Showing posts with label The Coffee Pot Book Club. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Coffee Pot Book Club. Show all posts

Friday, July 10, 2026

Book Spotlight: Soldiers of Christ by Jon Byrne

 


In a land torn by crusade and rebellion, honour is earned in blood.

1205. Richard Fitz Simon has fled England after his title was usurped, joining the Livonian Order of Swordbrothers – a German brotherhood of warrior-monks fighting to bring the word of God to the pagan frontier. After slaying the Lithuanian champion at the Battle of Rodenpois, Richard is celebrated by the Order and their Semigallian allies.

Yet his position remains precarious. Jealous rivals question his right to stand among the brotherhood, and his master, Knight-brother Rudolf, is enraged by Richard’s disobedience. When dark secrets from Lübeck resurface, Richard also finds himself at odds with Bishop Albert, head of the Christian mission in Livonia. As he struggles to reconcile faith, duty and identity, he is drawn into a brutal world of suspicion and bloodshed.

Sent on an expedition to build a castle deep in the wilderness, Richard soon sees tensions erupt – and the path he has chosen threatens to destroy everything he has fought to become.


Buy Links:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bz0eaZ

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=uQnLEQAAQBAJ

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/soldiers-of-christ-1

  

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 studied the medieval world for over twenty years, building up a comprehensive personal library and a particular interest in the often-overlooked Northern Crusades.

Soldiers of Christ is Book Two of The Northern Crusader Chronicles, a gritty, historically grounded series focused on realism, moral ambiguity, and the brutal realities of medieval warfare.

Written for readers who value authenticity and atmosphere over romanticised adventure, the novel explores a largely forgotten crusading frontier, culminating in the first of many confrontations in a harsh wilderness of forest and swamp.

Readers who enjoy the historical detail of authors such as Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden, or Ben Kane may find familiar ground here.

Author Links:

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

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

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/249448581-soldiers-of-christ

  


 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


Thursday, July 9, 2026

Book Spotlight: Kindle the Light of Liberty by Mirta Ines Trupp


They had no voice. They held no power. Yet they helped decide the fate of a nation.

In the bustling streets of Philadelphia, Rose Wachsman has no time for the rigid expectations of society—and even less for the infuriatingly reserved Nathan Hirsch. She is a woman of the hearth, sharp-witted and fiercely loyal to the cause of liberty; he is a man of business and tradition, seemingly more concerned with ledgers than the fires of revolution.

But as the war moves from a tradesman's chandlery to the parlors of the elite, Rose and Nathan find themselves forced into a dangerous game of intelligence and alliance. In a world that would rather forget their names, they must overcome their own prejudices to discover that their greatest adversary— might be their only hope.


Buy Links:

Amazon US Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/KINDLE-LIGHT-LIBERTY-Colonial-Revolution-ebook/dp/B0H4HKSDCV/

Amazon UK Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/KINDLE-LIGHT-LIBERTY-Colonial-Revolution-ebook/dp/B0H4HKSDCV/

This book is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Mirta is a second-generation Argentine; she was born in Buenos Aires in 1962 and immigrated to the United States that same year. Because of the unique fringe benefits provided by her father’s employer—Pan American Airlines—she returned to her native country frequently – growing up with "un pie acá y un pie allá" (with one foot here and one foot there).

Her fascination with Jewish history and genealogy, coupled with an obsession with historical period drama, has inspired Mirta to create unique and enlightening novels. She has been a guest speaker for book clubs, sisterhood events, genealogy societies, and philanthropic organizations. Sharing Jewish historical fiction has become her passion.

 

Besides being an avid novel reader, she has had a lifelong love for choral music and is a devoted Beatles fan. Follow Mirta on Amazon, Goodreads, Instagram, and BookBub, or stop by her blog: www.mirtainestruppauthor.com.

Author Links:

Website: https://mirtainestruppauthor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirta.ines.trupp

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

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/mirta-ines-trupp

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mirta-Ines-Trupp/author/B00BA1U3SM

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6864345.Mirta_Ines_Trupp

 


 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


 

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Book Spotlight: Mrs. R. Pacheco: The Untold Story of Playwright and California First Lady Mary McIntyre by Rose Ann Woolpert

 


Mrs. R. Pacheco is a sweeping story of love, ambition, and colliding cultures in the American West, inspired by the actual life of playwright, novelist, and California first lady Mary McIntyre Pacheco.

It is 1859, and the glittering promise of the California Gold Rush has faded into dust, leaving behind a land suspended between ambition and uncertainty.

Into this shifting world steps Mary Catherine "Molly" McIntyre, a young woman newly unmoored by loss, carrying both the weight of family duty and the quiet, persistent call of her own dreams.

Based on the remarkable life of Mary McIntyre Pacheco, Mrs. R. Pacheco unfolds as an intimate portrait of a woman caught between cultures, expectations, and the fragile hope of self-determination. When Molly marries Romualdo Pacheco, a Californio statesman destined to become California's first Hispanic governor, her life is swept into a world both foreign and exhilarating, where love must contend with tradition, and identity is shaped by forces beyond her control.

As Molly navigates the complexities of marriage, society, and a rapidly changing California, she discovers within herself a fierce creative spirit that refuses to be silenced. Her journey from grieving daughter to pioneering novelist and playwright becomes a testament to resilience, illuminating the quiet strength required to carve a voice in a world not yet ready to hear it.

Rich in historical detail and alive with emotional depth, this novel evokes the textures of nineteenth-century California, from its sunlit landscapes to its deeply rooted cultural divides. Through Molly's eyes, readers are drawn into a story of longing, reinvention, and the delicate balance between belonging and becoming.

Both sweeping and deeply personal, Mrs. R. Pacheco is a story of love shaped by circumstance, ambition tempered by sacrifice, and the enduring courage it takes to stand between worlds and claim a life as one's own.

 


 

Buy Link:

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

 


Rose Ann Woolpert is drawn to questions history leaves unanswered. As an author whose work is grounded in fact and shaped by imagination, she writes stories that explore how individuals navigate change, loss, ambition, and identity.

Her writing is often inspired by California history, particularly the lives of women whose stories risk being lost to memory. Family recollections, historical records, and careful research inform her work, while fiction allows space to imagine motives, choices, and inner lives beyond the historical record.

 Author Links:

 Website: www.roseannwoolpert.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61589451520229

Substack / Blog: https://roseannwoolpert.substack.com

Historium Press Author Page: https://www.historiumpress.com/hp-authors/rose-ann-woolpert

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Rose-Ann-Woolpert/author/B0H1YYBNG4

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7089965.Rose_Ann_Woolpert

 


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 

 

Monday, July 6, 2026

Book Spotlight: The Spirit of the Times by Justin Newland

 


From a land of milk,

And a Road of Silk,

To a ring of roses,

And a dance of posies,

Comes the tale of the spirit of the times!

In fourteenth-century Central Asia, Karia is a young woman living under the yoke of Mongol occupation. But she’s different. She’s a fighter with supernatural powers. She could use them to keep the Black Plague at bay and solve the mystery of the purple skies at dawn – if only she could overcome her self-doubt. 

Travelling in caravans on the Silk Road, she faces dangers seen and unseen – from sandstorms and slave traders to the desert djinn and folk who believe she’s a witch. She fears losing Abi, her little cousin, who’s fascinated by roses and the dance of the Whirling Dervishes of Bukhara.

When Karia falls in love with an English sailor fleeing the Knights Hospitaller, they sail to England with Abi to unravel the meaning of the purple skies, a dance, a posy tree, and a ring of roses.

The Spirit of the Times is part history, part fiction and part speculation: on the origin of disease; the power of innocence; the unfortunate aspects of custom and dogma; and humanity’s ability to respond to the governing influence or spirit of the times.

Buy Links:

 Universal Paperback Buy Link: https://mybook.to/thespiritofthetimes

 Author’s Website: The Spirit of the Times - PREORDER, RELEASE JULY 2026 £9.99 - Justin Newland - Author of secret history thrillers

 Publisher website: https://troubador.co.uk/bookshop/historical/the-spirit-of-the-times

 Waterstones: The Spirit of the Times by Justin Newland | Waterstones

 TG Jones: The Spirit of the Times: Justin Newland: 9781806344154: TGJones

 Coles Books: The Spirit of the Times by Justin Newland 9781806344154 Coles Books

 Shakespeare & Company: https://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/books/the-spirit-of-the-times

 iMusic: https://imusic.co/books/9781806344154/justin-newland-2026-the-spirit-of-the-times-paperback-book  

 


Justin Newland’s novels represent an innovative blend of genres, from historical adventure to supernatural thriller and magical realism.

Undeterred by the award of a doctorate in mathematics from Imperial College, London, he conceived his debut novel, The Genes of Isis (Matador, 2018), an epic fantasy set under Ancient Egyptian skies. Next came The Old Dragon’s Head (Matador, 2018), set in Ming Dynasty China in the shadows of the Great Wall.

The Coronation (Matador, 2019) features the Great Enlightenment and speculates on the genesis of the most important event in the modern world – the Industrial Revolution. The Abdication (Matador, 2021) is a mystery thriller in which a young woman confronts her faith in a higher purpose and what it means to abdicate that faith.

At this point in his writing career, after four self-published books, Justin was offered a part-funded contract with the Book Guild.

The Mark of the Salamander (Book Guild, 2023) is the first in a two-book ‘The Island of Angels’ series. It tells the epic tale of England’s coming of age during the Elizabethan era. The second in the series, The Midnight of Eights (Book Guild, 2024), charts the uncanny coincidences of time and tide that culminated in the repulse of the Spanish Armada.

His latest novel, The Spirit of the Times (Matador, 2026), is to be published in July. It tells the story of a young Kyrgyz woman’s journey westwards along the Silk Road. With purple skies at dawn, and a supporting cast of Genghis Khan, the Black Plague, a perplexing rhyme, a ring of roses, it explores the greatest mystery of all – the spirit of the times.

Justin’s enduring passion is to explore the origins of our current time. This prompted a broad research into what we’ve inherited from history – encompassing Egypt, China, Prussia and Tudor England. He also writes entertaining talks which he gives to the WI, U3A, Probus, Rotary and local historical associations. Please visit his website for a current list of the talks.

Alongside the talks, Justin promotes his work with regular book signings at TG Jones (ex. WH Smith) high street stores, selling over 3,500 books since 2019. He has sponsored over 40 UK and US blog tours, given frequent radio interviews and penned many guest posts.

His current book-signing motto is: "Enjoy, Imagine, Discover."

As a member of the Society of Authors, he has Public and Products Liability Insurance.

Born in Essex, England, three days before the end of 1953, he lives with his lady in plain sight of the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England.

Author Links:

 Website: https://www.justinnewland.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justin.newland.author/

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

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

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

 


 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

 

Thursday, July 2, 2026

Book Spotlight: The Cleansing: A Novel of Ancient Rome. Based on a True Story. By Victoria Alvear

 


Based on a true story, this is not the enlightened Rome of myth. This is a city choking on fear, where blood flows on both the battlefield and altar, and where generals and politicians alike are desperate to appease rageful gods.

When 50,000 Romans fall in a single day at the Battle of Cannae, priests claim there can be only one reason the gods abandoned Rome: a Vestal Virgin has broken her vow of chastity. And they accuse Opimia (Mia), the strongest, most defiant of the six sacred Vestal priestesses.

Forced as a child into serving Vesta, the goddess of fire, Mia has always chafed against Rome’s control of her every move—especially after being separated from her childhood love, Attius. Now, accused of a crime she did not commit, she must defend herself in a hostile court to avoid being buried alive for her “crime.”

Betrayed by the high priestess, hunted by Rome’s political and religious elite, Mia must either accept her fate — or join with the Sybil of Cumae to expose the truth behind a world built on superstition, fear, and lies.

A story of personal awakening amid public catastrophe, The Cleansing is a haunting journey through a city at war with itself — and a woman who risks everything to survive it.

 Praise:

 "Original, deftly crafted... [and a] historical thriller with an impressive level of literary excellence."

~ Midwest Book Review

 


 

Buy Links:

 Universal Amazon Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/3LWn1e

Barnes & Noble: https://shorturl.at/P3FwP

Bookshop.org: https://shorturl.at/cchlf

 This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.


Victoria Alvear has written multiple books and novels set in the ancient world, including A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii, A Song of War: A Novel of Troy, Cleopatra’s Moon, and others.

She is known as Vicky Alvear Shecter for her children’s books, which include Warrior Queens, Anubis Speaks!, Hades Speaks!, and Thor Speaks!

 She has served as a docent at the Museum of Antiquities at Emory University for nearly twenty years.

  Author Links:

 Website: www.vickyalvearshecter.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/victoria-alvear

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ask.a.docent

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Vicky-Alvear-Shecter/author/B001JRYRO8

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/140762.Vicky_Alvear_Shecter


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

 

 

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Book Spotlight: The Making of Marigold McGrath by Carrie Hayes

 


New York City, 1937. Seventeen-year-old Marigold McGrath is coming undone.

Her mother is dead. Her father is drawn to dangerous politics. The only place she feels joy is behind a camera — where she can frame the world on her own terms.

After a series of her own missteps, she reinvents herself in London: mentored by a celebrated émigré photographer, photographing Kindertransport children, working alongside Edward R. Murrow. She falls in love with Joop, a charming Dutch student, and shrugs off the war gathering around her.

Then the Blitz begins.

Joop vanishes into the Dutch Resistance. And Marigold — who has always preferred to photograph the world as she wishes it were — must finally decide what kind of woman, and what kind of witness, she is willing to become.

A sweeping WWII coming-of-age novel set in wartime London.

For readers of Kristin Hannah, Kate Quinn, and SL Beaumont's The War Photographers

Praise:

"I read a lot of historical novels ... this one was one of my favorites. From the characters to the setting to the actions depicted I thoroughly enjoyed the journey—I really didn’t want it to end!"

~ Netgalley Review 5*

"The Making of Marigold McGrath by Carrie Hayes is the tale of a well to do American seventeen year old sent to Europe just prior to World War II. The book is exquisitely written with a well paced dialogue. The characters are well formed and interesting. Sprinkled throughout the book are bits from news outlets that help set the larger context for the reader - they are well timed and helpful. Great read, well worth it!"
~ Goodreads Review 5*

"The Making of Marigold McGrath explores a rarely examined aspect of WWII: the complex journeys to maturity of young adults in war-torn Europe as they seek human connection and meaning. Marigold finds both, using her skills as a photographer to document the stories of refugee children. With gobs of historical references and vivid imagery, interlaced with intrigue and romance, The Making of Marigold McGrath is a great read!"
~ Goodreads Review 5*


 Buy Links:

 Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/388dyw

 This book is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

 

Carrie’s first two novels, Naked Truth or Equality and Well Dressed Lies, follow the lives of the iconoclastic suffragist sisters, Victoria Woodhull and Tennessee Claflin.

Carrie lives with her husband and two spoiled dogs in a rambling Victorian house just outside of New York City.

Author Links:

Website: www.carriehayeswrites.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carrie.hayes.984

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carriehayes1964/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carrie-hayes

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Carrie-Hayes/author/B083R8LZQQ

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3487483.Carrie_Hayes

Substack Infrequent Newsletter: https://substack.com/@hayesc

 


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


Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Book Spotlight: Unbelonging by David J. Jepsen

 


Seattle, 1945. The war is ending-but for many, the hardest battles are just beginning.

 

In a city transformed by global conflict, four families struggle to find their place amid rising tensions, buried prejudice, and shifting identities. Victory overseas has brought hope, but at home, fear, suspicion, and inequality continue to shape everyday life.

 

A female defense worker, newly awakened to injustice, risks everything as she steps into the dangerous world of labor activism-threatening not only her future, but the safety of those she loves. A decorated Black war hero returns home expecting honor and opportunity, only to face a different kind of battlefield, where racism and exclusion deny him the freedoms he fought to defend. A Japanese American, released from internment, discovers that the end of war does not mean the end of hatred, and that rebuilding a life in a community that no longer trusts him may be the greatest challenge of all. A hopeful British war bride arrives chasing the promise of a new beginning, only to learn that the American dream is complicated, fragile, and not equally shared.

 

As labor strikes ripple through the city, racial tensions simmer, and the first shadows of Cold War hysteria begin to take hold, Seattle reveals itself as a place both beautiful and deeply divided. Old prejudices harden even as new voices rise, demanding change.

 

This powerful, emotionally charged novel strips away the myth of an open and enlightened city, exposing the human cost of exclusion and the quiet courage of those who refuse to accept it.

 

A sweeping story of resilience, identity, and the search for belonging-welcome to the City on the Sound, where no one is quite sure where they belong.

Praise:

“Just a great read and anyone who picks it up is guaranteed to learn a thing or two: from Guadalcanal to local labor disputes.”

~ Mr. K, Amazon 5* review


 Buy Link:

 Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/38o1n7

 

David J. Jepsen is a historian, writer and educator teaching Pacific Northwest and U.S. history at Tacoma Community College. His novel about racial and labor conflicts in Seattle following WW II, titled Unbelonging, was released in April 2026.

He was the lead author of Contested Boundaries: A New Pacific Northwest History (John Wiley and Sons, 2017), and he wrote and directed the award-winning documentary Labor Wars of the Northwest, nominated in 2019 for Best Feature Film Made in Washington by the Gig Harbor Film Festival.

David writes a weekly post for the Washington State Historical Society titled “This Day in Washington.” He holds a master’s degree in history and a bachelor’s in communications from the University of Washington.

He lives with his wife, Jackie, in Gig Harbor, WA.

Author Links:

Website: https://davidjjepsen.com/

Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/david.j.jepsen.2025/

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569571076494

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

Historium Press author page: https://www.historiumpress.com/david-jepsen

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-jepsen-386b5b14/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15496682.David_J_Jepsen

 


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


Monday, June 29, 2026

Book Spotlight: The Daredevil by Regan Walker

 

Before there was a Continental Navy, there was one man’s courage...

When young merchant captain Samuel Tucker learns that war has broken out between Britain and the Colonies, he cannot stand idle. Leaving the safety of London’s port, he races home across a storm-tossed Atlantic to offer his sword to liberty’s cause. Along the way, he saves a valuable ship, her crew, and her cargo—a deed that brings him before General Washington himself. The grateful commander offers Sam command of one of his newly armed schooners.

 

From those perilous beginnings in Washington’s shadow fleet, Sam rises through the ranks of the Continental Navy and beyond, eventually commanding a privateer that strikes deep into the British supply lines. From the fogbound wharves of Marblehead to the treacherous shoals of Halifax and Europe, he wages war with the daring of a man who seems to fear neither sea nor shot. To his men, he is “the Daredevil”—fearless, quick-witted, and guided by an unshakable faith.

 

Yet amid the thunder of broadsides and the peril of capture, Tucker’s heart is not immune to gentler battles. Mary Gatchell, the steadfast Marblehead woman whose prayers sustain him from shore, anchors the life he risks with every voyage. But the sea is a jealous mistress, and every homecoming may be his last.


 

Buy Link:

 Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/b5AjNp

 Audiobook on Audible with virtual voice

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

 


 


Regan Walker is an award-winning author of more than twenty historical novels spanning the Georgian, Regency, Medieval and Revolutionary eras.

With meticulous research and a storyteller’s eye for drama, she transports readers from the intrigues of medieval England and the courts of eighteenth-century France to Scotland’s mist-shrouded Highlands, the cobbled streets of early nineteenth-century London, and ships riding dangerous seas.

From spies, smugglers, and pirates to masked balls and opulent palaces, her novels reveal the courage, faith, and love that endure through history’s most turbulent days.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.reganwalkerauthor.com/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ReganWalkersReaders

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calwalk123/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/reganwalker123/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/regan-walker

TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@reganwalker77

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Regan-Walker/author/B008OUWC5Y

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6450403.Regan_Walker

 


 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

 

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Book Spotlight: The Lost Voices by Paul Rushworth-Brown

 


Some lives pass through history without leaving a trace.

The Lost Voices is a work of historical fiction that brings to light those whose stories were never formally recorded—not because they lacked significance, but because their lives unfolded beyond the reach of power, authorship, and recognition.

This is the story of ordinary people forced into extraordinary circumstances—individuals navigating a rigid social order shaped by obligation, fear, and quiet resistance. Here, survival depends as much on silence as on action, and choices are made not in moments of glory, but in private, under pressure, and with consequences rarely acknowledged.

The novel explores how personal truth is shaped—and sometimes erased—by authority, custom, and the need to endure. What remains are the lives history does not celebrate: the unspoken loyalties, the moral compromises, and the quiet cost of being unheard.

The Lost Voices is an intimate and powerful reflection on what history forgets—and what it leaves behind.

Praise:

"Another great work by a very talented author who loves his period works and characters from his great plots. He writes with verve and intent to deliver the imagination something unexpected and greatly appreciated... Brilliant..."

~ Gavin, Readalot Magazine reviewer


  Buy Links:

 Amazon US Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Voices-Paul-Rushworth-Brown-ebook/dp/B0DM47RBP4/

 Amazon AU Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com.au/Lost-Voices-Paul-Rushworth-Brown-ebook/dp/B0DM47RBP4/ 

 Amazon UK Buy Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Voices-Paul-Rushworth-Brown-ebook/dp/B0DM47RBP4/


 


Paul Rushworth-Brown is an Australian historical fiction author whose work explores ordinary people navigating forces far greater than themselves.

His writing focuses on identity, survival, and the lasting impact of historical events, examining how lives are shaped not only by what history records, but by what it leaves behind. His work has reached international audiences across the United States and the United Kingdom, including appearances on PSI TV and U.S. radio, including Moments with Marianne Pestana on ABC-affiliated KMET 1490AM/98.1FM.

Through his fiction, he brings attention to the human cost of history and the individuals often overlooked within it.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.paulrushworthbrown.com/

Twitter / X: https://x.com/Brown9Paul

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paul.brown.73157203/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulbrown630

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

Pinterest: https://in.pinterest.com/paulbrown630

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/paul-rushworth-brown

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@paul.brown_62?lang=en

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Paul-Rushworth-Brown/author/B09XFBH7BH

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19012235.Paul_Rushworth_Brown

 


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

Monday, June 22, 2026

Book Spotlight: Queen of Shadows by Anna Belfrage

 


She should have stayed in the shadows—but Leonor de Guzmán yearned for the sun

Castile in the 1330s is a place of constant turmoil. King Alfonso must contend with the incursions from the Muslim Marinids eager to reclaim Al-Andalus while struggling with repeated rebellions against his firm rule.

When Alfonso needs respite, he finds it in the arms of his Leonor—the most beautiful woman in the realm. But while he may love Leonor over all others, his lawful wife, Maria of Portugal, is tired of being constantly displaced by the fair Leonor.

Leonor loves her man. She gives him healthy sons, a place to be himself. But she is only a mistress, even if Alfonso treats her like a queen. Leonor’s enemies watch and hate.

Flying too close to the sun comes at a high price. How much will Leonor’s love cost her?

Based on the true story of Alfonso XI and his complicated relationships to wife and life-long mistress 

 

Buy Link:

 Universal Buy Link: https://myBook.to/QofS

 This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

 

Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with three absorbing interests: history, romance and writing. Anna has authored the acclaimed time travelling series The Graham Saga, set in 17th century Scotland and Maryland, as well as two equally acclaimed medieval series; The King’s Greatest Enemy which is set in 14th century England, and The Castilian Saga ,which is set against the medieval conquest of Wales. She has also published a time travel romance, The Whirlpools of Time, and its sequel Times of Turmoil, and is now considering just how to wiggle out of setting the next book in that series in Peter the Great’s Russia, as her characters are demanding. . .

 All of Anna’s books have been awarded the IndieBRAG Medallion, she has several Historical Novel Society Editor’s Choices, and one of her books won the HNS Indie Award in 2015. She is also the proud recipient of various Reader’s Favorite medals as well as having won various Gold, Silver and Bronze Coffee Pot Book Club awards.

 “A master storyteller” “This is what all historical fiction should be like. Superb.”

Find out more about Anna, her books and enjoy her eclectic historical blog on her website, www.annabelfrage.com where you will also find her post about Alfonso and Leonor:

Author Links:

Website: www.annabelfrage.com

Amazon Author Page: http://Author.to/ABG      

  


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