Category: book review

And read about warfare in the Saxon period on

https://gwendalynbooks.wordpress.com/2023/03/28/pagan-warrior/

For March 28th, check out a fabulous review on

A guest post about Mercia in the later eighth century on the Historical Fiction Blog.

https://historicalfictionblog.com/pagan-warrior-guest-post/

And, the post that perhaps gave me the most fear to begin will but which was fun when I remembered all the little details, five fun facts about writing the trilogy.

For March 21st check out a post about two of the royal residences of Bernicia at the time, Bamburgh and Ad Gefrin (Yeavering). (There are lots of photos, thank you to Helen Hollick for uploading them all).

And a review from

From March 14th, check out my author interview over on Archaeolibrarian.

I’m sharing an excerpt over on The Historical Fiction Company.

I’ve written a piece about the historical background on Pam Lecky’s official blog.

https://kingsumo.com/g/h1kxu9/prize-for-cozy-mysteries-blog-tour

Today, I’m delighted to be reviewing The Wonderland Murders by Millie Ravensworth #BlogTour #CozyCrime

Here’s the blurb

A quirky and funny series for fans of a good mystery and compelling characters. Can you solve the crime before our dressmaking duo?

After losing her job at an exclusive London hotel, Penny Slipper is only too happy to help when her grandma asks her to take charge at the Cozy Craft sewing shop in charming rural Suffolk.

With cousin Izzy on hand as the expert dressmaker and Penny’s head for business, what can possibly go wrong?

But Penny’s in town for less than a day when the local librarian is poisoned and Penny fears she might even be accidentally responsible. Penny and Izzy are forced to turn detectives to uncover the true cause of death, while finishing a costume commission for their first customer.

Matters take a further deadly turn when a second body is discovered.

Can Penny and Izzy unpick the mysteries of the past and sew the pieces of this puzzle together before it’s too late?

If you enjoy fast-paced mysteries, charming country towns and characters who you want to spend hours with then you’re going to love the Cozy Craft Mystery series.

Start your next murder mystery adventure today!

Purchase Links

Amazon UK Amazon US

Review

The Wonderland Murders is a delightful and very well-plotted contemporary cozy mystery set in Framingham, the UK.

Penny and Izzy are cousins thrown together by the illness of their mutual grandmother, who normally runs a crafting shop. Izzy is somewhat scatty and filled with new ideas. Penny is more down to earth and determined to make a profit from the shop. But no sooner has Penny arrived than a murder takes place in the local library. While they’re not obsessive about who is responsible, they do begin to consider who might have been to blame as they work on an Alice in Wonderland costume for the upcoming World books day for one of the librarians.

What ensues is so well-plotted and delightful that I genuinely didn’t guess the ending. These stories have a lovely lightness of touch, genuine warmth and humour throughout, and Izzy and Penny really complement each other as main characters.

I loved this first book so much that I’m busy devouring the rest of the series, and the series is consistently as enjoyable and delightful. I’m so glad I took a chance on The Wonderland Murders, and if you love a cozy crime, you won’t be disappointed, either.

Giveaway Prize – The Wonderland Murders, a cross stitch book, a floral notepad, a note writing set and a grass bunny.

Meet the Author

Millie Ravensworth writes the Cozy Craft Mystery series of books. Her love of murder mysteries and passion for dressmaking made her want to write books full of quirky characters and unbelievable murders. Millie lives in central England where children and pets are something of a distraction from the serious business of writing, although dog walking is always a good time to plot the next book.

Connect with Millie

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Pagan Warrior is on blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club #blogtour – check out the posts for day 6

I’m really excited to share the details of the Pagan Warrior blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club.

You can follow the blog tour, and I’ll be sharing posts here as well. A quick shout out to thank all the blog hosts and Cathie at The Coffee Pot Book Club for organising.

For April 18th, I answered Paul Walker’s questions on his blog

Paul Walker’s Official Blog

There’s an except over on Wendy J Dunn’s Official Blog featuring King Edwin

Wendy J Dunn’s Official Blog

And a fabulous review on Ruins and Readings

Ruins and Readings

For April 11th, read a guest post about how we know, what we know, about the seventh century.

Deborah Swift’s Official Blog

And a fabulous author interview over on

The Writing Desk

For April 4th, read an excerpt on

And read about warfare in the Saxon period on

https://gwendalynbooks.wordpress.com/2023/03/28/pagan-warrior/

For March 28th, check out a fabulous review on

A guest post about Mercia in the later eighth century on the Historical Fiction Blog.

https://historicalfictionblog.com/pagan-warrior-guest-post/

And, the post that perhaps gave me the most fear to begin will but which was fun when I remembered all the little details, five fun facts about writing the trilogy.

And a review from

From March 14th, check out my author interview over on Archaeolibrarian.

I’m sharing an excerpt over on The Historical Fiction Company.

I’ve written a piece about the historical background on Pam Lecky’s official blog.

https://www.facebook.com/MelissaAddeyAuthor

Today, I’m welcoming Melissa Addey and her novel, From the Ashes to the blog #blogtour

Here’s the blurb

They called it the Flavian Amphitheatre. We call it the Colosseum. Let the Games begin.

Rome, 80AD. A gigantic new amphitheatre is being built. The Emperor has plans for gladiatorial Games on a scale no-one has ever seen before. But the Games don’t just happen by themselves. They must be made. And Marcus, the man in charge of creating them, has just lost everything he held dear when Pompeii disappeared under the searing wrath of Vesuvius.

Now it will fall to Althea, the slave woman who serves as his scribe, to ensure the Colosseum is inaugurated on time – and that Marcus makes his way out of the darkness that calls to him.

Can a motley crew comprising a retired centurion, slaves, a prostitute and an ex Vestal Virgin pull off the greatest gladiatorial Games ever seen? Or will they fail and find themselves in the arena as punishment? Time is running out to deliver an unforgettable spectacle.

From the Ashes is the first, fast-paced novel in the gripping new Colosseum series. Follow the quick-witted and fiercely loyal backstage team of the Colosseum through the devastation of Pompeii, plague and fire. This is historical fiction at its most captivating: both action-packed and tender.

Take a front row seat at the Colosseum’s inaugural gladiatorial Games. Buy From the Ashes today.

Trailer Link – https://youtu.be/CbM54gjiT20

Purchase Link

Amazon UK Amazon US

My Review

From the Ashes is a captivating tale of Rome in the aftermath of the eruption of Vesuvius. Titan is Emperor (incidentally, I’ve not long read Simon Turney’s take on Domitian, and I felt as though I knew the time period well), and the Flavian Amphitheatre is to be opened in honour of his father. As such, he is invested in its success.

From the Ashes, told through the eyes of Althea, a Greek slave woman, is a well-told and thrilling story of the Colosseum by those who ensure the spectacle is arranged and carried out as expected for the people attending the games, including the Emperor and despite the year of the three disasters, the eruption of Vesuvius, a plague and a fire that threatens Rome itself.

Althea is a fabulous main character. Her viewpoint, as a slave woman who became a freewoman, who once lived in Pompei and yet has knowledge of Rome, ensures that while the reader might be a stranger to the era, she certainly is not. The telling of the tale is thrilling.

Her story, and that of Marcus and the rest of the group of men and women labouring to ensure the opening of the Flavian Amphitheatre goes without a hitch, is human and real – Marcus, grieving, Althea, out of her depths and the rest of their collection of allies, ensure we know all about the people behind the scenes. Some scenes are distressing, and I appreciated that the author made no apology for them and still included them. As sophisticated as elements of the Roman way of life sound, some elements chime against today’s sensibilities.

I thoroughly enjoyed From the Ashes. It is a well-told story of the ‘plebs’ of Rome, and it is a triumph.

Meet the author

Melissa Addey writes historical fiction set in Ancient Rome, medieval Morocco and 18th century China. She is a full time self-published author and runs workshops for authors wanting to be entrepreneurial. Her books have been selected for Editor’s Choice by the Historical Novel Society and won the inaugural Novel London award. She has been the Leverhulme Trust Writer in Residence at the British Library, has a PhD in Creative Writing and works with the Alliance of Independent Authors on their campaigns.

If you’d like to try her writing, visit http://www.melissaaddey.com to pick up a free novella, The Cup.

Connect with Melissa Addey

www.melissaaddey.com where readers can get a free novella that starts another series (medieval Morocco).

https://twitter.com/MelissaAddey

Purchase link (universal) http://getbook.at/Colosseum

Pagan Warrior is on blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club #blogtour – check out the posts for day 5

I’m really excited to share the details of the Pagan Warrior blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club.

You can follow the blog tour, and I’ll be sharing posts here as well. A quick shout out to thank all the blog hosts and Cathie at The Coffee Pot Book Club for organising.

For April 11th, read a guest post about how we know, what we know, about the seventh century.

Deborah Swift’s Official Blog

And a fabulous author interview over on

The Writing Desk

For April 4th, read an excerpt on

And read about warfare in the Saxon period on

https://gwendalynbooks.wordpress.com/2023/03/28/pagan-warrior/

For March 28th, check out a fabulous review on

A guest post about Mercia in the later eighth century on the Historical Fiction Blog.

https://historicalfictionblog.com/pagan-warrior-guest-post/

And, the post that perhaps gave me the most fear to begin will but which was fun when I remembered all the little details, five fun facts about writing the trilogy.

And a review from

From March 14th, check out my author interview over on Archaeolibrarian.

I’m sharing an excerpt over on The Historical Fiction Company.

I’ve written a piece about the historical background on Pam Lecky’s official blog.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09TRT7NXL

Today, I’m featuring For My Sins by S C Cunningham on the blog #blogtour #thriller

Here’s the blurb

An addictive mix of ‘Lock Stock’, ‘RocknRolla’, ‘Killing Eve’, and ‘Line of Duty’.

Knowing his days are numbered, a seasoned criminal finds his life calling, to expose and cull the sordid underbelly of the world’s elite. Delicious, charming, cunning, avenging, David Howard escapes prison and agrees to an MI6 deal, to close down a high-profile trafficking ring in exchange for his freedom – setting a thief to catch a thief.

With a target on his back, he’s helped by a rogue police unit, working behind the scenes to right cases that fall through the courts’ fingers. In an unlikely coupling, they share a goal… and will risk everything to attain it.

A page-turning, cheeky, thought-provoking, at times laugh-out-loud, contemporary psycho-thriller, that comes with a warning.

CAUTION
Adult language, sex, violence, triggers.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09TRT7NXL

My Review

For My Sins is book 3 in the David Trilogy, and no, I’ve not read books 1 and 2, but it was not really a hindrance, other than I think I’ve probably missed a huge number of antics, which if not enjoyable, as the subject matter is quite distressing, would have been thrilling.

The opening scene of For My Sins plunges the reader into the world of David, and what a sick and twisted world it is. David has been badly used in his life, and he is determined on revenge.

There is a fine dose of humour running through this story, despite the subject matter, and very coarse language, which is only to be expected in a book of this nature. I soon found myself entirely enthralled as the tale unfolds.

This is a fine psycho-thriller, certainly not my usual read, but fabulously engaging. I too am a huge Guy Ritchie fan, and yes, his movie The Gentleman did inspire my ‘take’ on Coelwulf and so, I felt right at home with For My Sins for all it is not my usual read. I would warn that there is a lot of violence, foul language and references to child sexual abuse. It is a finely poised line, but one I feel the author walks well.

I will certainly be checking out more of S C Cunningham’s books.

Meet the Author

Having worked in the worlds of sport, music, celebrity management, and law enforcement (CID Crime Investigator, Major Crime Team Intel Analyst, Wanted & Absconder Unit), Cunningham creates psychological thrillers with a skilled mix of fuelled tension, dark humor, and pulsating passion, offering a fresh level of sincerity and authority, rare in fiction.

THE DAVID TRILOGY
The Penance List
Unfinished Business
For My Sins

Connect with S C Cunningham

https://linktr.ee/AuthorSCCunningham

Trailer

Pagan Warrior is on blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club #blogtour – check out the posts for day 4

I’m really excited to share the details of the Pagan Warrior blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club.

And, if you read on Nook, I’ve created a special discount code just for Nook readers. Using code BNPPAGAN at checkout will get you 50% off all three titles, for a limited time.

You can follow the blog tour, and I’ll be sharing posts here as well. A quick shout out to thank all the blog hosts and Cathie at The Coffee Pot Book Club for organising.

For April 4th, read an excerpt on

And read about warfare in the Saxon period on

https://gwendalynbooks.wordpress.com/2023/03/28/pagan-warrior/

For March 28th, check out a fabulous review on

A guest post about Mercia in the later eighth century on the Historical Fiction Blog.

https://historicalfictionblog.com/pagan-warrior-guest-post/

And, the post that perhaps gave me the most fear to begin will but which was fun when I remembered all the little details, five fun facts about writing the trilogy.

And a review from

From March 14th, check out my author interview over on Archaeolibrarian.

I’m sharing an excerpt over on The Historical Fiction Company.

I’ve written a piece about the historical background on Pam Lecky’s official blog.

https://books2read.com/Warrior-King-Britain-The-Seventh-Century

Pagan Warrior is on blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club #blogtour – check out the posts for day 3

I’m really excited to share the details of the Pagan Warrior blog tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club.

I might have written this book many years ago, but it’s had a refresh, and is now available in audio, narrated by the fabulous, Matt Coles, as is the second book, Pagan King. Warrior King will be coming later this year in audio. For this third week, 27th March-2nd April, the ebook of Warrior King (book 3) is reduced globally to 99p/99c and equivalent. Follow the link below.

And, if you read on Nook, I’ve created a special discount code just for Nook readers. Using code BNPPAGAN at checkout will get you 50% off all three titles, for a limited time.

You can follow the blog tour, and I’ll be sharing posts here as well. A quick shout out to thank all the blog hosts and Cathie at The Coffee Pot Book Club for organising.

For today, March 28th, check out a fabulous review on

https://gwendalynbooks.wordpress.com/2023/03/28/pagan-warrior/

A guest post about Mercia in the later eighth century on the Historical Fiction Blog.

https://historicalfictionblog.com/pagan-warrior-guest-post/

And, the post that perhaps gave me the most fear to begin will but which was fun when I remembered all the little details, five fun facts about writing the trilogy.

And a review from

From March 14th, check out my author interview over on Archaeolibrarian.

I’m sharing an excerpt over on The Historical Fiction Company.

I’ve written a piece about the historical background on Pam Lecky’s official blog.