism, and heart.

Don't let this ship sail without you! Download your free copy of Cider's Revenge: Mutiny on the High Seas and let Gilly and Cider take you on the adventure of a lifetime.

Purchase Link:

Amazon Kindle Link

Also available in paperback format.

Book Spotlight: Sword Brethren by Jon Byrne

 

1242. After being wounded in the Battle on the Ice, Richard Fitz Simon becomes a prisoner of Prince Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod. Alexander, intrigued by his captive’s story, instructs his scholar to assist Richard in writing about his life.

Richard’s chronicle begins in 1203, when his training to be a knight is disrupted by treachery. He is forced to flee England for Lübeck, where he begins work for a greedy salt merchant. After an illicit love affair, his new life is thrown into turmoil, and he joins the Livonian Brothers of the Sword as they embark on imposing the will of God on the pagans of the eastern Baltic. Here, he must reconcile with his new life of prayer, danger and duty – despite his own religious doubts, with as many enemies within the fortified commandery as the wilderness outside. However, when their small outpost in Riga is threatened by a large pagan army, Richard is compelled to make a crucial decision and fight like never before.

 Buy Links:

 Universal Ebook Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/boVKlV

 Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sword-brethren-jon-byrne/1146519606?ean=2940184429601

Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/sword-brethren/jon-byrne/9781835740798

 

Jon Byrne, originally from London, now lives with his German family by a lake in Bavaria with stunning views of the Alps. As well as writing, he works as a translator for a local IT company and occasionally as a lumberjack.

He has always been fascinated by history and has studied the Medieval world for over twenty years, building up a comprehensive library of books. In his research, he has travelled to all of the locations mentioned in the book (East Anglia, Bremen, Lübeck, Latvia, etc).

Sword Brethren (formerly Brothers of the Sword) made it to the shortlist of the Yeovil Literary Prize 2022 and the longlist of the prestigious Grindstone International Novel Prize 2022. It is the first book in The Northern Crusader Chronicles.

 Author Links:

 Website: https://www.jonbyrnewriter.com/

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

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Jon-Byrne/author/B0DJC6PL8D

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/52458339.Jon_Byrne

 

 

Book Spotlight: The Absolution of Mars by T.F. Troy

 

Politics, Friendship, or Greed? Which of these was the true author of the Confederate conspiracy to decapitate the Union? 

 

The Absolution of Mars by T.F. Troy is a masterful blend of historical fiction, human drama and moral exploration. Set against the backdrop of a racially fraught period in American history, the story does not back away from the harsh realities or racial biases of the day. 

 

The narrative introduces Jemm Pender, a former slave with a superior intellect, who rises to become a key agent in the National Detective Police Force. Jemm is tasked to trace the movements of J. W. Boyd, a Confederate spy working out of Canada.

 

From its intriguing opening scene, where playful dialogue among children hints at deeper mysteries, the story captivates with a blend of vivid detail and emotional depth. Jemm's quest intertwines with his wife Marnie and Aunt Cordelia, both blessed with remarkable capabilities that are being lost to the scientific thought of the day.

 

Troy tackles difficult topics with honesty and precision, creating moments that are as painful as they are profound. The prose is rich and evocative, with dialogue that breathes life into the characters and their struggles. The Absolution of Mars is a poignant, thought-provoking exploration of history, identity, and humanity, recommended for readers seeking depth and nuance.

 Buy Links:

 Universal Buy Links:

 Paperback - https://geni.us/2mZBsc

Hardcover - https://geni.us/SwELJ

Ebook -  https://geni.us/K5DUX

A student of the American Civil War, T.F. Troy has an award-winning journalism career spanning more than 40 years. He currently serves as Executive Editor of Cleveland Magazine’s Community Leader as well as the Editor of Ohio Business Magazine. He also writes features for Northern Kentucky Magazine and Dayton Magazine, among other regional publications. His work with those publications has won him numerous awards, taking first, second and third place in Ohio for Magazine Feature Writing. Troy’s work has appeared in major metropolitan daily newspapers including the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

In addition to the previously mentioned publications, Troy also held positions as a Senior Editor for both ABC/Capital Cities and ICD Publications in New York. His work has appeared in numerous national consumer and trade periodicals throughout his career. In his first book Cleveland Classics: Great Tales from the North Coast, Troy interviewed local and national Cleveland celebrities such as: Jim Brown, Bob Feller, Patricia Heaton and Arsenio Hall among others. The Absolution of Mars, set just after the Civil War, is his first novel, but third book.

Author Links:

Author Page on Publisher Website: https://www.historiumpress.com/t-f-troy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terry.troy2

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/terence-troy-2648a110

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/troy.tf/

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

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/T-F-Troy/author/B0DT4P4C16

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/187283019-tf-troy

 

Pre-order alert! The AnaRose Chronicles Featuring: AnaRose and the Templar’s Quest, AnaRose and Pharaoh’s Gold, AnaRose and Medusa’s Curse

 

The AnaRose Chronicles

 Featuring: 

AnaRose and the Templar’s Quest, AnaRose and Pharaoh’s Gold, AnaRose and Medusa’s Curse

 Join AnaRose Preston on a thrilling odyssey through the hidden corridors of history. In her relentless quest, she unearths mysteries that defy the known world. Each discovery is a dance with destiny, a battle against shadowy foes vying for power. AnaRose’s journey is a beacon of defiance, lighting the way for those brave enough to follow. Her saga is not just about the relics she seeks but the timeless tales they tell and the indomitable spirit needed to protect such legends from those who misuse them.

 AnaRose and the Templar’s Quest: Museum curator and expert in antiquities AnaRose Preston embarks on a perilous journey to uncover a long-lost Christian relic hidden within the hilt of a legendary dagger. Traversing the breathtaking landscapes of modern-day France, she must unravel an ancient enigma while evading the relentless pursuit of a shadowy secret society. With her life on the line, AnaRose fights to secure the sacred artifact before it falls into darkness.

 AnaRose and Pharaoh’s Gold: AnaRose races against time to intercept a priceless Egyptian artifact before it vanishes into the black market’s shadows. The Cult of Apophis, relentlessly pursuing, vows to reclaim the relic that cradles its deity’s soul. With the balance between modern chaos and ancient evil at stake, AnaRose confronts the cult’s ruthless tactics head-on, determined to thwart its plan to unleash hell on earth. 

AnaRose and Medusa’s Curse: In her latest adventure, AnaRose faces the chilling legend of Medusa. As she delves into the myth’s origins, she discovers a pendant that holds the key to unimaginable power. Battling against time and dark forces, AnaRose must prevent the curse from being released upon the world.

 

Don’t miss out on these thrilling adventures! Order your copy of The AnaRose Chronicles today and dive into a world of mystery, danger, and excitement.

Universal Purchase Link

https://books2read.com/u/3197kv

 

Book Spotlight: The Welsh Warrior’s Inheritance by Arianwen Nunn

 

It is 1109 and the Welsh warrior and firebrand, Owain ap Cadwgan abducts Princess Nest from the castle she shares with her children and her husband, Gerald of Windsor. King Henry of England, furious that Nest, who is also his lover and mother of his son, begins a manhunt to find Owain and return Nest to her husband. In Gwynydd King Gruffydd ap Cynan and his wife risk everything to hide them and get them to safety in Ireland despite the efforts of Gronwy ap Owain, Angharad's vicious brother who would like to see Gruffydd and Owain dead.

 King Henry uses Bishop Richard to start kinship warfare in Wales then declares war against the Welsh determining to exterminate them all. Can Gruffydd and his family survive the greatest army ever led against Wales?

 

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bWkZq7

 

Arianwen Nunn was born in Wales but now lives in Australia and writes historical fiction based on the Welsh kingdoms in the Middle Ages.

Arianwen has written a series of three books, 'The Welsh Traitor's Daughter', 'The Welsh Warrior's Inheritance' and 'Bards Sing of Love and War' which follow the lives of King Gruffydd ap Cynan and his wife Angharad and their family.

She has also written two children's books, 'The Welsh Warrior's Wonder' and 'Where Dragons Still Roar'.

Author Links:

Website: www.arianwennunn.com

Twitter: https://x.com/Arianwen_Nunn

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091729185630

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

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Arianwen-Nunn/author/B0C69H8RFN

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/35601482.Arianwen_Nunn

Celebrating Creativity: The Artistry of Maria Jones-Phillips

 

Maria Jones-Phillips - Self-Portrait

With almost half a century of artistic practice, Maria Jones-Phillips has cultivated a diverse range of styles and skills that grant her remarkable freedom in her work. Over the years, she has explored various mediums and processes, though her current focus is on traditional two-dimensional art. Her expansive knowledge and skillset continue to enrich her contemporary creations.

Maria’s journey in art began at the tender age of two when her father, a jobbing artist, introduced her to the magic of mixing paint colors. This moment ignited a lifelong passion for art in all its forms. She lives and breathes art, constantly creating and appreciating it in myriad ways.

 Maria is also a natural synaesthete. Her unique fusion of senses shapes and colors her perception of the world, fundamentally influencing her artwork. This curious condition, which she discovered in her late twenties, forms an integral part of her artistic identity. For Maria, expressing art is inseparable from her lived experience.

Her academic background in Fine Art, 3D Art and Design, and Visual Semiotics, combined with her distinct sensibilities and vision, allows Maria to create works that evoke deep emotional connections. Every piece she crafts tells a compelling story.

Specializing in realism and portraiture, Maria primarily works with oil, water-media, and graphite. However, her broader body of work spans a range of styles and mediums, from abstracts to high-realism. She believes in embracing her full creative potential without being confined to a single style.

Beyond painting, Maria is a photographer, costume and jewelry designer, certified silversmith, musician, writer, and polyglot. She occasionally ventures into sculpture on small-scale projects.

Currently residing in the USA, Maria boasts a rich heritage of British and Afro-Judeo-Iberian origins. Her diverse racial background inspires her to celebrate and reflect it in her work. She is committed to promoting equality and equity through her art, championing the unsung heroes of history and everyday life. In-depth research into her subjects and their histories is a crucial aspect of her creative process.

Explore Maria’s website, where she shares articles on her artistic journey and subjects of interest. Discover the stories behind her captivating works and gain insight into her creative process.

 Discover more about Maria HERE

 

Book Spotlight: Ghost Encounters: The Lingering Spirits of North Devon by Helen Hollick with Kathy Hollick

 

Everyone assumes that ghosts are hostile. Actually, most of them are not.

You either believe in ghosts or you don’t. It depends on whether you’ve encountered something supernatural or not. But when you share a home with several companionable spirits, or discover benign ghosts in public places who appear as real as any living person, scepticism is abandoned and the myth that ghosts are to be feared is realised as nonsense.

It is a matter for individual consideration whether you believe in ghosts or not, but for those who have the gift to see, hear or be aware of people from the past, meeting with them in today’s environment can generate a connection to years gone by. Kathy and Helen Hollick have come across several such departed souls in and around North Devon and at their 18th-century home, which they share with several ‘past residents’.

In GHOST ENCOUNTERS: The Lingering Spirits Of North Devon, mother and daughter share their personal experiences, dispelling the belief that spirits are to be feared.

Ghost Encounters will fascinate all who enjoy this beautiful region of rural South-West England, as well as interest those who wish to discover more about its history... and a few of its ghosts.

(Includes a bonus of two short stories and photographs connected to North Devon)

cover design: Avalon Graphics
cover artwork: Chris Collingwood

 

 Buy Link:

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

 This title will be available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

 

ABOUT HELEN HOLLICK

Known for her captivating storytelling and rich attention to historical detail, Helen might not see ghosts herself, but her nautical adventure series, and some of her short stories, skilfully blend the past with the supernatural, inviting readers to step into worlds where the boundaries between the living and the dead blur.

In addition to her historical fiction, Helen has written several short stories, further exploring themes of historical adventure or the supernatural with her signature style. Whether dealing with the echoes of the past or the weight of lost souls, her stories are as compelling as they are convincing. Through her work, she invites readers into a world where the past never truly lets us go.

Helen started writing as a teenager, but after discovering a passion for history, was published in the UK with her Arthurian Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy and two Anglo-Saxon novels about the events that led to the 1066 Battle of Hastings, one of which, The Forever Queen (USA title – A Hollow Crown in the UK) became a USA Today best-seller. Her Sea Witch Voyages are nautical-based adventures inspired by the Golden Age of Piracy. She also writes the Jan Christopher cosy mystery series set during the 1970s, and based around her, sometimes hilarious, years of working as a North London library assistant.

Helen, husband Ron and daughter Kathy moved from London to Devon in January 2013 after a Lottery win on the opening night of the London Olympics, 2012. She spends her time glowering at the overgrown garden and orchard, fending off the geese, helping with the horses and, when she gets a moment, writing the next book...

 

ABOUT KATHY HOLLICK

Diagnosed as severely dyslexic when she was ten, Helen pulled Kathy out of school at fifteen to concentrate on everything equine.

When not encountering friendly ghosts, Kathy's passion is horses and mental well-being. She started riding at the age of three, had her own Welsh pony at thirteen, and discovered showjumping soon after. Kathy now runs her own Taw River Equine Events, and coaches riders of any age or experience, specialising in positive mindset and overcoming confidence issues via her Centre10 accreditation and Emotional Freedom Technique training. EFT, or ‘tapping’, uses the body’s pressure points to aid calm relaxation and to promote gentle healing around emotional, mental or physical issues.

Kathy lives with her farmer partner, Andrew, in their flat adjoining the main farmhouse. She regularly competes at affiliated British Showjumping, and rides side-saddle (‘aside’) when she has the opportunity. She produces her own horses, several from home-bred foals.

She also has a fun diploma in Dragons and Dragon Energy, which was something amusing to study during the Covid lockdown.

 Helen and Kathy Hollick

Authors’ Links:

 Helen:

 Website: https://helenhollick.net/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HelenHollick

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helen.hollick

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

Amazon Author Page: https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick

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

Blog: supporting authors & their books https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/

Monthly ‘newsletter’: Thoughts from a Devonshire Farmhouse.

https://thoughtsfromadevonshirefarmhouse.blogspot.com/

Kathy:

 Website: https://www.white-owl.co.uk/

Facebook: North Devon - Taw River Equine Events https://www.facebook.com/groups/1491518561152309

 

Audiobook Spotlight: A Woman’s Lot, The Second Meonbridge Chronicle by Carolyn Hughes and Narrated by Alex Lee

 

How can mere women resist the misogyny of men?

1352. In Meonbridge, a resentful peasant rages against Eleanor Titherige’s efforts to build up her flock of sheep. Susanna Miller’s husband, grown melancholy and ill-tempered, succumbs to idle gossip that his wife’s a scold. Agnes Sawyer’s yearning to be a craftsman is met with scorn. And the village priest, fearful of what he considers women’s “unnatural” ambitions, is determined to keep them firmly in their place.

Many men hold fast to the teachings of the Church and fear the havoc the “daughters of Eve” might wreak if they’re allowed to usurp men’s roles and gain control over their own lives.

Not all men in Meonbridge resist the women’s desire for change – indeed, they want it for themselves. Yet it takes only one or two misogynists to unleash the hounds of hostility and hatred…

If you enjoy immersive historical fiction with a strong authentic feel, set in a time of change and challenge, especially for women, you’ll love A Woman’s Lot, the second MEONBRIDGE CHRONICLE. Find out for yourself if Meonbridge’s “unnatural” women stand up to their abusers!

Praise:

“This book exceeded all my expectations. I did not read this story. I lived it!”

~ The Coffee Pot Book Club

“A treat for all the senses…totally true to its time and setting…”

~ Being Anne

“I didn’t so much feel as if I were reading about medieval England as experiencing it first hand.”

~ Linda’s Book Bag

“An absorbing account of the times.”

~ Historical Novel Society

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/4jzKJY

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Audiobook Links:

Audible: https://buff.ly/4gw1xs3

Audible UK: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/A-Womans-Lot-Audiobook/B0DW4HR5HW

Audible US: https://www.audible.com/pd/A-Womans-Lot-Audiobook/B0DW4FZLCZ

***

 Listen on:

SOUNDCLOUD

Carolyn Hughes has lived much of her life in Hampshire. With a first degree in Classics and English, she started working life as a computer programmer, then a very new profession. But it was technical authoring that later proved her vocation, word-smithing for many different clients, including banks, an international hotel group and medical instruments manufacturers.

Although she wrote creatively on and off for most of her adult life, it was not until her children flew the nest that writing historical fiction took centre stage. But why historical fiction? Serendipity!

Seeking inspiration for what to write for her Creative Writing Masters, she discovered the handwritten draft, begun in her twenties, of a novel, set in 14th century rural England…

Intrigued by the period and setting, she realised that, by writing a novel set in the period, she could learn more about the medieval past and interpret it, which seemed like a thrilling thing to do. A few days later, the first Meonbridge Chronicle, Fortune’s Wheel, was under way.

Six published books later (with more to come), Carolyn does now think of herself as an Historical Novelist. And she wouldn’t have it any other way…

Author Links:

Website: https://carolynhughesauthor.com

Twitter: https://x.com/writingcalliope

Facebook: https://facebook.com/CarolynHughesAuthor

Bluesky: https://carolynhughes.bsky.social

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carolyn-hughes

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Carolyn-Hughes/author/B01MG5TWH1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16048212.Carolyn_Hughes

 

 

Book Spotlight: Death of a Princess by R.N. Morris

 

Summer 1880.

Lipetsk, a spa town in Russia.

The elderly and cantankerous Princess Belskaya suffers a violent reaction while taking a mud bath at the famous Lipetsk Sanatorium. Soon after, she dies.

Dr Roldugin, the medical director of the sanatorium, is at a loss to explain the sudden and shocking death.

He points the finger at Anna Zhdanova, a medical assistant who was supervising the princess’s treatment.

Suspicion also falls on the princess’s nephew Belsky, who appears far from grief-stricken at his aunt’s death.

Meanwhile, investigating magistrate Pavel Pavlovich Virginsky arrives in Lipetsk from St Petersburg, seeking treatment after a nervous breakdown.

Against his better judgement, Virginsky is drawn in to the investigation. But is he getting closer to the truth or walking straight into a deadly trap?

 Buy Link:

 Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mvOpq8

 This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

 

Roger (R.N) Morris is the author of 18 books, including a quartet of historical crime novels set in St Petersburg featuring Porfiry Petrovich, the investigating magistrate from Dostoevsky’s great novel Crime and Punishment. These were followed by the Silas Quinn series set in London in 1914. He has been shortlisted for the CWA Duncan Lawrie Gold Dagger and the CWA Historical Dagger.

A former advertising copywriter, Roger has written the libretto for an opera, modern retellings of Frankenstein and Macbeth for French school children. He’s also a scriptwriter for an award winning audio producer, working on true crime and history podcasts including The Curious History of your Home.

His work has been published in 16 countries.

Married with two grown-up children, Roger lives in Chichester where he keeps an eye out for seagulls.

Author Links:

Website: www.rogernmorris.co.uk

Twitter: https://x.com/rnmorris

Facebook: www.facebook.com/roger.morris.7547

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/roger-morris-41679518

Instagram: www.instagram.com/rogermorris7988

Threads: www.threads.net/@rogermorris7988

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

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/rogernmorris1

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B001JP9XXA

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/608784.R_N_Morris

Book Spotlight: The Many Lives & Loves of Hazel Lavery by Lois Cahall

 

In the heart of tumultuous times, amidst the grandeur of Victorian opulence, there existed an American socialite whose influence altered the course of the Anglo-Irish treaty: Lady Hazel Lavery

Boston-born Hazel ascended from her Irish roots to become the quintessential Society Queen of Chicago, and later London, where she lived a delicate dance between two worlds: one with her esteemed husband, Sir John Lavery, a portrait artist to royalty, and the other with Michael Collins, the daring Irish rebel whose fiery spirit ignited her heart. Together, they formed a love triangle that echoed through the corridors of power at 10 Downing Street, London.

Hazel's wit and charm touched on the lives of the who's-who of England, including Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw and Evelyn Waugh. The image of her memorable face graced the Irish note for close to half-a-century.

 

Buy Link:

 Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/4APo7o  

 

Lois Cahall began her writing career as a columnist for Cape Cod newspapers and local periodicals, including Cape Cod Life. She spent a decade writing for national magazines (Conde Nast/Hearst). Her articles have been published in Cosmo Girl, Seventeen, SELF, Marie Claire, Redbook, Ladies Home Journal, Reader’s Digest, Men’s Journal, and Bon Appetit. In the UK she wrote for RED, GQ, Psychologies, and for The Times. In addition, Lois wrote profiles for The Palm Beach Post.

Lois’s first novel, Plan C: Just in Case, was a #1 bestseller in the UK, where it remained in the top three fiction for the year before selling into foreign translation markets. In July of 2014, her novel hit #1 on the Nook “Daily Deal” in America. Her second novel, Court of the Myrtles, was hailed as “Tuesdays with Morrie on estrogen” by the Ladies Home Journal. Her newest book, The Many Lives of Hazel Lavery, is a work of historical fiction and will be published in 2025.

Lois is the former Creative Director of Development for James Patterson Entertainment. She credits her friend, Jim Patterson, the world’s most successful bestselling author, with teaching her about the importance of children’s reading and literacy. As a result, she founded the Palm Beach Book Festival in 2015, an annual event bringing in NYT bestselling and celebrity authors. The event is for book lovers, nurturing the written word for the children and adults of southern Florida.

In 2024 Lois also founded The Cape Cod Book Festival, an annual autumn event that promises to be a new cultural footprint in Massachusetts. It will be for locals and ‘washashores’ alike – a magical place where charitably minded readers can rub elbows with great writers and thinkers.  

Lois divides her life between New York and Cape Cod, although her spiritual home is London. But most importantly, Lois can do the Hula Hoop for an hour non-stop and clear a Thanksgiving table in just under ten minutes.

Author Links:

 Website:         www.loiscahall.com

Twitter:           https://x.com/LoCahall

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

Instagram:       https://www.instagram.com/lois.cahall/

Threads:          https://www.threads.net/@lois.cahall

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

Book Bub:       https://www.bookbub.com/profile/2431811526

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lois-Cahall/author/B0DG3W5QNW