Book Spotlight: The Lost Seigneur by David Loux

 

The Lost Seigneur is a sequel to the award-winning Chateau Laux.

It is the story of Jean-Pierre du Laux, a nobleman in southern France, who was wrongly imprisoned during a time of religious intolerance and subsequently endeavors to return to his family. Many years have passed since he saw them, and his long incarceration has broken his health.

Any reunion would clearly have been impossible, without the unlikely help of a youthful companion that he meets along the way.

 Buy Links:

Ebook Universal link: https://books2read.com/u/4DMa0k

 Paperback universal link: https://mybook.to/The-Lost-Seigneur

David Loux is the author of Chateau Laux, a critically acclaimed, award-winning novel that tells the story of a shocking incident in eighteenth century America.  His second novel, The Lost Seigneur expands on the themes detailed in Chateau Laux. and completes the story of a French family’s migration to America in the eighteenth century.

He lives in the Eastern Sierra with his wife, Lynn.

 Author Links:

 Website:  https://www.wiregatepress.com

Twitter / X:  https://x.com/@ChateauLaux

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

Book Bub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/david-loux

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/author/davidloux

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20987947.David_Loux

 

If you enjoy discovering new stories, you may also like The AnaRose Chronicles—a trilogy of award‑winning adventure novellas. https://books2read.com/u/4jzKAY

Book Spotlight: The Queen’s Maid: Anne Boleyn in France by Rozsa Gaston

 

The Tudor series continues! For fans of Philippa Gregory, Elizabeth Chadwick, Carol McGrath and Anne O’Brien.

A new adventure begins for Anne…

France, 1514

After an enlightening period of training as a lady’s maid at Margaret of Austria’s court, Anne Boleyn has been sent to France.

She arrives at the Palace of Tournelles, home of ageing King Louis and his new English wife, Mary Tudor, sister of King Henry VIII. As Anne speaks French, her main role is to serve as translator for Queen Mary.

Anne’s sister Mary is also at the French court, and Anne soon learns that not everyone is pleased about the union between the French king and his young queen.

The king’s cousin-in-law, Louise of Savoy, is desperate for Queen Mary not to fall pregnant, so that her son Francis will ascend the throne.

And with Louise and the English queen pulling Anne in two different directions, it will not be possible to appease everyone.

Can Anne successfully navigate the familial politics at the French royal court? Will she make her mark as one of the queen’s maids?

Or could her divided loyalties prove to be her undoing…?

THE QUEEN’S MAID is a thoroughly researched, fascinating historical novel set during the 16th century in Europe. It is the second book in the Anne Boleyn Chronicles series.

‘Wonderfully detailed and entirely enjoyable. This is a young Anne in whom I absolutely believe, and who does much to explain the woman she’d become.’ – Sarah Gristwood, author of Game of Queens

THE ANNE BOLEYN CHRONICLES SERIES:
Book One: Maid of Honour
Book Two: The Queen’s Maid
Book Three: Queen of Diamonds 

 

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Links:

Book 1: https://getbook.at/MaidOfHonour

Book 2: https://getbook.at/TheQueensMaid

Book 3: https://getbook.at/QueenOfDiamondsAB

 

Series Buy Links:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNQHK66N

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FNQHK66N

This series is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

 

Rozsa Gaston is a historical fiction author who writes books on women who reach for what they want out of life.

She is the author of Maid of Honour: Anne Boleyn at Margaret of Austria's Court, 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for Early Historical Fiction, The Queen's Maid: Anne Boleyn in France, Queen of Diamonds: The French Royal Court, Margaret of Austria, 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for Early Historical Fiction, the four-book Anne of Brittany Series: Anne and Charles; Anne and Louis, 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟴 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗟𝗬 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲; Anne and Louis: Rulers and Lovers; and Anne and Louis Forever Bound, 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 of the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for Early Historical Fiction.

Other works include Sense of Touch, Marguerite and Gaston, The Least Foolish Woman in France, Paris Adieu, and Budapest Romance.

Gaston studied European history at Yale and received her master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia. She worked at Institutional Investor, WR Capital, and as a columnist for The Westchester Guardian before becoming a novelist.

She is currently working on Book Four of The Anne Boleyn Chronicles, covering Anne Boleyn's time at the 1520 Field of Cloth of Gold. She lives in Bronxville, New York with her family.

Her motto? History matters.

 Author Links:

 Website: https://rozsagaston.wordpress.com/anne-boleyn-discover-rozsa-gastons-latest-novels/

Twitter / X: https://x.com/RozsaGaston

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rozsa.gaston/

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

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rozsa-gaston

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rozsagastonbooks

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Rozsa-Gaston/author/B0084F8MJE

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5391292.Rozsa_Gaston

 

 If you enjoy discovering new stories, you may also like The AnaRose Chronicles—a trilogy of award‑winning adventure novellas. https://books2read.com/u/4jzKAY

 

 

Book Spotlight: Nostalgia by Susannah Willey

 

🎖️ AWARD-WINNING HISTORICAL FICTION 🎖️

5-Star "Award of Excellence" - Historical Fiction Company

Before PTSD had a name, they called it "nostalgia"—and Dr. Jim Banyon was the only one who believed it wasn't cowardice.

1862: The Civil War rages, and Union Army surgeon Jim Banyon arrives on the battlefield hungry for glory. But bullets and cannon fire aren't the only killers stalking his hospital tent.

Soldiers return from combat with wounds that don't bleed—invisible scars the army dismisses as weakness. Jim recognizes what no one else will: these men are suffering from something beyond cowardice, a psychological trauma that's as deadly as any bullet.

When he dares to defend these "broken" soldiers, Jim faces an impossible choice:

Advance his career by staying silent...
Or risk everything to save the men nobody else believes are worth saving.

Based on the military service of the author's Civil War ancestors, NOSTALGIA is a gripping exploration of battlefield medicine, moral courage, and the invisible wounds of war that wouldn't have a name for another century.

Perfect for readers who love:
✅ Civil War medical history with psychological depth
✅ Moral dilemma fiction (conscience vs. career)
✅ Award-winning literary historical fiction
✅ Based-on-true-story military novels
✅ Character-driven war fiction that questions authority

For fans of: Charles Frazier's *Cold Mountain* + Geraldine Brooks' *March* + medical drama depth of *The Nightingale*

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Tackles the less explored emotional experiences of war with authenticity and heart."

📚 From the award-winning author of WAR SONNETS (2023 HFC Book of the Year, Bronze Award Winner for General Fiction)

Discover the untold story of Civil War "nostalgia"—the 19th-century term for what we now call PTSD.

 

Buy Links:

 Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bQL1BD

 Author Website Universal Link: https://utterloonacy.com/books-2/nostalgia/

  

Susannah Willey is the award-winning author of War Sonnets (July 2023, Utter Loonacy Press). Awarded a five-star “award of excellence” by the Historical Fiction Company, War Sonnets was also awarded third place in the General Fiction Category of its 2022 Book of the Year awards.

Susannah Willey was born in 1952 in the small town of Ira, New York where her family settled over 200 years ago. She received a degree in Instructional Computing from SUNY Empire State College in 1998 and a degree in Instructional Design from Boise State in 2002. She and her partner make their home in Central New York in the foothills of the Adirondacks. A baby-boomer and a first-generation computer geek, nature photography and hiking are among her passions and, like all good grannies, she knits.

Susannah loves to tackle the less explored emotional experiences of war. Her rich family history often serves as the foundation for her historical novels. Her first novel, War Sonnets, was inspired by poetry written by her uncle about his experiences in the Pacific War during WWII. Her latest novel, Nostalgia, follows a Civil War surgeon and is loosely based on the military service of two ancestors. Nostalgia was short-listed for the Historical Fiction Company’s 2025 Book of the Year.

Stay connected with Susannah—and stay informed about special deals, giveaways, new releases and other fabulous reader perks—by subscribing to her blog at Utterloonacy.com

Author Links:

Website: https://utterloonacy.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susannah.willey.1

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

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@susannahwilley

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

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

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susannah-willey

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Susannah-Willey/author/B0C349ZF1V

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/32210037.Susannah_Willey

 

 If you enjoy discovering new stories, you may also like The AnaRose Chronicles—a trilogy of award‑winning adventure novellas. https://books2read.com/u/4jzKAY

 

 

Book Spotlight: Code of Honour by Rosemary Hayes

1812

Britain’s war against Napoleon continues.

Will Fraser and Duncan Armstrong have served their country well as spies, exposing traitors and rescuing betrayed royalists.

Now they are asked to support military operations in the Peninsular War. The French are using a new code which is proving impossible to decipher. Will and Armstrong must work with Spanish guerrillas to intercept messages between French Commanders and pass them to Wellington’s codebreakers.

Will is reluctant, however. Portugal was where he was falsely accused of cowardice and desertion and forced to leave the army. And Captain Harcourt-Browne, the jealous and vengeful officer who caused his downfall, is still serving there.

But Will is given a compelling – and personal – reason to carry out the operation. If he does so, there’s a slim chance he could be reinstated.

Enemy agents are soon on their trail; agents who want them dead. Somehow Will and Armstrong must evade them and join the guerrillas in a daring attempt to uncover Napoleon’s battle plans.

But Will’s troubled past catches up with him. Four years ago he lied to protect the woman he loved.  Now he must own up to that lie to save himself.

Praise for Rosemary Hayes:

‘Rosemary Hayes' Soldier Spy is a first-rate historical thriller, full of period detail, fascinating characters, unexpected twists, mystery, intrigue and action. It reminds me of Berrnard Cornwell's brilliant, Regency-set Gallows Thief. I am pleased to see that it is the first of a trilogy and look forward to reading more about the dashing Will Fraser.’

~ Peter Tonkin, author of The Richard Mariner thrillers

 

‘One of the very best historical novels I have ever read.’
~ Sandra Robinson, Huguenot Ancestry Expert

 

‘An absorbing tale told with sensitivity. The forgotten struggles of Huguenot refugees come to moving, heartrending life.’ 
~ Steven Veerapen, author of A Dangerous Trade

 Buy Links:

Universal Buy Links:

Book 1 – Traitor’s Game: https://books2read.com/u/bwwEee

 

Book 2 – The King’s Agent: https://books2read.com/u/bQLn8Z

 

Book 3 – Code of Honour: https://books2read.com/u/bQLnNZ 

This series is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

 

 

Rosemary Hayes has written many books for children in a variety of genre, from edgy teenage fiction, historical fiction and middle grade fantasy to chapter books for early readers and texts for picture books.  Many of her books have won or been shortlisted for awards and several have been translated into different languages.

 

Rosemary has travelled widely but now lives in South Cambridgeshire. She has a background in publishing, having worked for Cambridge University Press before setting up her own company Anglia Young Books which she ran for some years. She has been a reader for a well-known authors’ advisory service, runs creative writing workshops for both children and adults and reviews for historical publications.

 

Rosemary has now turned her hand to writing adult fiction. Her historical novel ‘The King’s Command’ is about the terror and tragedy suffered by a French Huguenot family during the reign of Louis XIV.

 

Traitor’s Game is the first book in the Soldier Spy trilogy, set during the Napoleonic Wars. The King’s Agent is the second and the third, Code of Honour, has recently been published.

 Author Links:

 Website: www.rosemaryhayes.co.uk

Twitter / X: https://x.com/HayesRosemary

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosemary.hayes.129

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosemary-Hayes/e/B00NAPAPZC

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/80106.Rosemary_Hayes

 

 

If you enjoy discovering new stories, you may also like The AnaRose Chronicles—a trilogy of award‑winning adventure novellas. https://books2read.com/u/4jzKAY

Book Spotlight: Rogues & Kings by Charlene Newcomb

 

Deadly secrets. Hidden identities. A true enemy.

Silence is the only shield.

The year is 1216 and civil war rages in England. King John ravages the countryside against rebellious barons and a French invasion. Unbeknownst to him, his newest squire, Richard, is in fact the son of a man the king would hang without a second thought. A man the common folk call Robin Hood.

For years, Robin has lived as a knight in exile. But when his son is ensnared in the treachery of the royal court, Robin is forced out of the shadows, aided by his outlaw friends in the Hood.

There is no question for Richard where his loyalties lie but it’s more than his own life at risk. He has the trust of a dangerous king. Can he serve the Hood better from within John’s inner circle, or will schemes against the crown unravel?

Rob from the rich, give to the poor takes on a whole new meaning.

Rogues & Kings is a sweeping tale of courage and betrayal in a kingdom on the edge of ruin, of a boy coming of age in the midst of war, and of legends being born.

 Buy Link:

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

 This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

 

Charlene Newcomb, aka Char, is a retired librarian, a U.S. Navy veteran, mom to 3 amazing humans, and grandma to 3. She writes historical fiction and science fiction.

Her award-winning Battle Scars trilogy is set in the 12th century during the reign of Richard the Lionheart. Her writing roots are in the Star Wars Expanded Universe (aka Legends) where she published 10 short stories in the Star Wars Adventure Journal, and published the original novel Echoes of the Storm.

Char returned to medieval times with Rogue and her latest novel Rogues & Kings, both in her Tales of Robin Hood series.

Author Links:

Website: https://charlenenewcomb.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/CharleneNewcombAuthor

Substack: https://charlenenewcomb.substack.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/charnewc

Bluesky: https://charnewcomb.bsky.social/

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

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/charlene-newcomb

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Charlene-Newcomb/author/B00APY2H16

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5782281.Charlene_Newcomb

 

 If you enjoy discovering new stories, you may also like The AnaRose Chronicles—a trilogy of award‑winning adventure novellas. https://books2read.com/u/4jzKAY

 

Book Spotlight: Quetzalcoatl: Time Stones Book II by Ian Hunter

 Jessie Mason lives with her nose in the pages of history. But she is discovering that the past is a dangerous place where she doesn't belong, and knowledge alone is not going to save her.

Jessie’s life has become a series of terrible challenges. Now she must lead her friends in the hopeless task Grandfather set them: hunt down and destroy the Time Stones. But her leadership has already failed. Tip has left them and Abe has simply disappeared, while she and Kes are trapped in the heart of an ancient empire in turmoil.

Thrust into a fractured, threatened Mexica nobility, Jessie is immersed in a way of life, fascinating and disturbing in equal measure, yet powerless before the approaching Conquistadors and the impending clash of cultures.

Even as the fabulous city of Tenochtitlan descends into savage violence, Jessie’s determination to succeed is undiminished. But with world history taking a new, bloody direction before her, she is finally forced to decide which is more important: continuing the task or simply surviving.

Praise:

“Quetzalcoatl (Time Stones Book II) by Ian Hunter is a tautly gripping novel that is written with a sensitivity to the era it depicts, but it is also a story packed with adventure and magic. Hunter’s vivacious storytelling made this novel impossible to put down. It is a story that has been penned with an impressive sweep and brilliance.” 

The Coffee Pot Book Club

 

Buy Link:

This book is available on #Kindle and Paperback

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

Read with #KindleUnlimited

 

Books have been an important part of my life as long as I can remember, and at 54 years old, that’s a lot of books. My earliest memories of reading are CS Lewis’, “The Horse and His Boy” – by far the best of the Narnia books, the Adventures series by Willard Price, and “Goalkeepers are Different” by sports journalist Brian Glanville. An eclectic mix. My first English teacher was surprised to hear that I was reading, Le Carré, Ken Follett, Nevil Shute and “All the Presidents’ Men” by Woodward and Bernstein at the age of 12. I was simply picking up the books my father had finished.

School syllabus threw up the usual suspects – Shakespeare, Chaucer, Dickens, Hardy, “To Kill a Mockingbird” – which I have reread often, and others I don’t immediately recall. By “A” level study, my then English teachers were pulling their hair out at my “perverse waste of talent” – I still have the report card! But I did manage a pass.

During a 35 year career, briefly in Banking and then in IT, I managed to find time, with unfailing family support, to study another lifelong passion, graduating with an Open University Bachelors’ degree in History in 2002. This fascination with all things historical inspired me to begin the Time Stones series. There is so much to our human past, and so many differing views on what is the greatest, and often the saddest, most tragic story. I decided I wanted to write about it; to shine a small light on those, sometimes pivotal stories, which are less frequently mentioned.

In 1995, my wife, Michelle, and I moved from England to southern Germany, where we still live, with our two children, one cat, and, when she pays us a visit, one chocolate labrador. I have been fortunate that I could satisfy another wish, to travel as widely as possible and see as much of our world as I can. Destinations usually include places of historic and archaeological interest, mixed with a large helping of sun, sea and sand for my wife’s peace of mind.

 Social Media Links:

 Website: https://ianhunterwrites.com

Twitter /X: https://x.com/IanHunterAuthor

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07KPKWG1C

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20335698.Ian_Hunter

 

If you enjoy discovering new stories, you may also like The AnaRose Chronicles—a trilogy of award‑winning adventure novellas. https://books2read.com/u/4jzKAY

Book Spotlight: Both Sides of the Pond, My Family’s War: 1933-1946 by Barbara Kent Lawrence

 In January of 1939 when Barbara Greene, a beautiful young British actress, met Joe Kennedy, Jr., son of the American Ambassador, she could not have expected that their relationship would lead to her emigrating to the United States and learning to pilot a plane. Neither could her brother, Kent, have foreseen his bitter retreat from Dunkirk when he left England in January 1940 to fight in France, or his subsequent service on the frontlines in Cornwall, North Africa, Sicily, and Burma.

In this intensively researched war story of the author’s family, we also hear the stories of other ordinary people who survived extraordinary circumstances. Richly illustrated with photographs and documents, “Both Sides of the Pond, My Family’s War: 1933 – 1946” is a captivating book.

Ralph Kent Green and sister Barbara Kent Green

Praise for Both Sides of the Pond:

"Author Barbara Kent Lawrence weaves a rich tapestry of the lives of her British mother and uncle from 1933 to 1946, before, during, and just after World War II. ...

War stories are very personal. This is such a story, and it offers insight into how two young people navigated difficult years that altered the trajectories of the lives they thought they would live. It is a worthy read, written beautifully. Don’t miss it."
~ Patricia Walkow, Military Writers Society of America

"I loved this book and couldn’t put it down. History and the complexity of human relationships unfold with uncommon grace."
~ Barbara Lazear Ascher, winner, most recently, of Pushcart’s Editors Book Award for Ghosting: A Widow’s Voyage Out.

 Buy Links:

 Amazon UK Paperback Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Both-Sides-Pond-Familys-1933-1946/dp/B0FMF2NTQZ/

 

Amazon US Paperback Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Both-Sides-Pond-Familys-1933-1946/dp/B0FMF2NTQZ/

  

Dr. Lawrence is the author of many articles and nine books, including an award-winning dissertation about the influence of culture on aspirations in Maine. Her new book, Both Sides of the Pond, My Family’s War: 1933 - 1945, is available in book stores and on amazon.com.

A former professor, she has taught courses in anthropology and sociology, research, and writing non-fiction and memoir. Lawrence grew up in New York City and Washington D.C., then earned a BA in anthropology from Bennington College, an MA in sociology from New York University, and an Ed.D. in Administration, Policy and Planning from Boston University.

In addition to teaching, Lawrence has worked for the Department of Social Services and the Housing Development Administration in New York, directed a small museum in Maine, co-run a brokerage and construction company, consulted for the Rural School and Community Trust and KnowledgeWorks, and started four non-profit organizations supporting the environment and students.

When not working she loves to garden, knit, and go for walks, pastimes she learned from her British mother. She lives in Maine and is working on the third novel in her Islands series.

 Author Links:

 LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/barbarakentlawrenceauthor

Website: https://barbaralawrence.com/

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

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

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APK6SQ/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/109261.Barbara_Kent_Lawrence

 

Book Spotlight: West of Santillane by Brook Allen

 

Desperate to escape a mundane future as a Virginia planter’s wife, Julia Hancock seizes her chance for adventure when she wins the heart of American hero William Clark. Though her husband is the famed explorer, Julia embarks on her own thrilling and perilous journey of self-discovery.

With her gaze ever westward, Julia possesses a hunger for knowledge and a passion for helping others. She falls in love with Will’s strength and generous manner, but, like her parents, he is a slave owner, and Julia harbors strong opinions against slavery. Still, her love for Will wins out, though he remains unaware of her beliefs.

Julia finds St. Louis to be a rough town with few of the luxuries to which she is accustomed, harboring scandalous politicians and miscreants of all types. As her husband and his best friend, Meriwether Lewis, work to establish an American government and plan to publish their highly anticipated memoirs, Julia struggles to assume the roles of both wife and mother. She is also drawn into the plight of an Indian family desperate to return to their own lands and becomes an advocate for Will’s enslaved.

When political rivals cause trouble, Julia’s clandestine aid to the Indians and enslaved of St. Louis draws unwanted attention, placing her at odds with her husband. Danger cloaks itself in far too many ways, leading her to embrace the courage to save herself and others through a challenge of forgiveness that will either restore the love she shares with Will or end it forever.

Praise for West of Santillane:

'"West of Santillane" is not just an account of historical events but also a story of love, resilience, and self-discovery. Brook Allen successfully blends romantic, historical, and adventurous elements, offering readers a captivating and memorable reading experience. The book is a warm recommendation for those who appreciate well-documented historical fiction and engaging life narratives.'

~ The Historical Fiction Company

'Brook Allen’s novel West of Santillane is guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings, so have some tissues nearby. This book is so captivating that it begs to be adapted into a movie. Seeing these characters brought to life on the big screen would be amazing. This book will definitely be remembered as one of my favourite reads of the year.'

~ Ellie Yarde, 5* Editorial Review, The Coffee Pot Book Club

 Buy Link:

 Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/5DPlLDi 

 This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

 

Author Brook Allen has a passion for history. Her newest project, West of Santillane, spotlights history from a little closer to home in Botetourt County, Virginia. It’s the story of Julia Hancock, who married famed explorer William Clark. Each character of this thrilling, adventurous period was researched throughout southwest Virginia and into Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Idaho, and North Dakota. It launched in March of 2024.

Brook belongs to the Historical Novel Society and attends conferences as often as possible to study craft and meet fellow authors. In 2019, her novel Antonius: Son of Rome won a silver medal in the international Reader’s Favorite Book Reviewers Book Awards, and then won First Place in the prestigious Chaucer Division in the Chanticleer International Book Awards, 2020. West of Santillane garnered international attention in Summer 2025 by becoming a Silver Medalist in the Independent Publishing Book Awards for best Mid-Atlantic Fiction. Also, it was a finalist for the Virginia Romance Writers Holt Medallion. Most recently, Brook appeared in Season 8 of Blueridge PBS’s WRITE AROUND THE CORNER.

 Though she graduated from Asbury University with a B.A. in Music Education, Brook has always loved writing. She completed a Masters program at Hollins University with an emphasis in Ancient Roman studies, which helped prepare her for authoring her award-winning Antonius Trilogy.

Brook recently retired from public education, and her personal interests include travel, cycling, hiking in the woods, reading, and spending downtime with her husband and big, black dog, Jak. She lives in the heart of southwest Virginia in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains.

Author Links:

 Website: www.brookallenauthor.com

Twitter / X: https://x.com/1BrookAllen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Historical.FictionWriter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brookallen54/

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@brookallen54

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

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/brook-allen

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Brook-Allen/author/B07PRNR9MD

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18900200.Brook_Allen

 

Book Spotlight: Love Lost in Time by Cathie Dunn

 

A reluctant daughter. A dutiful wife. A mystery of the ages.

Languedoc, France, 2018

Historian Madeleine Winters would rather research her next project than rehash the strained relationship she had with her late mother. However, to claim her inheritance, she reluctantly agrees to stay the one year required in her late mother’s French home and begins renovations. But when she’s haunted by a female voice inside the house and tremors emanating from beneath her kitchen floorboards, she’s shocked to discover ancient human bones.

The Mediterranean coast, AD 777

Seventeen-year-old Nanthild is wise enough to know her place. Hiding her Pagan wisdom and dutifully accepting her political marriage, she’s surprised when she falls for her Christian husband, the Count of Carcassonne. But she struggles to keep her forbidden religious beliefs and her healing skills secret while her spouse goes off to fight in a terrible, bloody war.

As Maddie settles into her rustic village life, she becomes obsessed with unraveling the mysterious history buried in her new home. And when Nanthild is caught in the snare of an envious man, she’s terrified she’ll never embrace her beloved again.

Can two women torn apart by centuries help each other finally find peace?

Love Lost in Time is a vivid standalone historical fiction novel for fans of epoch-spanning enigmas. If you like dark mysteries, romantic connections, and hints of the paranormal, then you’ll adore Cathie Dunn’s tale of redemption and self-discovery. 

Praise

"From the richness of Charlemagne's court and the regret of a daughter, as she stands over her mother's grave, to the realisation of an enemy and a skeleton under the kitchen floor, Love Lost in Time: A Tale of Love, Death and Redemption by Cathie Dunn is the unforgettable story that traverses two very different times."

The Coffee Pot Book Club, 5* Editorial Review

"The narrative is ripe with emotions as two independent women are pulled in unexpected directions... Both landscapes are beautifully penned for readers to easily get lost in. Additionally, the storylines are engaging, and each helped bring a satisfying conclusion to the other. An enjoyable tale about love, sacrifice, and self-discovery."

Historical Novel Society

"The historical details are beautiful, and a book which could easily feel oppressively sad is cleverly lightened with the use of romance and a satisfying ending. Well written and easy to read, the historical side may be a little more compelling, but the contemporary details add a layer that cannot be ignored!"

In'DTale Magazine

"In Love Lost in Time, Ms Dunn creates a fascinating balance between a tragic love story set in the Visigoth empire of the eighth century, and a very modern historian on a quest to find her own personal history in picturesque Languedoc...

Thoroughly researched and beautifully told, both stories complement each other in narrative power and colourful scene-setting; and in the dual narrative the main characters are compelling - each a product of destiny and following their fate, regardless of the cost.
Fans of Kate Mosse will relish this book..."

Discovering Diamonds Reviews

 

 Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mq7DM9

 https://mybook.to/LoveLostTime

 This book is available on #KindleUnlimited

 

Cathie is an Amazon-bestselling author of historical fiction, dual-timeline, mystery, and romance. She loves to infuse her stories with a strong sense of place and time, combined with a dark secret or mystery – and a touch of romance. Often, you can find her deep down the rabbit hole of historical research…

In addition, she is also a historical fiction book promoter with The Coffee Pot Book Club, a novel-writing tutor, and a keen reviewer on her blog, Ruins & Reading.

After having lived in Scotland for almost two decades, Cathie is now enjoying the sunshine in the south of France with her husband, and her rescued pets, Ellie Dog & Charlie Cat. 

She is a member of the Historical Novel Society, the Richard III Society, the Alliance of Independent Authors, and the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

 Social Media Links:

 Website: https://www.cathiedunn.com

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

Twitter / X: https://x.com/cathiedunn

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cathie.dunn1

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cathie-dunn

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Cathie-Dunn/author/B005IHAXH0

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5066224.Cathie_Dunn