Book Launch Spotlight: Bloody, Brilliant Tudors: 100 Tales of Gowns, Gossip and Gory Ends, by Elizabeth Goff

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

From Henry VII to Elizabeth I, Bloody, Brilliant Tudors answers all these questions and more. Come with us as we delve into the people and places behind the world-famous Tudor myths and legends.

Through various tales exploring the whole of the glittering dynasty, we'll learn about the lesser-known facts and figures behind these myths. Each reign serves up a wealth of fascinating historical stories to reveal the Tudor world in a new light.

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About the Author

Elizabeth Goff is a rising TikTok star, running a successful history page under the Historical Gal handle, exploring all the lesser known, juicy sides of the historical characters you know, and also the hidden figures that are just as fascinating (if not more so!) Elizabeth has studied history for most of her life, with a deep, entrenched love for the ever-epic Tudor dynasty. There isn’t a historical site that’s not been visited, or a museum that’s been missed when she’s nearby!  Elizabeth lives in Hampshire with her husband and daughter, spending time creating content, always writing, and enjoying a lovely country pub. Find Elizabeth on Instagram

Blog Tour Spotlight: Wolf of the Nordic Seas (Valiant Vikings Book 2) by Jennifer Ivy Walker

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Named after the Norse God of the Sea, Njörd grew up sailing, swimming, and fishing the fjords of Norway. Endowed with extraordinary senses, speed, and strength, he became known as Wolf of the Nordic Seas, leading lucrative Viking raids from the Baltic shores to the Black and Caspian Seas. When a Viking völva foretells his future through a seidr vision, Njörd learns that his fate and his mate—the siren with the sea goddess eyes—lie on the alabaster coast of Normandy in the distant Land of the White Chalk Cliffs.

Elfi Thorfinnsdóttir is a skilled shieldmaiden who seeks vengeance against the ruthless Frankish count who killed her brother and abducted her father in an attempt to seize her clifftop castle. But rather that submit to the count’s relentless demand for her hand in marriage, Elfi allies with Richard the Fearless—the Viking Duke of Normandy— and the Danish Jarl of Ribe known as the Wolf of the Nordic Seas.

As Elfi and Njörd discover startling secrets about their respective pasts, they find that the three Norns have entwined the threads of their fates not just as political allies, but as mates destined to fulfill a divine prophecy.

Wolf of the Nordic Seas— book 2 of the Valiant Vikings series set in tenth century Normandy— is a sizzling, scintillating blend of historical fiction, Norse mythology, paranormal fantasy, and steamy Viking romance!

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About the Author

Jennifer Ivy Walker is an award-winning author of medieval Celtic, Nordic, and paranormal romance, as well as contemporary romance, historical fiction, and WWII romantic suspense. A former high school teacher and college professor of French with an MA in French literature, her novels encompass a love for French language, literature, history, and culture, including Celtic myths and legends, Norse mythology, Viking sagas, and Nordic lore. Find out more from Jennifere's website https://jenniferivywalker.com/ and find her on Facebook

Blog Tour:Secrets in the Woods, by Susan D. Levitte

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

On October 8, 1871, fire turned night into a living hell. While Chicago's blaze claimed the headlines, a fiercer and more devastating inferno swept across Wisconsin's Green Bay peninsula-obliterating farms, forests, and families in its path. Here, among immigrant settlers carving new lives from the wilderness, survival came down to split-second choices: to run, to hide, to fight the flames. Mothers shielded children with their bodies, fathers vanished into smoke, and neighbors faced the firestorm with nothing but faith and will.

The assignment was going to mark the anniversary of a tragic period in the region’s history. The Peshtigo Fire, or the Great Fire as those on this side of the bay often referred to it, killed at least fifteen hundred white people and countless American Indians in a few hours. 

Because it had happened sixty years ago, there were not many people left to tell their stories. Many of those still alive had just been small children at the time, with memories dimmed and shaded by stories they had heard in hushed tones during their lives.

When Edna Mae was told she would be interviewing a woman who had been fifteen when the fire happened…

Susan D. Levitte

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About the Author

Susan D. Levitte was born and raised as the fifth generation to live on the family land in Northeast North Dakota (nearly Canada). She moved to Wisconsin in 1997, living in Door and Manitowoc County and now resides in the pastoral Kewaunee County. Married to Quentin, they share their home with Olive and Penny, their silly Labrador retrievers, and Gil, their ever-lazy cat. As a devoted reader of historical fiction and nonfiction, she brings her passion for history and desire to educate readers into her work. With twenty-five years of experience in global advertising and marketing, she holds a master’s degree in communications and currently contributes her expertise to the Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport. Find out more at Susan's website: https://1871fireproject.com/  and find her on Facebook: and Instagram

Book Review: An Orphan Spirit: Amsterdam 1627, by Eleanor Swift-Hook and M.J. Logue

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

1627. Mercenary captain Hollie Babbitt is at winter quarters in Amsterdam. To the patrons of the Blue Cat, he is the landlady’s young husband, but for all his youth he is already a veteran of the Empire’s vicious wars—restless, underemployed, and counting the days until the campaigning season begins again.

More of a short story than a novel, the ninety-six pages are packed with action and intrigue. For those familiar with Eleanor Swift-Hook's excellent ‘Lord’s Legacy’ series, An Orphan Spirit fits within the ‘prequel’ Lord’s Learning series.

Set in an authentic 1620’s Amsterdam, the authors write with a confident sense of place. The canals and crowded streets feel lived-in rather than described, grounding the story in a city poised between prosperity and poverty.

I particularly liked the world of the local tavern, the ‘Blue Cat’ at the heart of the story, and the unlikely hero of this tale, Captain Hollie Babbitt. 

An Orphan Spirit works well as a stand-alone story, and offers more insight into the complex backstory of the heroic Philip Lord. Despite his youth he still has a presence which marks him out as a threat – and a target.

The pace is measured but compelling, rewarding readers with moments of quiet revelation alongside sharper turns of plot. This is an assured and absorbing collaboration that lingers well beyond the final page.

Tony Riches

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About the Author

Eleanor Swift-Hook enjoys the mysteries of history and fell in love with the early Stuart era at university when she re-enacted battles and living history events with the English Civil War Society. Since then, she has had an ongoing fascination with the social, military and political events that unfolded during the Thirty Years' War and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. She lives in County Durham and loves writing stories woven into the historical backdrop of those dramatic times. You can find out more about the background of Lord's Legacy on her website www.eleanorswifthook.com and find her on Twitter @emswifthook

See Also:

Book Review - The Soldier's Stand (Lord's Learning Book 2)

Book Review: The Mercenary's Blade (Lord's Legacy Book 1)

Book Launch Guest Post by Holly B. Gutwillinger, Author of North of Broken & Furever Home

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Renley Nelson is struggling with midlife melancholy and fractured family bonds. Her marriage is crumbling, her sons are distant, and her mother's mind is slipping into places Renley can't follow. When her best friend begs her to join a dog rescue mission in Ontario's northern wilderness, Renley sees a chance to escape her failing life.

North of Broken & Furever Home is this Dogmama's love letter to her dogs, Cash and Sully. What began as a four-line stanza evolved into a story I hope readers will enjoy—because I had the time of my life writing it. The first draft came together in a flurry, but it took several years to shape it into a story worthy of my dogs' lives and one that I'm proud of.

I live for a good routine, but unfortunately, my writing routine is nonexistent. Full-time work impedes long writing sprints, so narrative comes in fits and starts throughout the day. I squeeze it in between work hours, dog walks, and gym time. I look forward to establishing a consistent routine when I retire, but for now, my novels get threaded together over time. 

Despite the chaos, I've found that surrounding myself with a creative community makes all the difference. I joined a Friday night writing club months ago, and we're an eclectic bunch who share a passion for storytelling and art-making. We support each other throughout our projects, and that encouragement keeps me going when inspiration strikes in the wee hours.

This novel began as autofiction, but the more I wrote, the more I wanted to give my dog Sully his own voice so I could better understand where he was coming from and what he needed from me. That shift in perspective changed everything. The theme started as a rescue story—by the end, it became clear it was about acceptance all along.

The most emotional part of writing this book was confronting loss. In the first draft, I wrote the story through to the end of Cash's life. I wrote his obituary and cried through every draft and each time I read it. I removed it from the final novel, but I'm glad I wrote it. Reflecting on his life taught me to cherish the time we have left—a lesson that became the story’s beating heart.

Now I'm channelling that same love for dogs into something lighter. I'm currently working on a romantic comedy called Must Love Rescue Dogs, where the meet-cute begins at the dog park. Without spoiling the plot, let's just say the usual rom-com roles will be reversed in all the best ways—and there's dog cuteness overload.

Holly B. Gutwillinger

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About the Author

Holly B. is a heartfelt writer who was born and raised in a small town in northern Ontario. She is a proud dog mom to two rescue dogs and one cat, and she loves incorporating them into her stories, drawing inspiration from the animals she has had the privilege to adopt. She has completed creative writing classes through the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies’ Creative Writing program and received a certificate in creative writing from Sir Sandford Fleming College. She is currently pursuing her Master of Fine Arts in Fiction. customers. Find out more at www.ramblingsfromthelittleshed.com  and Instagram: rambling_from_the_little_shed

    

Book Review - The Soldier's Stand (Lord's Learning Book 2) by Eleanor Swift-Hook

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Summer, 1626: Europe is ablaze as the supporters of the exiled Elector Palatine, who was also briefly King of Bohemia, challenge Emperor Ferdinand. The emperor’s new general, Wallenstein, has achieved a crushing victory over the feared mercenary commander Mansfeld at Dessau, but Danish King Christian IV is on the march in Lower Saxony. Amid this turmoil, Captain Matthew Rider must somehow manage both his part of Wallenstein’s war effort and his troublesome young lieutenant, Filippo Schiavono.

It is fascinating to read a ‘prequel’ featuring a cast of characters you know well, as that knowledge adds a layer of complexity to their already complex stories.

Eleanor Swift-Hook’s The Soldier’s Stand builds on The Fugitive’s Sword to deliver an immersive journey into the turbulent world of early-seventeenth-century Europe. Set against the unrelenting backdrop of war and political upheaval, The Soldier’s Stand has meticulous historical research and a compelling narrative.

I particularly like Eleanor Swift-Hook’s well-timed changes of point of view, offering different perspectives. She is also skilled at foreshadowing with a few words to keep readers guessing.

The brutal chaos of war and subtleties of diplomatic intrigue are described with respect for period detail. The result is a narrative that is epic in scope yet sensitive to personal struggles and ambitions. Highly recommended.

Tony Riches

I would like to tha the author for providing a review copy.

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About the Author

Eleanor Swift-Hook enjoys the mysteries of history and fell in love with the early Stuart era at university when she re-enacted battles and living history events with the English Civil War Society. Since then, she has had an ongoing fascination with the social, military and political events that unfolded during the Thirty Years' War and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. She lives in County Durham and loves writing stories woven into the historical backdrop of those dramatic times. You can find out more about the background of Lord's Legacy on her website www.eleanorswifthook.com and find her on Twitter @emswifthook

See Also:

Book Review: The Mercenary's Blade (Lord's Legacy Book 1)

Blog Tour Spotlight: The Relic Keeper, by Heidi Eljarbo

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Italy, 1620: Angelo is an orphan, lonely and forgotten. Having been passed on from one family to the next, he ends up as a common thief, subject to and under the thumb of a ruthless robber called Tozzo.

Angelo knows no other life and has lost hope that any chance of providence will ever replace his lonely, misfortunate existence. When he loses his master, his livelihood is shaken. 

Tozzo’s plunder is hidden in a safe place, but what will happen if someone comes after Angelo to get their hands on the stolen relics? More than that, he feels threatened by words he’s heard too many times; that he’ll always remain unforgiven and doomed.

One day, a priest invites Angelo to help with chores around the church and rectory and, in exchange, offers him room and board. Padre Benedetto’s kindness and respect are unfamiliar and confusing, but Angelo’s safety is still a grave concern. Two older robbers have heard rumors about the hidden treasures and will stop at nothing to attain them.

With literary depictions and imagery, Angelo’s story is a gripping and emotional journey of faint hope and truth in seventeenth-century Italy—an artistic and audacious tale that crosses paths with art collector Vincenzo Giustiniani and the powerful Medici family.

Using invisible threads, Heidi Eljarbo weaves together her fictional stories with historical figures and real events. The Relic Keeper is similar in tone to books by Geraldine Brooks, Tracy Chevalier, Deborah Swift, and Laura Morelli.

Inspired by Gerrit van Honthorst’s masterpiece, The Adoration of the Child, and the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.

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About 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 in any kind of weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history. Her family’s chosen retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summer and ski the vast white terrain during winter. Find out more at heidi's website https://www.heidieljarbo.com/ and find her on Facebook and Twitter @HeidiEljarbo

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