MJ Porter, author

I’m reviewing Casa Paradiso – 300 Years in the Life of a House, a beautiful collection of short stories all taking place in the same location #blogtour #histfic

Here’s the blurb

Lombardy, Northern Italy, 1637

Cristó Lovetta, a skilled stonemason, arrives in the rural village of Pieve Santa Clara to work on a nobleman’s house.

Haunted by a tragic past, Cristó wonders if he will ever find happiness again. However, as he immerses himself in his work, the warmth of the community and the beauty of the landscape convince him to begin a new life there.

Cristó designs and builds his own house, which he names Casa Paradiso. Over the centuries, Casa Paradiso becomes home to many generations, standing testament to lives beginning and ending, and witnessing the everyday challenges and triumphs of its inhabitants – from love lost and found, to the tragedies of war, the far-reaching consequences of political decisions made by powerful men and the evolving role of women in Italian society.

Casa Paradiso – the fourth instalment of the Paradiso Novels – is a shining, evocative saga spanning three hundred years in the life of a very special house, and a book that explores the enduring strength of the human spirit, contrasted with the transient nature of life itself.

Cover image for Casa Paradiso by Francesco Scanacapra

Purchase Link

https://geni.us/CasaParadiso

My Review

Casa Paradiso is such an engaging collection of stories, all interlinked, and all taking place with the same house as it’s main character.

The reader is swept through tale after tale, century after century, in the life of the house. Not all of our characters are immediately likeable, and not all of the tales are happy, and some of them truly make sense with the poignancy of retrospection for the next people to live within the property.

A truly charming collection of stories that drive you through the centuries, even though, sometimes, you might like to linger in one particular tale.

A fabulous idea, beautifully executed.

Meet the author

Francesca Scanacapra was born in Italy to an English mother and Italian father, and her childhood was spent living between England and Italy. Her adult life has been somewhat nomadic with periods spent living in Italy, England, France, Senegal and Spain. She describes herself as ‘unconventional’ and has pursued an eclectic mixture of career paths – from working in translation, the fitness industry, education and even several years as a builder. In 2021 she returned to her native country and back to her earliest roots to pursue her writing career full time. Francesca now resides permanently in rural Lombardy in the house built by her great-grandfather which was the inspiration for her Paradiso Novels: Paradiso, Return to Paradiso, The Daughter of Paradiso and Casa Paradiso. Her novel The Lost Boy of Bologna was also published by Silvertail Books.

Connect with the author

I’m welcoming Soulla Christodoulou and her new novel, The Magic of Miramare to the blog #blogtour #romance

This is the first morning at the resort and Stella and the other two couples enjoy breakfast together.

Within ten minutes, Prodromos and Yiannis came out carrying two huge trays, visibly trembling under the weight of all the food. They settled the trays onto two tables next to their guests who were now chatting amiably, becoming acquainted with each other, their conversation punctuated with booming laughter and whoops of joy.

‘This is wonderful. Thank you Prodromos,’ said Stella. ‘And what beautiful music.’ Prodromos froze for a few seconds, a stillness rendering him speechless. ‘Where’s it coming from?’ asked Stella, the others busy tucking in.

‘The music can always be heard by those who are in tune with their souls, be heard by those who welcome its energy,’ Prodromos answered eventually, avoiding Stella’s eye.

Stella waited for a further explanation, but he offered none. ‘It makes you feel alive. Who’s playing it?’ Stella insisted, but the blank faces around the mishmash of tables revealed no-one had heard it or tuned into it. Maybe their chatter was drowning the sound. She felt a little tingle run along her spine and instead of shaking it off, she welcomed it, leaned into it, smiling to herself, though a little embarrassed. Was she hearing things? She looked expectantly at Prodromos. Prodromos concurred knowingly as he continued to load the table with abundantly filled hand-painted plates and blue-glazed bowls and lop-sided baskets.

Stella observed him. He can hear it too; she surmised but decided not to mention it again. Something magical, unexplained yet present in the air, danced and played out here in Miramare and she hoped it would inspire her, fill her up with an abundance of creativity. Breakfast was a tantalising, colourful banquet: fresh figs, fleshy and dark purple, glistened in a round basket lined with a crocheted napkin, thickly sliced bread and sesame coated bread sticks as well as darker rye rolls the size of small dough balls filled an oval basket and wrinkled black olives and fresh tomatoes over-filled miniature scallop-edged bowls.

‘Good enough for the Gods,’ said Dean.

‘Looks so enticing,’ said Eliana.

‘Ambrosia,’ said Dean.

‘What?’ said Eliana.

‘Ambrosia. Food of the gods.’

‘Yes, you are right,’ said Prodromos. ‘Believed to bring long life and immortality to anyone who consumed it.’

‘I’m sure the scientists will find a way to make immortality a reality one day,’ said Dean. ‘But not in our lifetime.’

‘Love makes us immortal,’ said Prodromos, a fleeting wistfulness crossing his face. ‘Now eat.’

‘You don’t have to ask me twice. I’m starving,’ said Dean, giving Eliana a cocky grin. He rubbed his rotund belly in exaggerated circular motions and reached out for not one but two thick hunks of warm bread. ‘Still hot.’

‘Those tomatoes. Nothing like home grown is there?’ said Stella, pushing the tomato up to her nose and breathing in deeply.

‘These smell way better than ours. The dirt must be different out here,’ said Dean.

‘You mean the soil, Dean. The dirt. What does the dirt even mean, babe?’ Eliana smiled, pretending she was only teasing, but Stella could see how annoyed she had become and couldn’t understand why she reacted to Dean the way she did. Impatient. Dismissive.

‘You grow your own?’ asked Luke, breaking the atmosphere.

‘My dad and I started an allotment together. Now it’s just me: green beans, potatoes, lettuce, carrots, garlic. I give it a go and rotate year on year, but it’s hit and miss really. It’s only a small allotment but it keeps me busy when the pain in my knee’s not too much,’ said Dean.

‘Bet it does. Good for you,’ said Stella, and leaning across the table plucked a tomato, bit into it.

‘Nothing like that earthy smell of home-grown, organic veggies. It’s something we don’t often experience at home. Those so-called vine-grown tomatoes you get in the supermarket never taste this good.’

‘Good to see someone appreciating the merits of organic veg,’ said Dean.

Prodromos re-arranged the dishes to fit in plates of boiled eggs and salami. Yiannis appeared with a platter of thick-cut wedges of watermelon and slender slices of honey melon. He placed it down opposite Stella, sucked on his finger, dripping with the pink juice of the watermelon, all the while holding Stella’s gaze. Stella suddenly didn’t feel like eating, it was as if Yiannis had swallowed her appetite whole and she fought against a flutter tickling her insides.

‘You enjoy breakfast the Greek way, my friends,’ said Prodromos.

Cover image for The Magic of Miramare by Soulla Christodoulou

Here’s the blurb

Three women meet on holiday in Kefalonia. Each is secretly filled with turmoil.

Stella must decide on whether her twenty-year affair with Anton has reached the end.

Melody must find a way to go back to the love she knows she has with Luke.

Eliana must overcome her own complicated relationship with love to find harmony with Dean.

Against the backdrop of the beautiful Miramare resort, the women quickly build a friendship and share their stories and deepest secrets, subconsciously guided by the magic of the Ionian Island.

With azure seas and clear blue skies, the women, and their partners, must find a way to nurture themselves before they can salvage their own relationships while navigating their attitudes to love. But can they find their way to a kinder, better place within themselves.

The Greeks have so many words for love, that they are guided and find a way through their own turmoil, to find the real happiness, love, and magic that exists within us all.

Follow strong, authentic female characters who have drive, sass, and attitude in this poetic narrative with a stunningly slow simmer. It’s a story that will capture your heart. Disappear into a world of love. Into The Magic of Miramare.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magic-Miramare-Soulla-Christodoulou-ebook/dp/B0DHTZZLV3/

https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Miramare-Soulla-Christodoulou-ebook/dp/B0DHTZZLV3/

Meet the author

Born in London to Greek Cypriot parents, Soulla Christodoulou was the first in her family to go to university and later retrained to become a teacher. She has been writing since 2015 and has many more books in her.

Her novels, Broken Pieces of Tomorrow, The Summer Will Come, The Village House and A Palette of Magpies are available on Amazon alongside Alexander and Maria which was nominated for the RSL Ondaatje Prize 2021.

The Summer Will Come, a book club read in the Year of Learning Festival 2019, London Borough of Barnet Libraries, has been translated into Greek and is currently being queried with Greek and Greek Cypriot publishers.

Soulla is working on her next novel, The Pastry Girl of Malta and writing her first non-fiction book on the craft and magic of writing. She is consulting on a movie project inspired by one of her books and is learning a lot about the world of filmmaking. She is happiest writing and reading in her pretty garden Writing Room while drinking tea infused with cinnamon sticks and cloves.

Connect with the author

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I’m delighted to welcome Heidi Eljarbo and her new book, The Paris Portrait, to the blog #HistoricalMystery #ArtHistory #DualTimeline #CozyMystery #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

I’m delighted to welcome Heidi Eljarbo and her new book, The Paris Portrait, A Fabiola Bennett Mystery, to the blog.

Here’s the Blurb

Fabiola stumbles upon a clue that indicates a royal portrait went missing almost two hundred years ago. Is this true, or is there substance to the rumor?

Paris, France, 1973.
After an enjoyable but dusty road trip, Fabiola and her friends, Pippa and Cary, arrive in a small village on the outskirts of Paris to spend a few days with Fabiola’s brother Eivind and his family.

On their first evening there, Eivind shows Fabiola an ancient recipe book he bought at an auction. The book is filled with old writing, and he asks Fabiola to decipher the pages. After the others have gone to bed, she spends hours reading and is gripped by the last pages that have nothing to do with recipes for baked goods and stews. Certain the author was a famous portrait artist at the time of the French Revolution, Fabiola and her friends set out on a treacherous investigation, dodging murderers and thieves to learn the truth.

Versailles, France, 1789.
Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun— portraitist and close friend of the extravagant queen of France, Marie Antoinette—has already painted thirty portraits of the queen. Her contemporaries compare her to the old Dutch masters, calling her one of the greatest portrait painters of her time.

But outside on the streets, Paris is becoming more perilous with every day that passes. Madame Le Brun would be a fool to think the rumors of a revolution will pass, and aristocratic life will continue as before.

Amid the turmoil, she paints one final portrait of Marie Antoinette, knowing well her association with the queen could cause her to be arrested or executed. As chaos and riots in Paris turn to violence, Madame Le Brun flees with her young daughter, hoping her royal friend and the portrait will be safe.

This is Heidi Eljarbo’s third dual timeline novel about Norwegian art historian Fabiola Bennett—a captivating spin-off from her much-loved Soli Hansen Mysteries.

Buy Link

Universal Link:

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited

Meet the Author

HEIDI ELJARBO grew up in a home full of books, artwork, and happy creativity. She is the author of historical novels filled with courage, hope, mystery, adventure, and sweet romance during challenging times. She’s been named a master of dual timelines and often writes about strong-willed women of past centuries.

After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She lives with her husband on a charming island and enjoys walking their Wheaten Terrier in any kind of weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history.

Connect with the Author

Website: Newsletter: BookBub:

Follow The Paris Portrait blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club

I’m sharing an excerpt from Susan Buchanan’s A Little Christmas Spirit #romance #blogtour #newrelease

Bella and Amy, two of the teachers in the story, are trying to find a soloist for A Carol for Christmas, until now without success.

Bella’s heart lifted. The kids had been practising their little hearts out for A Carol for Christmas, where the children from Heatherwood and the five neighbouring primary schools took part in a sing-off to see which school choir would be crowned the area’s champion. They were singing so well, together, but she still didn’t have anyone to sing the solo. No one voice out of the whole choir, or at least those who had volunteered to do it, seemed able to cope with it.

Perhaps she and Amy should rethink the solo. ‘O Holy Night’ was, after all, widely known as a difficult carol to sing for a soloist, with the breadth of vocal range involved and those high notes to hit.

As she listened to the children’s sweet voices singing ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’, she tried to focus in on the sound of each child’s voice individually.

When the carol finished, she beckoned Amy over. ‘Have a drink, everyone. We’re going to need those voices again in a second.’

‘What’s up?’ Amy asked as she approached.

Bella pulled on her bottom lip as she thought. ‘How about we play a little game?’

‘What were you thinking?’

‘Well, we’re no closer to finding a soloist, and we only have two weeks until the finals, so I’m wondering if we can smoke out this soloist by having each child sing a line of a song, or a couple of lines, and see how they get on with it.’

Amy pursed her lips. ‘That might just work.’

‘Good. Can you think of a fun way to make this into a game for them?’

‘Give me five minutes,’ Amy said, walking backwards towards the stage again and holding her hands up in a double thumbs-up sign.

Once she’d got the children’s attention, Amy said, ‘Right, can everyone go and grab a chair and put it in the middle of the room? I need them back to back to form two rows.’

The children dashed to the left side of the room, lifting, dragging and screeching the chairs, which they and the children in the lower years had adorned with covers featuring snowmen, reindeer, snowflakes and Christmas trees as part of the school’s attempt to make it the most Christmassy year ever at Heatherwood.

Once everything was in place, Amy said, ‘Right, we’re going to play a game of musical chairs. If you’re out, I want you to sing the next two lines in the carol. Got it?’

Fifty nodding heads later, Bella was applauding her friend on her genius. As the opening chords of ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ rang out, Bella looked on whilst Amy instructed the children to walk round the chairs until the music stopped.

When it did, Eva Morrison was the first ‘unlucky’ child, but she took it with good grace and sang the next two lines in the carol exceptionally well. Amy restarted the process and the children giggled and chatted as time and again they had to find a seat once the music stopped.

Naturally, some jostling ensued and the occasional non-festive shove happened, but mainly the children got in the Christmas spirit and adapted.

After ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’, Amy played ‘Silent Night’ and Bella’s heart faltered as Niamh Fallon sang the lines. Her voice was achingly beautiful, and suited that carol perfectly. Having decided they would indeed change the carol to ‘Silent Night’ and have Niamh sing it, Bella tried to signal to Amy that they were good and didn’t need any more musical chairs, but Amy didn’t see her, and started another round, this time with ‘O Holy Night’.

As first Calum then Gregory didn’t manage to hit the notes, Bella’s frustration grew. We should just knock this on the head now and let Niamh sing ‘Silent Night’.

But then Lara didn’t get to a chair before Ed, and as she began to sing, a hush fell over everyone as her pure, strong, yet melodic voice floated through the games hall. Bella gulped, the hairs on her arms stood up, and she felt such a profound ache in her chest she thought she might start crying. In fact, she was crying. Oh my goodness, they’d found their soloist. Lara’s voice was incredible. How had she managed to keep that hidden, and why?

Here’s the blurb

Can a sprinkle of magic heal broken hearts this Christmas?

With Jacob now at the helm at the cosy Sugar and Spice café, it’s the perfect opportunity for Christmas Spirit Lara to weave her magic.

Fraser is floundering in his new role as headteacher as he grapples with guilt over having to place his beloved mother in a care home, leaving him feeling lost and alone during what should be a joyful time.

Meanwhile, school janitor Paul is torn between his desire to feel needed and the pressure from his wife to retire, dimming the season’s sparkle.

Valerie, overwhelmed by the demands of newborn twins, feels she’s not giving her other daughter enough attention. She needs a bit of me time and for her husband to realise the responsibility for the kids falls to both of them.

And Bella, heartbroken after her husband’s shocking request for a separation just a year into their marriage, longs to escape the memories of last year’s perfect Christmas.

Can Lara help them rediscover joy, connection, and the true spirit of the season?

A heartwarming journey filled with friendship, community, and a dash of holiday magic that promises to transform the lives of those in need of hope this Christmas.

Cover image for A Little Christmas Spirit y Susan Buchanan

Purchase Link

https://books2read.com/u/bMBNNv

Meet the author

Susan Buchanan writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction, usually featuring travel, food, family, friendship and community.

Her books are Sign of the Times, The Dating Game, The Christmas Spirit, Return of the Christmas Spirit and Just One Day – Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn.

As a freelance developmental editor, copyeditor and proofreader, if she’s not reading, editing or writing, she’s thinking about it.

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

She lives near Glasgow with her husband, two children and a crazy Labrador.

When she’s not editing, writing, reading or caring for her two delightful cherubs, she likes going to the theatre, playing board games, watching quiz shows and eating out, and she has recently discovered a love of writing retreats.

Connect with the author

Website

Giveaway to Win a Signed copy of The Christmas Spirit and bookmark (Open to UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494602/?

I’m delighted to be reviewing A Deadly Legacy by EV Hunter, the sixth book in her Hopgood Hall Murder Mystery Series #blogtour #cosycrime

Here’s the blurb

A tragic accident or an untimely death?

When Drew Hopgood’s brother, Frank dies whilst out climbing, it’s initially thought his death was simply a tragic accident. But when Frank’s much younger wife, Stella arrives at Hopgood Hall demanding half of Frank’s inheritance the Hopgoods and Alexi Ellis begin to suspect foul play…

Stella has no claim to Frank’s legacy, but she isn’t giving up easily. And with the reputation of Hopgood Hall still fragile, Alexi can’t afford to lose any more money because of Stella’s greed.

So Alexi, her partner Jack, and Cosmo of course, decide to dig deeper into Stella’s background. Just how did she meet Frank and were they really as in love as she claims?

As the trio investigate, they discover Stella has her own reasons for being back at Hopgood Hall. And rather than console the grieving widow, Alexi and Jack think they might need to look again at Frank’s tragic death – because rather than an accident this could have been a deadly fall – planned by his own wife!

A boutique hotel. A feral cat. A recipe for murder!

A gripping murder mystery, perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Frances Evesham and Emma Davies.

Cober image for A Deadly Legacy by EV Hunter

Purchase Link

https://mybook.to/adeadlylegacybook

My Review

A Deadly Legacy is the sixth book in the Hopgood Hall Murder Mystery series, and I have read all six.

This latest book is perhaps the most enjoyable to date. It abounds with subterfuge that only Alexi and Jack can untangle with the aid of Cosmo and the new addition to the menagerie, both of whom have starring roles, as is only correct for our feline friend and his buddy.

Stella is such a well-depicted character that I hated her within moments of her appearing on the page:) I’ve not had that sort of reaction since the despicable teacher in HP – Delores Umbridge. I had to put the book down for a while. But, when I picked it up again, I was engrossed in the unfolding story of treachery and deceit.

A great new addition to the contemporary mystery series. I’m always excited to discover what Alexi, Jack and Cosmo will become embroiled in next.

A Date to Die For

A Contest to Kill For

A Marriage to Murder For

I have read book 4, A Story to Strangle For, but I’ve failed to review on the blog.

A Deadly Affair

Cover image for A Deadly Legacy by EV Hunter

Meet the author

Evie Hunter has written a great many successful regency romances as Wendy Soliman and is now redirecting her talents to produce dark gritty thrillers for Boldwood. For the past twenty years she has lived the life of a nomad, roaming the world on interesting forms of transport, but has now settled back in the UK.