Author of Saxon historical fiction and non-fiction, 20th-century historical mysteries, and Norse-inspired historical romantasy. Book reviewer and blog host.
I’m delighted to welcome Jane Hunt and her new book, The Finding, to the blog.
Here’s the Blurb
This poignant novella is a tale of forbidden love, resilience, and the human cost of war.
In the quiet fields of Wiltshire during World War II, Eveline, a sheltered young woman, stumbles upon a life-altering discovery: a German Luftwaffe pilot, Fritz, has crash-landed near her home. Against the backdrop of war and suspicion, her family takes the injured man in, nursing him back to health. Beneath his reserved demeanor and burned body, Eveline senses a mystery—and something stirs an unfamiliar longing within her.
As Eveline’s infatuation deepens, she faces a storm of challenges: her overbearing mother’s rigid rules, a zealous preacher’s warnings, and the scrutiny of the town’s gossips. Despite Fritz’s attempts to keep her at arm’s length Eveline’s heart defies reason, falling for the man branded as her enemy.
But Fritz harbors secrets that could shatter Eveline’s fragile world. When the truths of war and the weight of loyalty collide, Eveline must confront the reality of loving someone forbidden.
Will their bond endure the hostility of a nation at war? Or will the scars of betrayal and loss prove impossible to heal?
Born in Reading UK, Jane grew up with a love of reading. She remembers taking Enid Blyton books to bed and reading them under the covers when she should have been asleep! Her love of the written word extended into the classroom where the teachers commented on her vivid imagination and length of stories—probably accompanied with a few sights when they realized the amount of time the reading would take!
On leaving school Jane spent a brief spell at college before finding employment as a Dental Nurse where she spent many happy years meeting lots of wonderful people and mixing lots of fillings. After meeting her husband, she later went on to have three children and found work as a Teaching Assistant.
Alongside a busy life, she completed a comprehensive writing course, which saw her having non-fiction work published in newspapers and magazines. But the desire to do something ‘creative’ burned ever brightly. Having recently undertaken a lot of research into her family tree, a desire to find out what life was really like for her ancestors took hold, and she developed a fascination with World War II. Heeding the advice of her late parents to ‘put pen to paper’, she decided to get a story that had been buzzing in her head for quit some time written.
The result of her endeavour was a very ‘raw’ manuscript: The Finding. With some professional help—thank you, Dee, the story evolved into a book—something she still can’t quite believe!
Here in the UK we are very lucky to have quite a few Roman sites to explore, which is very helpful when writing a story set during that era. The Romans were here for nearly 400 years, so they have left a lot of traces behind. My story SHADOWS IN THE SPRING features a legionary as the villain, so I had to do some research regarding the occupying legions that were present in the Britannia of AD 80. Therefore, it was natural for me to visit the town of Caerleon, which is fairly close to where I live.
Caerleon was called Isca by the Romans after the name of the river that flows through it, which is now the Usk. Around AD 75 they built a fortress there in order to keep the local Silures tribe under control. They’d been difficult to subdue and it needed a strong military presence. The Silures must have been a real thorn in the Romans’ side as Isca was one of only three permanent legionary bases in Britain at the time. (The others were at Chester/Deva and York/Eboracum).
The legion assigned to build it was the Legio II Augusta – or Second Augustan Legion. This legion had formed a part of the force that invaded Britain in AD 43 and they had remained ever since. They were originally stationed at Exeter, but later sent to Isca when the Silures proved troublesome. Part of a legionary’s job was to build forts, ramparts, ditches and roads, and they must have had to work very hard. The outline of the Isca fortress can still be seen in the town today, and it is vast. To begin with, the barracks and other buildings would have been constructed mostly of timber, with the buildings surrounded by a ditch and earth bank topped by a palisade. I would have been impressive and presumably intimidating to the locals. It housed upwards of 5,000 men, quite a sizeable force.
The barracksThe amphitheatre
As with other forts, a civilian settlement grew up around it (a so-called vicus) and buildings like a bath complex were added for both legionaries and civilians to enjoy. The legionaries would have enjoyed this ‘taste of home’ as I’m sure life in Wales was very different to what at least some of them were used to. Imagine coming from sunny Italy or Spain to a cold, windy and rainy Britannia – probably a shock to the system! It was also dangerous, what with skirmishes and illnesses making life expectancy short, so to be able to relax and enjoy some leisure time at the baths was greatly appreciated.
SHADOWS IN THE SPRING is set in AD 80, which was ten years before the amphitheatre at Isca was built just outside the fort. It’s still there today, albeit mostly consisting of turf now. It’s an impressive place that would have seated about 6,000 people on wooden tiers built on a stone base. No doubt the spectators enjoyed all sorts of events, like gladiatorial games and executions of criminals. It was also used for military training. I loved standing in the middle of the arena – once covered in sand – and imagining what it must have been like to perform there.
There are two museums in Caerleon – one that shows what’s left of the baths and tells their story, and one with Roman artefacts. Both were very useful to me and I really enjoyed my visit to the picturesque town. It’s a bit off the beaten track, but if you ever find yourself nearby, I would definitely recommend that you take a look – you won’t regret it!
Here’s the blurb
Two souls bound together but lost in time. Until now.
AD 80
Duro of the Iceni tribe escaped life as an enslaved gladiator and is now finally home in Britannia with one thing on his mind: vengeance. For 20 years he has sought the Roman legionary who destroyed his family. What he didn’t expect was Gisel: a fierce Germanic woman with long white-blonde hair, forced into slavery by the Romans. Hypnotised by her spirit and her beauty, Duro frees Gisel and slowly tries to win her trust as they work together to complete his quest.
Present Day
Mackenna Jackson returns to Bath with a broken heart, thanks to rockstar Blue Daniels. Luckily she can still count on Blue’s former bandmate Jonah Miller as a listening ear. But Jonah has secretly been fighting stronger feelings, drawn to Mac’s quiet confidence and gorgeous white-blonde hair. As they explore the area, memories they can’t quite explain flood them both.
Is the spark between Mac and Jonah in fact a sign of something much deeper – a love enduring through millennia – or can it all be an illusion?
Christina Courtenay writes historical romance, time slip/dual time and time travel stories, and lives in Herefordshire (near the Welsh border) in the UK. Although born in England, she has a Swedish mother and was brought up in Sweden – hence her abiding interest in the Vikings. Christina is a Vice President and former Chair and of the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association and has won several awards, including the RoNA for Best Historical Romantic Novel twice with Highland Storms (2012) and The Gilded Fan (2014) and the RNA Fantasy Romantic Novel of the year 2021 with Echoes of the Runes. SHADOWS IN THE SPRING (dual time historical romance published by Headline Review 24th April 2025) is her latest novel. Christina is a keen amateur genealogist and loves history and archaeology (the armchair variety).
1346. France. King Edward III is restless. Despite earlier victories the French crown remains intact. Determined to bring France under his own rule, Edward has devised a new plan of attack – one which he believes will finally bring the French army to its knees: a final, cataclysmic battle …
Berenger Fripper, Vintener of a pox-ridden mob of sixteen who make up the Vintaine of Sir John de Sully, storms the beaches of Normandy to bring victory to their king. But the French are nowhere to be seen…
And so Berenger leads his Vintaine through France and onward to battle – the Battle of Crécy – one which will both bond and break his men and be a decisive turning point in the Hundred Years’ War.
Fields of Glory by Michael Jecks is a novel about the Hundred Years’ War in all its bloody glory. Featuring an ensemble cast of characters, every person has their own story to tell, hidden behind the veneer of bloody war, and the demands of an intolerant king, who appears to preach reconciliation with the French but finds every excuse to change his mind.
I can’t say any of this ragtag collection of men is particularly endearing. Sir John cares more for his horse than his men, while King Edward and the Prince of Wales are just as thoughtless regarding the lives they’re destroying. This makes it a very realistic portrayal, if not for the faint-hearted. Indeed, if seeking some semblance of empathy between the characters, we must look to the men of the Vintaine, and not those who command them.
A blood-drenched traipse through France will bring our characters the opportunity to earn battle booty, if only they can live through it. Fields of Glory is a must-read for fans of the genre and those interested in the Hundred Years’ War.
Meet the author
Studied actuarial science, then became a computer salesman for 13 years- after the 13th company folded, he turned to writing.
He’s the author of 50 novels, 6 novellas, 4 collaborative books and short stories. His tales are inspired by history and legends, but are all grounded in real life and real people, what motivates them, and why they turn to violence.
Founder of Medieval Murderers, he has served on the committees of: Historical Writers’ Association, CWA and Detection Club. He has judged the Debut Dagger, Ian Fleming Steel Dagger and other prizes, as well as serving as Dagger liaison officer and CWA Chair. He has taught writing at Swanwick and Evesham, and tutored for the Royal Literary Fund. He now runs South West Writers in Devon.
His work has been celebrated by Visconti and Conway Stewart pens; 2014 he was International Guest of Honour at the Bloody Words festival in Toronto, and Grand Master of the first parade in the New Orleans Mardi Gras.
I’m delighted to welcome Katherine Mezzacappa and her book, The Ballad of Mary Kearney, to the blog with an excerpt.
Excerpt
The Revd. Samuels Regrets Much but Tells Only his Diary
20th June 1766
I have this day done myself much harm, more than at other times, and the good Lord knows that I do not use His gifts as I should, but in truth I am much tried.
If I survive what I have done today, I must take this as a lesson and mend my ways.
The little bog-trotter called today with a message from Viscount Kilkeel, which he delivered to Meg as I had said I did not wish to be disturbed. She knows well enough that my company is the decanter and not the preparation of next Sunday’s sermon but as a good wife and obedient to me in all things she says nothing. But this time she taps the study door, and waits so that I may go through the pretence of putting by the claret, opening my books and dipping my quill in the inkstand.
The note, which I hope has not been read by those of the servants who can (which means the Chittleboroughs and that Swiss valet), bids me to receive one of his housemaids and please to instruct her in what is necessary that she should read, write and know her numbers as a good Christian child. Would that I were not the third son I am, and my father a plain English squire in ever reducing circumstances, for he did sire many without the wherewithal to provide elegantly for them. Thus my scholarship was hard-won, long years a servitor waiting at the Tufts’ table. The only living being on this island to know the extent of my humiliations is my poor Meg. Often has she asked me in trembling accents to give her leave to run a little school. Other parsons’ wives do this profitably and wisely, she says. But I have never wished my wife to serve anyone for that to me is too near what I was obliged to do to pay my way. And then comes this missive dashed off by his Lordship that I should letter some hoyden that he drops his breeches for now that there is no Lady Mitchelstown to tail!
So after our meal comes this child, scrubbed to the point of decency, I must say, dropping eyes and curtseys and ‘if it please you, sir’ and all coy manners. “No!” I hurl at her, “it pleases me not, but I must do as I am bid.” Meg comes at the noise but I shoo her away, though I know she stood trembling behind the door throughout. But I did wrong. I visited on that child all my rage and frustration. She merely stood in my path though she did not choose to be there. Does he tup her? I know not. It is none of my business to know. If he does, I should pity her, for no man of her class will want her after, and she shall be consigned to the Magdalen or given up for worse. I do not know how much native wit she might have that would permit her to learn from me, for in truth I gave her no opportunity, railing at her as I did. Nor can she have missed the reek of the claret. If he have ruined her she is sure to tell him all of this. His Lordship may be laughing at my expense even now. And yet, perhaps I have no justification for thinking ill of her. There was none of that tawdry pride of the fallen, none of the base cunning of those who think they have the upper hand for a brief time and so must make much of it. Nay, she cowered before me and took the blows I gave with tears but no protestations. Could she know that as she felt the sting of that crop that it was myself I really wished to punish? If she dissembled she did it so well—no, I believe she did not.
Bless my Meg for coming in as she did. I took myself to the yard and put my head under the pump. The fresh air and sunlight worked on my rage and self loathing, and with the shock of that cold water I found I could no longer contain myself but spewed all I held within over the cobbles. I took the pail and washed it away, and by my exertion, the expulsion of what was poisoning me, and copious draughts of that spring water, I came more or less to myself again, and so am face to face with my foolishness. The realisation that I cannot even hold my drink is itself merely another confirmation of the fact that I am not a gentleman and should not pass for such. And my actions in drink today were those of a lunatic. To think that I was so proud to have obtained this living.
My hope lies now only in poor Meg and her good offices with this child. Later, I went into the parlour and asked her as gently as I was able how she had found her pupil. She needed some encouragement, but I got out of her that the girl was biddable, quick in her wits once her tears were dried, and most desirous of coming here again. And the poor lady’s eyes I saw fill with tears of happiness when I heard myself say to her: “If it pleases you to instruct this girl, then let us consider also your little school.” She deserves some joy after so many years of disappointment that no child of our own ever came to stand at her knee. It seems it may take so little, if today I have really learned to be less proud.
Image: Maghera Church Maghera Church of Ireland church from the old cemetery Image: Eric Jones. Wikimedia Commons
Here’s the Blurb
‘I am dead, my Mary; the man who loved you body and soul lies in some dishonorable grave.’ In County Down, Ireland, in 1767, a nobleman secretly marries his servant, in defiance of law, class, and religion. Can their love survive tumultuous times?
‘Honest and intriguing, this gripping saga will transport and inspire you, and it just might break your heart. Highly recommended.’ Historical Novel Society
‘Mezzacappa brings nuance and a great depth of historical knowledge to the cross-class romance between a servant and a nobleman.’ Publishers Weekly.
The Ballad of Mary Kearney is a compelling must-read for anyone interested in Irish history, told through the means of an enduring but ultimately tragic love.
Katherine Mezzacappa is Irish but currently lives in Carrara, between the Apuan Alps and the Tyrrhenian Sea. She wrote The Ballad of Mary Kearney (Histria) and The Maiden of Florence (Fairlight) under her own name, as well as four historical novels (2020-2023) with Zaffre, writing as Katie Hutton. She also has three contemporary novels with Romaunce Books, under the pen name Kate Zarrelli.
Katherine’s short fiction has been published in journals worldwide. She has in addition published academically in the field of 19th century ephemeral illustrated fiction, and in management theory. She has been awarded competitive residencies by the Irish Writers Centre, the Danish Centre for Writers and Translators and (to come) the Latvian Writers House.
Katherine also works as a manuscript assessor and as a reader and judge for an international short story competition. She has in the past been a management consultant, translator, museum curator, library assistant, lecturer in History of Art, sewing machinist and geriatric care assistant. In her spare time she volunteers with a second-hand book charity of which she is a founder member. She is a member of the Society of Authors, the Historical Novel Society, the Irish Writers Centre, the Irish Writers Union, Irish PEN / PEN na hÉireann and the Romantic Novelists Association, and reviews for the Historical Novel Review. She has a first degree in History of Art from UEA, an M.Litt. in Eng. Lit. from Durham and a Masters in Creative Writing from Canterbury Christ Church. She is represented by Annette Green Authors’ Agency.
I’m delighted to welcome Andrea Matthews and her book, The Cross of Ciarán, to the blog.
Here’s the Blurb
When a fifth century pagan priest is unearthed in Ireland fifteen hundred years after being entombed, archaeologist Caitlin O’Connell is convinced it’s the find of the century. The body is in perfect condition, right down to the intricate tattoos adorning the Celt’s skin. In fact, if scientific data hadn’t proved otherwise, she would swear he hadn’t been interred more than a few hours.
Eager to discover more about the mysterious Celt, Caitlin accompanies the body back to the New York museum where she’s employed, but before she has time to study him, the priest disappears without a trace.
Rumors surrounding the event begin to circulate and result in the excavation’s benefactor pulling the plug on the entire expedition. The rumors are not far off the mark though.
After being buried alive for betraying his goddess and his priesthood in the dawning age of Christianity, Ciarán wakes to a strange new world. Alone and frightened in an unforgiving city, he stumbles upon the only thing familiar to him and seeks sanctuary within the church walls. With the help of the parish’s pastor, Father Mike, Ciarán slowly grows accustomed to his surroundings, though he’s plagued by dark dreams and the disturbing sensation that an evil from his past has followed him into the future.
But a more immediate danger lurks on his doorstep. Caitlin is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery concerning her missing Celt, and when she meets her Uncle Mike’s new handyman, Ciarán Donnelly, she’s convinced the handsome Irishman knows more about the theft than he’s letting on.
Yet, even she can’t deny the attraction between them, simmering below the surface and blurring the lines between her personal and professional life.
But will Ciarán’s secrets draw them together or shatter their future forever.
Andrea Matthews is the pseudonym for Inez Foster, a historian and librarian who loves to read and write and search around for her roots, genealogical speaking. She has a BA in History and an MLS in Library Science, and enjoys the research almost as much as she does writing the story. In fact, many of her ideas come to her while doing casual research or digging into her family history.
She is the author of the Thunder on the Moor series set on the 16th century Anglo-Scottish Border, and the Cross of Ciaran series, where a fifteen hundred year old Celt finds himself in the twentieth century.
Andrea also writes historical mysteries under the pen name I. M. Foster. Her series A South Shore Mystery is set in the early 1900s on Long Island. She is a member of the Long Island Romance Writers, and the Historical Novel Society.
