Blog Posts from MJ Porter, author and reviewer

Today, I’m delighted to welcome Becky Papworth and her new book #JanetJacksonSuperhost to the blog. #authorinterview #newrelease #blogtour

I’m always fascinated to discover the secrets of how authors write their stories. I asked Becky some questions about her writing routine. Read on to find out more.

Can you tell me about your writing process, please – do you have a set routine?

    Unfortunately not, I’m still balancing writing around work and family so it can a bit ad hoc…definitely prefer mornings if I can grab them though.

    Are you an earlier morning writer, or do you prefer writing late at night?

    See above – morning, that hazy phase where you can tune in to other worlds before the day’s obligations take hold.

    Do you have a writing drink/food of choice?

    Tea. Earl Grey. Strong, not a lot of milk.

    Do you write with a pen or on a laptop/desktop?

    Laptop. Though I will do desktop too if I’m not in bed.

    Where do you get your inspiration from?

    With Janet, it’s being a bit of a magpie, certain real life incidents that stick with me because they’re unusual or funny or tough, that I think others might relate too. Other bits are pure imagination once you get writing it’s surprising what arrives.

    Do you find the humour comes easily or is it more difficult? (I always worry that I have a very strange sense of humour)

    Humour is definitely subjective, however I’ve worked in comedy on Tv for a long time and you do learn to recognise jokes and ways of constructing stories that leads toward punchlines or reveals I suppose. I’m surprised by what people find funny sometimes, it’s all good, as long as people are enjoying it. 

    Do you have any advice for people wanting to write humour?

    Can you make the people around you laugh? That’s an indication that you can construct stories, one liners etc that will give you confidence about what works and watch great comedy – learn from the masters – how are they doing it?

    Perhaps most importantly, are you a pantser, a plotter or in between?

    I have loose direction and have scenarios/ notes that loosely plot out 3 chapters ahead – lots of room manoeuvre once the characters get chatting.

    What are you working on next?

    Something darker, set in Yorkshire with a fantastical element.

    Thank you so much for answering my questions. Good luck with the new book.

    Here’s the blurb

    Lavender Cottage, Yorkshire’s finest B&B, is owner Janet Jackson’s pride and joy. Now, after a year of running it and coming out alive, she’s set her heart on becoming a Superhost. For that Janet will need a bloomin great tsunami of 5 star reviews- despite the many obstacles that stand in her way.

    Number one, of course, is the guests themselves. Their strange requests, habits and lasting damage to her garden, the cottage and her sanity, are a non- stop challenge.

    Add in the piles of laundry, sleepless nights, scary spreadsheets, sneaky neighbours, and sex with no strings . . . and her goal seems far away. 

    Yet despite an endless run of dramas, and thanks to her passion for hospitality and home baking, Janet may find she is just a Lemon Drizzle cake or two away from a 5-star life.

    Purchase Link

     https://www.amazon.co.uk/Janet-Jackson-Superhost-gorgeous-reinvent-ebook/dp/B0CW1FS2W1/

    https://www.amazon.com/Janet-Jackson-Superhost-gorgeous-reinvent-ebook/dp/B0CW1FS2W1/

    Meet the author

    Becky Papworth has been writing since she was seven, when she won a prize for her Mother’s day poem from Bradford’s Telegraph & Argus. With further writing credits on CBBC and BBC Radio. Her play ‘Miscreant Mothers’ for BBC Radio 3 was nominated for the prestigious Tinniswood award. She has an MA with distinction in Scriptwriting from Salford University. Her career as a TV Exec has kept her busy over the last few years, working on shows like; ‘Citizen Khan’, ‘Rab C Nesbitt’, ‘Gavin & Stacey’, ‘The Royle Family’ and ‘I love the 80’s’.

    Rebecca was the first woman to produce ‘Have I Got News For You’ and is responsible for ‘Steph’s Packed Lunch’, Channel 4’s landmark daytime series.

    In her spare time Rebecca kills houseplants and attempts to control two teenage daughters.

    Connect with Becky

    www.beckypapworth.com

    https://twitter.com/beckypapworth1

    I’m delighted to welcome V P Felmlee and her new book, Autumn and The Silver Moon Stallion, to the blog #YoungAdultFiction #NewAdultFiction #Mustangs #WildHorses #AbandonedAnimals #TheCoffeePotBookClub #BlogTour

    I’m delighted to welcome V P Felmlee and her new book, Autumn and The Silver Moon Stallion, book 3 in The Abandoned Trilogy, to the blog with an excerpt.

    Excerpt

    As one, Becky, Autumn, and Silver Moon looked up just in time to see a tower of water coming over the top of the canyon, right towards them.

    Autumn turned to run.

    Becky turned to run.

    Silver Moon was still coming down the trail, watched as waves hit the ground, then rose up like a living thing several feet in the air before crashing down first on Autumn then on the girl.

    More water was coming from above, splashing and crashing, ramming its way from canyon wall to canyon wall, shoving anything in its way forward, relentless and unstoppable.

    Without thinking, Silver Moon jumped in.

    Becky looked back, trying to see Autumn, swallowing ice-cold water in the process. She spat it out, then saw the palomino struggling to get her footing. The water was too deep, and was forcing them along at an incomprehensible speed.

    Becky grasped a large boulder. She couldn’t hold on to it. Her body banged against an outcrop, driving the air from her lungs.

    I have to watch where I’m going, she thought, don’t look back, look forward.

    The filly was trying hard to get to Becky, who was just ahead of her. The water pushed her against the canyon walls, forcing her to one side, then another. Instinct took over, her legs began to move. I have to keep my head up.

    She was now whale-eyed, growing more terrified with each second. She couldn’t avoid the boulders and slammed into them time and again.

    She began to panic.

    Silver Moon was strong and big but he was almost no match for the churning maelstrom the canyon had become.

    Just ahead, he saw Autumn losing the fight to keep her head up. He saw her disappear, briefly emerge, then disappear.

    Here’s the Blurb

    An abused, neglected filly is abandoned on a remote country road, left to die.

    A young woman grieves the loss of her best friend, the champion horse she had built

    her life and future around.

    The heir to one of the largest ranches in Wyoming comes home to face the ire and

    disappointment of his grandfather.

    A world-renown scientist clashes with the U.S.government over a brutal,

    decades-long war to decide the fate of thousands of

    mustangs, a beloved icon of  the American West.

    Autumn and The Silver Moon Stallion is their story of love, hatred, and death.

    Will their struggles give them hope to fight for their beliefs, or tear them forever apart?

    Buy Link

    Universal Link:

    This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited

    Meet the Author

    V P Felmlee is the author of The Abandoned Trilogy: Price Tadpole & Princess Clara; Good Boy Ben; and the third book in the series, Autumn and the Silver Moon Stallion. A former newspaper reporter and editor, she has a degree in geology, and has been active in historic preservation and animal welfare issues. Her articles have appeared in several magazines and she has won numerous awards.

    She will be the 2025 president of Women Writing the West and lives in Grand Junction, Colorado, with her husband, two dogs, and six cats.

    Connect with the Author

    Website:

    Follow The Autumn and Silver Moon Stallion blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club

    I’m delighted to welcome Ann Bennett and her new book, A Rose In The Blitz, to the blog #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalRomance #WorldWarII #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

    I’m delighted to welcome Ann Bennett and her new book, A Rose In The Blitz of the Sisters of War series, to the blog.

    Here’s the blurb

    Escape into the dramatic world of London during the Blitz in this sweeping family saga of love, war and betrayal.

    Northamptonshire: 1980: Wealthy landowner, Hadan Rose, is dying. His daughter, May, rushes to his country estate, Rose Park, with her daughter, Rachel, to nurse him through his final days.

    In the afternoons, while Hadan sleeps, May tells Rachel about her wartime experiences.

    In 1940, Three of the four Rose sisters leave Rose Park to serve the war effort. May, the youngest is left behind. But she soon runs away from home to join an ambulance crew in London. She experiences the horrors of the Blitz first-hand but what happens to her there has remained secret her whole life.

    In 1980, at Rose Park, Rachel wanders through the old house, looking at old photographs and papers, uncovering explosive family secrets from ninety years before. Secrets that her grandfather wanted to take to his grave. At the local pub, Rachel meets Daniel Walters, a local journalist and musician who takes an interest in her. But can she trust him, or does he have an ulterior motive for seeking her company?

    As the secrets of the past gradually reveal themselves, both Rachel and May realise that their worlds are forever changed.

    Fans of Lucinda Riley, Dinah Jeffries and Victoria Hislop will love this escapist wartime saga, Book 1 in the Rose Park Chronicles.

    Buy Link

    Universal Link:

    This title is available to read on #KinldeUnlimited

    Meet the Author

    Ann Bennett is a British author of historical fiction. Her first book, Bamboo Heart: A Daughter’s Quest, was inspired by researching her father’s experience as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway and by her own travels in South-East Asia. Since then, that initial inspiration has led her to write more books about the second world war in SE Asia. Bamboo Island: The Planter’s Wife, A Daughter’s Promise, Bamboo Road: The Homecoming, The Tea Planter’s Club, The Amulet and her latest release The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu are also about WWII in South East Asia. All seven make up the Echoes of Empire Collection.

    Ann is also the author of The Lake Pavilion, The Lake Palace, both set in British India during the 1930s and WWII, and The Lake Pagoda and The Lake Villa, both set in French Indochina. The Runaway Sisters, bestselling The Orphan House, The Child Without a Home and The Forgotten Children are set in Europe during the same era and are published by Bookouture.

    Ann is married with three grown up sons and a granddaughter and lives in Surrey, UK. For more details please visit www.annbennettauthor.com.

    Connect with the Author

    Website: BookBub:

    Follow A Rose In The Blitz blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club

    Today, I’m reviewing Maggie In The Middle by Debbie Viggiano #blogtour #newrelease #bookreview

    Here’s the blurb

    WHEN LIFE FEELS LIKE…
    A TEST YOU DIDN’T STUDY FOR

    When Maggie King turned sixty, she thought her life complete.

    Now she’s sixty-one, and everything has gone horribly wrong.

    Husband Greg has abruptly upped and left leaving Maggie bewildered. But there’s no time to question his departure because her ancient parents are all-consuming.

    Once fondly referred to as the Golden Oldies, they’re now the BOBs – Bad-Tempered Old Buggers.

    Sister Freya is never available to help, and Maggie is rapidly reaching the end of her tether.

    She wants her life – and husband – back.

    Instead, she’s trapped in what has been coined the Sandwich Generation – supporting both children and parents – except this particular sarnie is in danger of falling apart.

    Maggie needs to learn that when life is like a club sandwich, it needs the best ingredients – and that includes lashings of love and some knee-trembling romance!

    Purchase Links

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maggie-Middle-poignant-moving-romantic-ebook/dp/B0CXQ4WQK4

    https://www.amazon.com/Maggie-Middle-poignant-moving-romantic-ebook/dp/B0CXQ4WQK4

    My Review

    Wow. What a simply charming and delightful tale, not without some harrowing scenes. I’ve read a few of these sorts of novels recently, and this one is by far my favourite to date. Told with genuine warmth, just the right touch of ‘reality’ and real laugh-out-loud moments, I loved Maggie in the Middle.

    Our main character, Maggie, is at an unexpected crossroads. No matter what she does, she can’t seem to win the help of her sister or even the respect of her ageing parents. Her adult children are much more understanding. What Maggie needs is a companion of the four-legged variety, and what comes with it is very unexpected.

    I don’t want to spoil this delightful story. Instead, I will say that this takes quite a brutal look at the problems of caring for ageing parents, one with dementia and one who is also starting to struggle, leaving Maggie feeling helpless and worried. It very much addresses the guilt of caring for parents and not being able to do more for them, mostly because they won’t accept that assistance. As the author says, she’s embroiled in such a situation and the scenes feel vivid and real – there is, alas, no magic solution. However, interspersed with these difficult scenes are much warmer ones, offering readers hope that not all is as hopeless as we might think.

    This is such a genuinely uplifting story. It doesn’t shy away from the realities it describes, but it will still fill you with hope and joy, and the humour will make you giggle out loud. Go and read it.

    Meet the author

    Prior to turning her attention to writing, Debbie Viggiano was, for more years than she cares to remember, a legal secretary. She lives with her Italian husband, a rescued pooch from Crete, and a very disgruntled cat. Occasionally her adult children return home bringing her much joy… apart from when they want to raid the fridge or eat her secret stash of chocolate. Tweet @DebbieViggiano or follow her on Facebook!

    Connect with Debbie

    TWITTER:   @DebbieViggiano

    FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/debbie.viggiano.5/

    INSTAGRAM: debbieviggiano

    Posts

    Today, it’s time for something a little different, I’m reviewing The French Cookery School by Caroline James #fiction #newrelease #blogtour

    Here’s the blurb

    Mix together a group of mature students:

    A culinary Sloane, a take-away cook and a food journalist.

    Add in:

    A handsome host

    Season with:

    A celebrity chef

    Bring to the boil:

    At a luxurious cookery school in France!

    Waltho Williams has no idea what he’s letting himself in for when he opens the doors of La Maison du Paradis, his beautiful French home. But with dwindling funds, a cookery school seems like the ideal business plan. 

    Running away from an impending divorce, super-snob Caroline Carrington hopes a luxurious cookery holiday will put her back on her feet. Blackpool fish and chip café owner Fran Cartwright thinks she’s won the lottery when her husband Sid books her on a week working alongside a celebrity chef. Meanwhile, feeling she is fading at fifty, journalist Sally Parker-Brown hopes her press week covering the cookery course will enable her to boost her career.

    But will the eclectic group be a recipe for success, or will the mismatched relationships sink like a souffle? 

    Whip out an apron, grab a wooden spoon and take a culinary trip to La Maison du Paradis, then sit back and enjoy The French Cookery School!

    Purchase Link   

    https://mybook.to/TFCS

    My Review

    The French Cookery School is a life-affirming story of second chances for our cast of 50+ characters set in the heat of Franch in the mid-summer, as well as the heat of the kitchen. Our main characters, and there are really four of them (Fran, Sally, Caroline and Waltho), all have their own struggles to overcome or ambitions to achieve, which sets the scene for a story of facing grief and loss and moving beyond the comfort of how lives have been led for so many years.

    It is an engaging, quick read that is sure to appeal to fans of cookery, France, and second-chance stories who are looking for a more ‘serious’ take on the genre.

    Meet the author

    Caroline James always wanted to write, but instead of taking a literary route, followed a career in the hospitality industry, which included owning a pub and a beautiful country house hotel. She was also a media agent representing celebrity chefs. When she finally glued her rear to a chair and began to write, the words flowed, and several novels later, she has gained many bestseller badges for her books.

    The French Cookery School is Caroline’s tenth novel. Previously, The Cruise, described as: ‘Girl power for the over sixties!’ was an Amazon Top Ten Best Seller. Caroline’s hilarious novels include The Spa Break and The Best Boomerville Hotel, depicted as ‘Britain’s answer to the Best Marigold Hotel’.

    She likes to write in Venus, her holiday home on wheels and in her spare time, walks with Fred, her Westie, or swims in a local lake. Caroline is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association, the SOA, ARRA and the Society of Women’s Writers & Journalists. She is also a speaker with many amusing talks heard by a variety of audiences, including cruise ship guests.

    Books by Caroline James:

    The French Cookery School

    The Cruise

    The Spa Break

    Hattie Goes to Hollywood

    Boomerville at Ballymegille

    The Best Boomerville Hotel

    Coffee Tea the Gypsy & Me

    Coffee Tea the Chef & Me

    Coffee Tea the Caribbean & Me

    Jungle Rock

    Connect with the author

    www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk

    Twitter: @CarolineJames12

    Facebook: Caroline James Author

    Insta: Caroline James Author

    I’m delighted to welcome back David Fitz-Gerald and his new book, Snarling Wolf, to the blog #WesternAdventure #AmericanWest #WildWest #HistoricalWestern #NewRelease #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

    I’m delighted to welcome back David Fitz-Gerald and his new book, Snarling Wolf, book 4 in the Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail series, to the blog with a series trailer.

    Series Trailer

    Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail series trailer

    Here’s the blurb

    Dive back into the gripping, frontier chaos. Snarling Wolf is the fourth adventurous installment in the Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail series.

    The famed Snake River marks the point the wagon master claims that all the greenhorns turn loco. After twelve hundred grueling miles and four relentless months on the trail, the expedition teeters on the brink. Frayed nerves, exhausted patience, and the specter of doom cast a dark cloud over the travelers.

    At every turn, new dangers emerge. A young man who is like a brother to Dorcas Moon is ravaged in a mountain lion attack. A heat wave grips the dusty, barren plains and spreads sickness. The wolves that lurk in the shadows edge closer. Even the rattlesnakes seem emboldened.

    Dorcas’ daughter, Rose’s descent into madness can no longer be ignored. What began as an eerie preoccupation with death takes a shocking turn when Rose reveals her truths. Dorcas is thrust into a realm of disbelief, and her worst fears about Rose’s mysterious suitor become a stark reality.

    As weary emigrants yearn for respite, tales of murderous outlaws spread like wildfire across the prairie. Passing strangers share the latest terrifying news. It’s only a matter of when, not if, the notorious highwaymen will strike. Which bend of the mighty snake shelters the feared outlaws?

    Grab your copy of Snarling Wolf now and unveil the next chapter in Dorcas Moon’s relentless saga. Sink your teeth into this tale of survival, madness, and the unyielding spirit of those who brave the treacherous migration.

    Buy Link

    Universal Link:

    This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited

    Meet the Author

    David Fitz-Gerald writes westerns and historical fiction. He is the author of twelve books, including the brand-new series, Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail set in 1850. Dave is a multiple Laramie Award, first place, best in category winner; a Blue Ribbon Chanticleerian; a member of Western Writers of America; and a member of the Historical Novel Society.

    Alpine landscapes and flashy horses always catch Dave’s eye and turn his head. He is also an Adirondack 46-er, which means that he has hiked to the summit of the range’s highest peaks. As a mountaineer, he’s happiest at an elevation of over four thousand feet above sea level.

    Dave is a lifelong fan of western fiction, landscapes, movies, and music. It should be no surprise that Dave delights in placing memorable characters on treacherous trails, mountain tops, and on the backs of wild horses.

    Connect with the Author

    Website: BookBub: Linktree:

    Follow the Snarling Wolf blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club

    #TheLastKing is 4 years old.

    If you’ve been with Coelwulf, Rudolf, Icel, Edmund and Pybba since the beginning, then you’re probably with me in trying to work out how 4 years have gone by since the release of the first book. There are now eight (well really nine and a half, as book 9 is written but not yet released, and book 10 is well underway) books in all, as well as a short story collection, Coelwulf’s Company.

    If you’ve not yet discovered The Mercian Kingdom: The Ninth Century series, then you’ve in for a treat, as long as you’re not easily offended by foul language and violence – although if you are, there are Cleaner versions available without quite so much swearing. Follow this link, as they can be a bit tricky to find on Amazon.

    Don’t forget to check out the short story collection, Coelwulf’s Company.

    If you follow the link, here (to Bookfunnel) you can also download a copy of The New Recruit, a short story I wrote while working on The Last Seven.

    The Last King books are available in ebook, paperback and hardback, and The Last King (book 1 ) is also available in audio.

    The Last Viking (the most recent release) is currently 99p/99c on Amazon UK/Canada/Australia and reduced in all territories for a limited time only.

    The Last King is also available to read with Prime Reading on Amazon UK.

    Check out all the details for The Mercian Kingdom: The Ninth Century.

    Today, I’m spotlighting the new release, The Family Home by Lorraine Mace #blogtour #thriller

    Here’s the blurb

    IS BLOOD ALWAYS THICKER THAN WATER?

    Sally has lived in fear of her husband long enough. But after twenty years of suffering, she has been left with nothing of her own and no one to turn to – except her estranged sister, Alison.

    When Alison agrees to help Sally escape, she knows she must return to the one place she was told never to show her face again – the family home – and confront her father once more.

    But soon, Sally begins to suspect that all is not as it seems, and as she is forced to face the ghosts of the past, she discovers there may be secrets hidden in her own memory that are best left buried . . .

    A twisting and compulsive page-turner, with a shocking twist. If you love Keri Beevis, L H Stacey and K. L. Slater, you’ll love The Family Home.

    Purchase Links

    UK Paperback 

    UK Ebook: 

    US Ebook 

    US Paperback

    Meet the author

    Born and raised in South East London, Lorraine lived and worked in South Africa, on the Island of Gozo and in France before settling on the Costa del Sol in Spain. She lives with her partner in a traditional Spanish village inland from the coast and enjoys sampling the regional dishes and ever-changing tapas in the local bars. Her knowledge of Spanish is expanding. To stop her waistline from doing the same, she runs five times a week.

    Lorraine is the author of the D.I. Sterling series and two psychological thrillers, The Guest and The Family Home.

    Connect with the author

    Website: www.lorrainemace.com

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/lomace

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

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

    Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1336955.Lorraine_Mace

    It’s publication day for The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlov by Eleni Kiriacou #blogtour #NewRelease #histfic

    Here’s the blurb

    THEY HAVE TOLD SO MANY LIES ABOUT ME.

    London, 1954. Zina Pavlou, a Cypriot grandmother, waits quietly in the custody of the Metropolitan police. She can’t speak their language, but she understands what their wary looks mean: she has been accused of the brutal murder of her daughter-in-law.

    Eva Georgiou, Greek interpreter for the Met, knows how it feels to be voiceless as an immigrant woman. While she works as Zina’s translator, her obsession with the case deepens, and so too does her bond with the accused murderer.

    Zina can’t speak for herself. She can’t clear her own name. All she can do is wait for the world to decide…

    IS SHE A VICTIM? OR IS SHE A KILLER?

    A compelling historical crime novel set in the Greek diaspora of 1950s London – that’s inspired by a true story – The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou is perfect for fans of Erin Kelly, Sara Collins, and Jessie Burton.

    Purchase Link

     https://geni.us/TUAOZPRRR

    Meet the author


    Eleni Kyriacou     is an award-winning editor and journalist. Her writing has appeared in the Guardian, the Observer, Grazia, and Red, among others. She’s the daughter of Greek Cypriot immigrant parents, and her debut novel, She Came To Stay, was published in 2020. Her latest novel, The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou, is inspired by the true-crime story of the penultimate woman to be executed in Britain. Follow her on and http://www.elenikwriter.com.

    Connect with the author

    Twitter: @EleniKWriter

    Facebook: Elenikwriter

    Website: www.elenikwriter.com

    Aries/Head of Zeus Social Handles

    Twitter: @AriesFiction

    Facebook: Aries Fiction

    Instagram: @headofzeus

    TikTok: @headofzeus

    Website: http://www.headofzeus.com

    I’m delighted to welcome Stella Riley and her new book, A Splendid Defiance, to the blog #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalRomance #EnglishCivilWar #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

    I’m delighted to welcome Stella Riley and her new book, A Splendid Defiance, a Roundheads & Cavaliers book, to the blog with an excerpt from Chapter 2: Bargaining with the enemy.

    Chapter 2: Bargaining with the enemy

    Jonas did not know if he was irritated or relieved to hear that Captain Ambrose awaited him in the shop.  He loathed the garrison but a review of the last quarter’s figures had revealed a far from satisfactory state of affairs which meant he needed the Captain’s business.  This, however, did not make him any less uncivil than usual and he said, ‘I begin to find your persistence annoying.’

    ‘I’m sure,’ agreed Justin.  ‘But the remedy is in your own hands.  And you won’t be the first to sacrifice your principles in exchange for hard cash.’

    Jonas’s gaze sharpened.

    ‘Is that how you would pay?  No promissory notes?’

    ‘No.  We have the money.  What we don’t have is endless time to discuss the matter.  If the men are to have decent coats this winter, we need the cloth – and sooner rather than later. If you won’t supply it, I’ll apply to Oxford.  Your choice … but if you can’t make it, then I must.  Well?’

    Jonas stared at the worldly elegance before him and longed for the satisfaction of refusing.  Bitter rage burned in his breast and his frustration channelled itself into hatred for the man in front of him.

    ‘Very well.  Broadcloth or worsted?’

    The Captain expressed a preference for broadcloth.  Jonas named his price and the Captain laughed.

    ‘Oh no, Mr. Radford.  I realise that the damage done to your finer feelings will require compensation – but I’m not willing to be robbed.  Try again.’

    ‘Robbed?’ echoed Jonas.  ‘Do you think I can’t guess where you get the ‘hard cash’ you boast of?’

    ‘On the contrary, I’m very sure that you can.  But I am equally sure that you will find our transaction less painful if you avoid thinking of it.’

    Jonas’s answer was a diatribe against Cavalier lawlessness and vice.  Captain Ambrose waited until he paused for breath and then said, ‘This is war, Mr. Radford.  The  Parliament attacks our convoys and we theirs.  It is unfortunate but necessary.  I doubt any of us takes any pleasure in it.’

    ‘Pleasure is all your kind ever think about!’ spat Jonas.  ‘But God sees all and is not deceived.  And you might remember that, if war makes thieves –’

    ‘Peace hangs them.  Quite.’  Bored grey eyes met smouldering black ones. ‘But I’m not here to justify either myself or my cause – and I don’t have all day to waste while you preach. Fifteen shillings the yard and not a farthing more.’

    Here’s the blurb

    For two years England has been in the grip of Civil War.  In Banbury, Oxfordshire, the Cavaliers hold the Castle, the Roundheads want it back and the town is full of zealous Puritans.

    Consequently, the gulf between Captain Justin Ambrose and Abigail Radford, the sister of a fanatically religious shopkeeper, ought to be unbridgeable.

    The key to both the fate of the Castle and that of Justin and Abigail lies in defiance.  But will it be enough?

    A Splendid Defiance is a dramatic and enchanting story of forbidden love, set against the turmoil and anguish of the English Civil War.

    Buy Link

    Universal Link:

    Special Tour Price: Ebook £1.95/ US $1.95 (and equivalent) for the duration of the tour

    Meet the Author

    Winner of four gold medals for historical romance and sixteen Book Readers’ Appreciation Medallions, Stella Riley lives in the beautiful medieval town of Sandwich in Kent.

    She is fascinated by the English Civil Wars and has written six books set in that period. These, like the 7 book Rockliffe series, the Brandon Brothers trilogy and, most recently The Shadow Earl, are all available in audio, performed by Alex Wyndham.

    Stella enjoys travel, reading, theatre, Baroque music and playing the harpsichord.  She also has a fondness for men with long hair – hence her 17th and 18th century heroes.

    Connect with the Author

    Website: BookBub:

    Follow the A Splendid Defiance blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Cub

    MJ Porter

    Author of Saxon historical fiction, 20th-century historical mysteries, and Saxon historical non-fiction. Book reviewer and blog host.

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