BOOK SPOTLIGHT!!! Raid of the Wolves (Ormstunga Saga, Book 2) by Donovan Cook #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @DonovanCook20 @maryanneyarde

 

Raid of the Wolves

 (Ormstunga Saga, Book 2)

By Donovan Cook

 

The only thing that kept him going were the voices of his ancestors, screaming for blood...

Ulf and his shield brothers are sent on a raid against an old enemy — Francia, a mighty kingdom to the south, now ravaged by civil war. During the perilous sea voyage, Ulf can only focus on one thing. He demands closure: to find the man who slaughtered his family — Griml. 

A hidden enemy stalks Ulf and his warriors through Francia, striking mercilessly when they least expect it. Soon the hunters become the hunted. The Norse warriors must make the ultimate choice between defying the king or angering the gods. Both could end in fury.

But there is another threat lurking in the shadows. One that Ulf could never anticipate.

Ulf is not the only one who wants vengeance.

 

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This novel is avaliable to read on #KindleUnlimited

Donovan Cook

Even as a young child, Donovan loved reading stories about Vikings and other medieval warriors fighting to defend their homeland or raiding in distant lands. He would often be found running around outside with nothing other than a wooden sword and his imagination. 

Now older, he spends his time writing about them. His novels come from his fascination with the Viking world and Norse Mythology and he hopes that you will enjoy exploring this world as much as he did writing about it.

Born in South Africa but raised in England, Donovan currently lives in Moscow, Russia with his wife and their French Bulldog, where he works as an English tutor. When he is not teaching or writing, he can be found reading, watching rugby, or working on DIY projects. Being born in South Africa, he is a massive Springboks fan and never misses a match.

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BOOK REVIEW!!! The Girl from Portofino (Girls of the Italian Resistance, Book 2) by Siobhan Daiko #HistoricalRomance #CoffeePotBookClub #BlogTour @siobhandaiko @maryanneyarde

 

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gina grew up in Portofino but moved to England after the war to raise her daughter, Hope. When she learns of her father’s death, Gina and Hope travel to Portofino for the funeral.

Hope has her future ahead of her, but Gina finds herself journeying back to the past when she is presented with a journal written by her twin sister Adele, during the war. Everyone believes that Adele betrayed her country to work with the Germans, but it turns out it was a little more complicated than that.

I think Adele was one of my favourite characters, although we only briefly meet her in Gina’s memories, the rest of the time only getting to know her through her diary. Gina was always the brave sister, putting herself out there, so when Gina left to join the Resistance, Adele wanted to do her part as well. The only issue was finding something she could do, for she wasn’t like her sister, and couldn’t pick up a gun against the Germans. This novel depicts strong women who find themselves living during an extraordinarily frightening time, and how these young women reacted to these events made this story come across as very real in the telling.

This novel does have its fair share of romance, for both sisters find themselves slowly falling in love, but it is based during a war, and both sisters find themselves fighting it, one way or another. There is violence, from both sides, and both Gina and Adele see things they would rather forget. This is not a book that romanticises war, but one that tells the truth and this, while distressing at times, has been done with great skill.

This book was completely captivating, and I found it incredibly difficult to put it down.

In 1970 Gina Bianchi returns to Portofino to attend her father’s funeral, accompanied by her troubled twenty-four-year-old daughter, Hope. There, Gina is beset by vivid memories of World War 2, a time when she fought with the Italian Resistance and her twin sister, Adele, worked for the Germans.

 

In her childhood bedroom, Gina reads Adele’s diary, left behind during the war. As Gina learns the devastating truth about her sister, she’s compelled to face the harsh brutality of her own past. Will she finally lay her demons to rest, or will they end up destroying her and the family she loves?

 

A hauntingly epic read that will sweep you away to the beauty of the Italian Riviera and the rugged mountains of its hinterland. “The Girl from Portofino” is a story about heart-wrenching loss and uplifting courage, love, loyalty, and secrets untold.

 

If you would like to read this novel you can find it on Amazon If you have a #KindleUnimited subscription you can read for free.

 

Siobhan Daiko is a British historical fiction author. A lover of all things Italian, she lives in the Veneto region of northern Italy with her husband, a Havanese dog and two rescued cats. After a life of romance and adventure in Hong Kong, Australia and the UK, Siobhan now spends her time, when she isn't writing, enjoying her life near Venice. 

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BOOK EXCERPT!! 1066 Turned Upside Down #AlternativeHistory #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @HelenHollick @maryanneyarde

 

1066 Turned Upside Down 

By Joanna Courtney, Helen Hollick, Anna Belfrage, Richard Dee, G.K. Holloway,

Carol McGrath, Alison Morton, Eliza Redgold, Annie Whitehead

With a foreword by C.C. Humphreys

 

Have you ever wondered what might have happened if William the Conqueror had been beaten at Hastings in 1066? Or if Harald Hardrada had won at Stamford Bridge? Or if Edward the Confessor had died with an heir ready to take his crown? If so – here is the perfect set of short stories for you.

 

1066 Turned Upside Down explores a variety of ways in which that momentous year could have played out very differently.

 

Written by nine well-known authors the stories will take you on a journey through the speculative ‘what ifs?’ of England’s most famous year in history.

 

Excerpt

 

IF YOU CHANGED ONE THING

 

By Richard Dee

What if someone, one day in the future invented a time machine and was able to go back in time?

I liked to ask my senior class a question on a Friday, it was the end of the week and their concentration on work was fading with the prospect of two days off. History had to be made interesting, at least I had always thought so and I tried to make Fridays a bit different. We had been going through important events and had been discussing how small changes might have had big effects. The trivial things that would change everything, a lame horse, a shower of rain, someone who had lived or died differently.

They were a lively group and we ranged through the ages asking ‘what if’? There was the usual frustration in the lack of good evidence for a lot of history and someone remarked that history would be so much better if we had a time machine and we could just go and have a look for ourselves. All the usual things, we could see if Jesus was real, maybe stop the slaughter of the First World War, or find out what really happened to the dinosaurs were the favourites.

These were all good ideas but not my personal choice; I wanted to see if it was true about the Battle of Hastings. After all, in six months it would be the millennium of the event and it was in the public eye, the last time in our history that foreign troops had been on our soil in any numbers. A few had made it into Wales in 1797 but as far as I was concerned that didn’t count. And the outcome at Hastings, at least according to what we knew, rested on a sequence of small events and a trick. This particular Friday I raised the subject, handing out printed sheets with the historical facts as we knew them.

We discussed the accounts, William of Poitiers, William of Malmesbury and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles. Each gave differing stories and we debated them. There was so much conflicting information that it was hard to summarise the events that really mattered. In the end, we agreed that the disbanding of the army on the south coast was the first step.

OK prof,’ said Martin, the most opinionated of the group, ‘This looks like another job for your theoretical time machine.’

I nodded. Martin continued, ‘If you could go back, what would you do?’

‘Any ideas?’ I threw the debate open to the class.

‘You could leave the standing army on the coast?’ and, ‘Split your force and send some north to Stamford?’ were a couple of the more sensible suggestions along with, ‘Send an expedition to France and destroy the ships.’

I decided to throw my curve ball into the debate.

‘I’d go to Winchester,’ I said, ‘to Harold’s court; before the invasion, I’d warn Harold of the danger from William and from the Scandinavians.’

‘Why?’ said Lydia, ‘surely that would change everything. If the army stays then they would not go to Stamford Bridge, maybe the Norse invasion succeeds and who knows what happens, we would be a different country, we might not even exist.’ There was laughter from the group. Some of them suggested that they could think of a few teachers who wouldn’t be missed, I was pleased that my name wasn’t among them.

‘And this is the problem,’ I said. ‘If you change one thing then it changes everything.’

‘You’re right, Prof,’ said Bryan, ‘you must be careful not to change anything.’ He stopped talking as the class realised what he had said and turned to look at him.

Bryan, one of the quiet ones, there’s always one at the back, the girls ignored him, he was safe and therefore boring. He was a brilliant student and his work was insightful and well researched. A little over dramatic occasionally and sometimes he wrote as if he was remembering instead of describing, but that was just his way of expressing himself.

‘Sounds like you’re an expert Bryan,’ said Greg, the class loudmouth, and Bryan coloured and slouched lower in his seat.

Is there a time machine – is something changed? Find out in 1066 Turned Upside Down

Readers' Comments

“1066 Turned Upside Down is the exemplar for how analytical counterfactual history should be done, combining the best elements of fiction and non-fiction to create an immensely impressive achievement.”

 

“As a collection, the quality of the writing is exceptional and the variety of possible outcomes presented is truly fascinating.”

 

“The collection is assembled in such a way that between the ‘alternatives’ are the related facts as they happened, as far as historians and archaeologists know – which still leaves room for these experienced writers’ imaginations.”

 

“A book I will read and re-read. I heartily recommend it”

 

“The real joy of a collection of stories like this is, of course, that you are likely to be introduced to writers you may not have come across before.”

You can pick up your copy on your favourite online bookstore!

 

1066 Turned Upside Down is a collection of eleven alternative history short stories of a ‘what if’ nature imagined by nine well-known successful authors:

 

JOANNA COURTNEY Ever since Joanna sat up in her cot with a book, she’d wanted to be a writer and cut her publication teeth on short stories and serials for the women’s magazines before signing to PanMacmillan in 2014 for her three-book series The Queens of the Conquest about the wives of the men fighting to be King of England in 1066. Her second series, written for Piatkus is Shakespeare’s Queens exploring the real history of three of the bard’s greatest female characters – Lady Macbeth, Ophelia and Cordelia.

Joanna’s fascination with historical writing is in finding the similarities between us and them –with an especial goal to provide a female take on some of the greatest stories we think we know. www.joannacourtney.com

 

ALISON MORTON writes the award-winning alternative fiction Roma Nova thriller series featuring tough, but compassionate heroines. She blends her deep love of Roman history with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical, adventure and thriller fiction. A ‘Roman nut’ since age 11, she started wondering what a modern Roman society would be like if run by strong women. She has recently branched out into a contemporary crime setting with Double Identity, the first of a planned series.

www.alison-morton.com/

 

ANNA BELFRAGE Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, Anna has authored the acclaimed time travelling series The Graham Saga, set in 17th century Scotland and Maryland, as well as the equally acclaimed medieval series The King’s Greatest Enemy set in 14th century England. Anna has also published The Wanderer, a fast-paced contemporary romantic suspense trilogy with paranormal and time-slip ingredients. His Castilian Hawk - returning to medieval times and her most recent release, The Whirlpools of Time, a time travel romance set against the backdrop of brewing rebellion in the Scottish highlands. Anna has won several awards including various Gold, Silver and Bronze Coffee Pot Book Club awards. www.annabelfrage.com

 

ANNIE WHITEHEAD is an historian and prize-winning author. Her main interest in history is the period formerly known as the ‘Dark Ages’. Her first novel, To Be A Queen, is the story of Aethelflaed (daughter of Alfred the Great), who came to be known as the Lady of the Mercians. Alvar the Kingmaker, tells the story of Aelfhere of Mercia, a nobleman in the time of King Edgar. Cometh the Hour goes further back in time to the seventh century, to tell the story of Penda, the last pagan king of Mercia. Annie has twice been a prizewinner in the Mail on Sunday Novel Writing competition, she won first prize for nonfiction in the new Writing Magazine Poetry and Prose competition, and was the inaugural winner of the HWA (Historical Writers’ Association)/Dorothy Dunnett Society Short Story Competition and is now a judge for that same competition.

Annie has had two nonfiction books published. Mercia: The Rise and Fall of a Kingdom (Amberley Books) has been an Amazon #1 Bestseller. Women of Power in Anglo-Saxon England was published by Pen & Sword Books in 2020.

www.anniewhiteheadauthor.co.uk

 

CAROL McGRATH is the author of The Daughters of Hastings Trilogy. Her fifth historical novel, The Silken Rose, first in The Rose Trilogy, published by the Headline Group, is set during the High Middle Ages. It features Ailenor of Provence and was published in 2020. The Damask Rose about Eleanor of Castile was published in 2021. The Stone Rose, Isabella of France, follows in 2022. Carol has also written Historical Non-Fiction for Pen & Sword.

www.carolcmcgrath.co.uk

 

ELIZA REDGOLD is an author and ‘romantic academic’. Her bestselling historical fiction includes her Ladies of Legend trilogy, starting with Naked: A Novel of Lady Godiva released internationally by St Martin’s Press, New York. Her historical romances are published by Harlequin Historical, London (Harper Collins). They include Playing the Duke’s Mistress, Enticing Benedict Cole, The Scandalous Suffragette and The Master’s New Governess. They have been translated into multiple languages including Italian, Polish, Czech, Danish and Swedish, and are available internationally.

www.elizaredgold.com

 

G.K. HOLLOWAY After graduating from Coventry University with an honours degree in history and politics, he worked in education in and around Bristol, England, where he now lives. After reading a biography about Harold Godwinson, he studied the late Anglo-Saxon era in detail. When he had enough material to weave together facts and fiction he produced his novel. 1066 What Fates Impose, a story of family feuds, court intrigues, assassinations, plotting and scheming, loyalty and love, all ingredients in an epic struggle for the English crown. www.gkholloway.co.uk

 

HELEN HOLLICK moved from London in 2013 and now lives on a thirteen-acre farm in North Devon, England. Born in London, Helen wrote pony stories as a teenager, moved to science fiction and fantasy, and then discovered the wonder of historical fiction. Published since 1994 with her Arthurian Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy, followed by her 1066 era duo. She became a USA Today bestseller with her story of Queen Emma: The Forever Queen (titled A Hollow Crown in the UK), and its companion novel, Harold the King (titled I Am the Chosen King in the U.S.A). She also writes the Sea Witch Voyages, a series of pirate-based nautical adventures with a touch of fantasy. Commissioned by Amberley Press she wrote a non-fiction book about pirates in fact, fantasy and fiction and a non-fiction book about smugglers, published by Pen and Sword.

Recently she has ventured into the ‘Cosy Mystery’ genre with her Jan Christopher Mysteries, the first of which is A Mirror Murder. She runs Discovering Diamonds, an independent online review site for Historical Fiction, primarily aimed at showcasing Indie writers.

She occasionally gets time to write. www.helenhollick.net

 

RICHARD DEE was a Master Mariner and ship’s pilot, now living in Brixham, South Devon.  His novels include Science Fiction and Steampunk adventures, as well as the exploits of Andorra Pett, a reluctant amateur detective. www.richarddeescifi.co.uk

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT!!! Lies That Blind by E.S. Alexander #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @ES_Alexander7 @maryanneyarde

 

What would you risk to avoid obscurity?

 

Malaya, 1788

 

Aspiring journalist Jim Lloyd jeopardises his future in ways he never could have imagined. He risks his wealthy father’s wrath to ride the coat-tails of Captain Francis Light, an adventurer governing the East India Company’s new trading settlement on Penang. Once arrived on the island, Jim—as Light’s assistant—hopes that chronicling his employer’s achievements will propel them both to enduring fame. But the naïve young man soon discovers that years of deception and double-dealing have strained relations between Light and Penang’s legal owner, Sultan Abdullah of Queda, almost to the point of war. Tensions mount: Pirate activity escalates, traders complain about Light’s monopolies, and inhabitants threaten to flee, fearing a battle the fledgling settlement cannot hope to win against the Malays. Jim realises that a shared obsession with renown has brought him and Light perilously close to infamy: a fate the younger man, at least, fears more than death. Yet Jim will not leave Penang because of his dedication to Light’s young son, William, and his perplexing attraction to a mercurial Dutchman. He must stay and confront his own misguided ambitions as well as help save the legacy of a man he has come to despise.

 

Inspired by true events, Lies That Blind is a story featuring historical character Francis Light (1740-1794) who, in an effort to defy his mortality, was seemingly willing to put the lives and livelihoods of a thousand souls on Penang at risk.

 

If you would like to read this book then click on the books name Lies That Blind.

 

E.S. Alexander was born in St. Andrews, Scotland in 1954, although her family moved to England a few years later. Her earliest memories include producing a newspaper with the John Bull printing set she was given one Christmas. She wrote and directed her first play, Osiris, at age 16, performed to an audience of parents, teachers, and pupils by the Lower Fifth Drama Society at her school in Bolton, Lancashire. Early on in her writing career, Liz wrote several short stories featuring ‘The Dover Street Sleuth’, Dixon Hawke for a D.C. Thomson newspaper in Scotland. Several of her (undoubtedly cringe-worthy) teenage poems were published in An Anthology of Verse.

 

Liz combined several decades as a freelance journalist writing for UK magazines and newspapers ranging from British Airway’s Business Life and the Daily Mail, to Marie Claire and Supply Chain Management magazine, with a brief stint as a presenter/reporter for various radio stations and television channels, including the BBC. In 2001 she moved to the United States where she earned her master’s degree and Ph.D. in educational psychology from The University of Texas at Austin.

 

She has written and co-authored 17 internationally published, award-winning non-fiction books that have been translated into more than 20 languages.

 

In 2017, Liz relocated to Malaysia. She lives in Tanjung Bungah, Pulau Pinang where she was inspired to embark on one of the few forms of writing left for her to tackle: the novel.

 

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