Historical Fiction Spotlight: The Fern Flower, by Kathleen Shoop

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Russia 1908-1917: Born into privilege as the daughter of the Tsar’s favored vodka maker, Mila appears to have everything: wealth, status, and a household devoted to her happiness. But behind the gilded doors of her family estate, she is trapped by the cruelty of a stepmother whose greatest wish is to give birth to her own child.

Each summer on Ivan Kupala Eve, Russia turns its gaze to river bends and forest floors in search of the legendary Fern Flower—a mythical bloom said to grant fortune, power, and the deepest desires of the heart. Only one person had ever found it.

Until Mila.

Years later, in the fading grandeur of Petrograd, Mila and her friends slip into the fabled Stray Dog Café, once the sanctuary of Russia’s most daring artists and dreamers. Inspired by its ghosts, murals, and memories, Mila's group resurrects the work she'd first imagined as a child. The Fern Flower is a breathtaking ballet drawn from folklore, magic, and the secrets of Mila’s past.

But in the fiercely competitive ranks of the Imperial Ballet School, talent is never enough. Though Mila wrote the ballet and her gifted musician friend composed its score, rivals question whether Mila is worthy of claiming the coveted lead role.

As World War I intensifies and revolution ignites, the Russia Mila knows begins to collapse. Family secrets surface, loyalties are tested, and the people she loves begin to disappear. When her parents flee and her young brother’s life hangs in the balance, Mila is faced with an impossible choice: remain with the found family who helped her chase her dreams or risk everything to save the person who needs her most.

With Russian folklore, imperial grandeur, and the fierce beauty of ballet, The Fern Flower is a sweeping tale of ambition, friendship, sacrifice, and the magic that survives even when the world is falling apart.

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About the Author

Bestselling author, Kathleen Shoop, PhD’s novels have won awards in the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY), Eric Hoffer Book Awards, the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Readers’ Favorite, and more. Kathleen has more than 20 years of experience in the classroom and has been featured in USA Today and the Writer’s Guide. She co-coordinates Mindful Writers Retreats and co-coordinated the 2023 Pennwriters Conference.  She frequently teaches and is a regular presenter at conferences for writers. Find out more at Kathleen's website: http://kshoop.com and find her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter / X @kathieshoop and Bluesky @kathleenshoop.bsky.social

Historical Fiction Spotlight: A Hunt for Justice: A historical mystery of murder, superstition and hidden family crimes (The Justice Belstrang Mysteries Book 2) by John Pilkington

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

England, 1617. Susanna Cobbett, teenage daughter of a powerful Worcester landowner, is found dead in a gloomy woodland pond which has an evil reputation as the Witching Pool. 

The girl is said to have drowned herself, driven to madness by local widow Agnes Mason, who is arrested on a charge of witchcraft. If found guilty, she will hang at the next Assizes.

But Justice Belstrang, shrewd ex-magistrate and sceptic, does not believe a word of it. And when Agnes's family beg him to help, he finds himself caught up in an ever-darkening mystery.

With the help of his friend and fellow sceptic Doctor Boyd, Belstrang unravels the terrible crimes that have lain hidden behind the doors of the great manor of Ebbfield.

Belstrang must confront and apprehend his suspect - and risk his own life in the attempt.

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About the Author

A writer for over forty years, John Pilkington has written plays for radio and theatre, television scripts for the BBC and numerous historical novels set in the Tudor and Stuart eras. They include the popular Thomas the Falconer series, now being reissued by Boldwood Books, the Martin Marbeck Mysteries featuring a government spy or 'intelligencer' (described by Booklist as 'a seventeenth century James Bond') and the Justice Belstrang Mysteries, also to be republished by Boldwood. Born in the north-west of England, he now lives in a Devon village with his partner, and has a son who is a psychologist and musician. Learn more by visiting his website at www.johnpilkington.co.uk or find him on Twitter @_JohnPilkington and Bluesky @johnpilkington.bsky.social‬

Historical Fiction Spotlight: Outlaw Knight (III): Romanslayer by David Pilling

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

The Roman Empire is shattered. Constantinople has fallen, and the armies of the Fourth Crusade march unchecked. Nothing seems able to halt their advance.

AD 1205. Philip of Cognac—bastard son of Richard the Lionheart—stands in the path of disaster. The Roman armies are scattered and broken. From the crumbling refuge of Nicaea, Philip and Theodore Laskaris struggle to rebuild an empire on the brink.

Sent on a perilous mission, Philip sails west to seek alliance with Bulgaria. Its ruler, Tsar Kaloyan—feared as the Romanslayer—is a ruthless warlord who despises the Romans. To save the empire, Philip must persuade him to set aside old hatreds before the crusaders strike the final blow.

Together, the fallen kingdoms may stand. Divided, 

they will be destroyed.

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About the Author

David Pilling is a writer and researcher, addicted to history for as long as he can remember. The medieval era has always held a fascination for him, perhaps because he spent much of his childhood exploring the misted ruins of castles in Wales. David also has a keen interest in the Byzantine Empire, the post-Roman period in Britain and the British & Irish Civil Wars. Follow David on Facebook, Twitter @RobeH2 and on Bluesky @robeh1979.bsky.social

Book Launch Spotlight: The Queen's Painter, a new take on the Anne Boleyn story through the eyes of the Tudor court's painter. by Wendy Holden

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

When the brilliant young Holbein arrives at the Tudor court, Anne Boleyn is among his first patrons. As she rises to the top, Hans rises with her. Courtiers clamour for his portraits of life-like accuracy; pictures which tell the truth about their subjects.

When his beloved Anne is beheaded on false evidence, Hans is heartbroken and enraged. And he's not alone. Poet and diplomat Thomas Wyatt is agonised at his own unwitting part in her tragedy. He and Hans join forces and vow revenge on the person they blame for Anne's downfall: Thomas Cromwell, the king's ruthless chief minister.

But what can a poet and painter do against the most powerful man in England? The answer comes when Henry VIII seeks a fourth wife. Cromwell turns to Holbein and Wyatt, his trusted artist and envoy, to travel across Europe to find and paint a new bride. Cromwell's position depends on a portrait of someone young and beautiful, painted with Hans' trademark truth. Anything less could bring the whole court crashing down.

It's the opportunity they've been waiting for...

Praise for The Queen's Painter:

'A thrilling tale of danger and revenge' Literary Review

'InThe Queen's Painter, Wendy Holden brings a well-known piece of history to life with a fresh and vivid perspective. Utterly gripping and portrayed in exquisite detail, this is a story to lose yourself in entirely.' Elizabeth Lee

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About the Author

Wendy Holden's books have sold over 3m copies in 14 languages worldwide. Born in Yorkshire, Wendy read English Literature at Girton College, Cambridge and spent fourteen years as a journalist on the Sunday Times, Mail on Sunday, Harpers & Queen and Tatler before becoming a novelist.  Her experience on glossy magazines was the inspiration for her debut, the smash-hit comedy Simply Divine. Wendy then pivoted to historical fiction with the bestselling Windsor Trilogy. The Governess was about Marion ‘Crawfie’ Crawford, the young Scottish teacher who brought fun and normality to the childhood of Elizabeth II. The Duchess explored the incredible rise of Wallis Simpson whilst The Princess traced the young Diana Spencer’s extraordinary path to the altar.  Find out more at Wendy's website 

https://www.wendyholden.net/about_me.php

Historical Fiction Spotlight: No Ordinary June By L. N. Jacobs

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

Miss June Fairmont, second daughter to Baronet Fairmont, believes in true love. Gregory Kendall, Earl of Kendall, believes in practical arrangements.

One dance. That's all it took for Gregory to decide June would make an adequate Countess of Kendall. The next morning, she overhears him presenting her father with a marriage proposal—complete with a list evaluating her suitability. When she bursts into her father's study, fury barely contained, Gregory has the audacity to look amused. 

Worse, he offers a wager. He'll give her one Season to find her perfect romantic match. When she inevitably fails to find this "true love"—and he's clearly certain she will—she'll accept his practical proposal.

June agrees instantly—let him watch her prove that love conquers logic. But Gregory proves an insufferable shadow throughout her Season, offering his pragmatic assessment of every swooning poet and debt-ridden rake. Somewhere between his dry observations and brutal honesty, June makes a horrifying discovery: she's starting to enjoy his company. His wit makes her laugh. That insufferable smirk becomes almost... attractive.

One Season. One wager. And a growing suspicion that the real danger isn't losing the bet—it's winning it.

Filled with sharp banter, a wager that changes everything, swoony kisses, and one insufferably pragmatic earl, "No Ordinary June" is the witty Regency romance you've been waiting for. A closed-door enemies-to-lovers where the tension is in every glance, and the slow burn will leave you breathless.

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About the Author

L. N. Jacobs is an Italian paediatrician living in Sweden, where she's perfected the art of balancing hospital shifts, family chaos, and an unhealthy obsession with happy endings. By day, she wrangles tiny patients and their worried parents. By night (and early mornings, and lunch breaks), she writes emotional romances about imperfect people finding love in the messiest, most unexpected ways. Her stories blend the high-stakes drama of medical life with sizzling chemistry, sharp banter, and characters who feel like friends you'd text at 2 AM. Think ER meets happily-ever-after, with a hefty dose of wit and a side of Swedish fika. When she's not writing or saving lives, you'll find her devouring romance novels, hoarding chocolate like it's currency, plotting her next adventure, or convincing her family that "just one more chapter" is a valid excuse for everything. Follow the author at Instagram and Bluesky: @luby-writes-books.bsky.social

Book Launch Spotlight: Caesar's Nemesis (The Mark Antony Series) by Alex Gough

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

A hero will fall. An emperor will rise.

Mark Antony is Caesar's successor, victor over Caesar's murderers Brutus and Cassius, and the most powerful man in the world.

Yet he cannot be complacent. Octavian, Caesar's heir, is ambitious, intelligent and ruthless. Antony must prove himself with a great military victory to hold onto his position, and marches against Rome's old foe: the Parthian empire. But this is a formidable opponent; the bones of many legions lie on the battlefields of the East. And with the beguiling Cleopatra distracting him, can Antony come out on top?

Antony's final years are a whirlwind of shifting alliances, betrayals and war. In the end, the Battle of Actium will decide the fate of the empire, and set the course of history for the next two thousand years.

From Alexandria to Actium, this clash established a dynasty and struck down one of Rome's greatest heroes.

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About the Author

Alex Gough has a decades long interest in Ancient Roman history, and the Carbo Series (Watchmen of Rome, Bandits of Rome and the short story collection Carbo and the Thief) is the culmination of a lot of research into the underclasses of Ancient Rome. His  second series, The Imperial Assassin, is set in the reign of the Severan dynasty which is a very under-examined period of Roman history. His latest series is based on the larger than life character of Mark Antony, the warrior, the commander, the politician and the lover. I would love to interact with readers. Find out more at history www.romanfiction.com and find Alex  on Twitter/X @romanfiction and Bluesky @alexgoughauthor.bsky.social

Historical Fiction Spotlight: The Toscanini Conspiracy, by Filippo Iannarone

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

A brutal murder in a quiet Tuscan village. A world‑famous maestro under a cloud of suspicion. A wounded war hero ordered to uncover the truth—before history writes the wrong man into infamy.

In the autumn of 1935, celebrated country doctor Alberto Rinaldi is found savagely beaten outside his home in the village of Piazze. The investigation collapses into chaos: evidence muddled, witnesses coerced, and rumor elevated above reason. An aging miller is convicted, but whispered doubts linger for years.

Fourteen years later, as Italy struggles to define its fragile new Republic, former resistance officer Colonel Luigi Mari is summoned to Rome. His mission is as delicate as it is dangerous: quietly reinvestigate the Rinaldi murder to protect the reputation of a towering national figure—Maestro Arturo Toscanini, Rinaldi’s most illustrious patient and, according to one buried Carabinieri report, a possible presence at the crime scene that fatal night.

Mari and his young aide, Lieutenant Vinicio Barbetti, descend into a labyrinth of forgotten testimonies, political interference, fascist‑era secrecy, and lives shattered by war. Each revelation deepens the mystery: a doctor whose miraculous cures drew the world to his humble door, a village transformed by fame and undone by violence, and a conspiracy that reaches far beyond Tuscany.

As past and present collide, Mari must navigate truth, loyalty, and the shadows of a regime that never fully died—before the real story vanishes forever.

Filippo Iannarone’s The Toscanini Conspiracy is a sweeping blend of postwar intrigue, courtroom echoes, and musical legend that is a haunting pursuit of justice where genius, loyalty, and the long shadow of dictatorship collide.

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About the Author

Filippo Iannarone was born in Rome. After taking a degree in Law, he continued his studies and historical research at the School of Paleography, Diplomatics and Codicology located at the Vatican Archives. He then went on to work as an expert in industrial relations for a national energy company, to establish a law firm, and to become an entrepreneur in the hospitality business. n the hospitality business. He attended “The Holden School” a creative writing school in Turin directed by Alessandro Baricco.  He lives in Germany, in Bad Honnef on the Rhine.

Historical Fiction Spotlight: In Darkness Born: Book One of The Breaking Wheel, The Story of Katherine Parr, by G. Lawrence

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

The world would make her a survivor... Destiny would make her a Queen.

England, 1525: Born into a time of religious upheaval and political turmoil, Katherine Parr grows up in a loving family. Sheltered yet never kept ignorant of the dangers which surround her, Katherine secretly dreams of a life at court and a love such as the King possesses for the magnetic Anne Boleyn.

Sent north to become a bride at the age of sixteen, Katherine enters a household alien to the one she grew up in, where the overbearing personality of her new father-in-law holds sway, terrifying others into submission. 

Yet Katherine refuses to be intimidated and a curious friendship is born, exposing Katherine to new thought on religion which is entering England... new thought which could place her in grave danger.

Through trials of marriage, faith and death, Katherine Parr will journey, seeking to understand her heart and her soul as about her the world is transformed as the King breaks from Rome to take Anne Boleyn as his wife, dividing England and its people, opening the way for bloodshed and betrayal.

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About the Author

Gemma Lawrence is an independently published author living in Cornwall in the UK. She studied literature at university says, 'I write mainly Historical Fiction, with an emphasis on the Tudor and Medieval periods and have a particular passion for women of history who inspire me'. Her first book in the Elizabeth of England Chronicles series is The Bastard Princess (The Elizabeth of England Chronicles Book 1).Gemma can be found on Twitter @TudorTweep and Bluesky @glawrence.bsky.social‬

Blog Tour Spotlight: Lady of Lincoln: A Novel of Nicola de la Haye, the Medieval Heroine History Tried to Forget, by Rachel Elwiss Joyce

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

A true story. A forgotten heroine. In a time when women were told to stay silent, could she become the saviour her people need? 12th-century England. Nicola de la Haye wants to do her duty. But though she’s taught a female cannot lead alone, the young noblewoman bristles at the marriage her father has arranged to secure her inheritance. And when an unexpected death leaves her unguided, the impetuous girl shuns the king’s blessing and weds a handsome-but-landless knight.

Harshly fined by Henry II for her unsanctioned union, Nicola struggles to salvage her estates while dealing with devastating betrayals from her husband… and his choice to join rebels in a brewing civil war. Yet after averting a tragedy and gaining the castle garrison’s respect, she still must face the might of powerful men determined to crush her under their will.

Can she survive love, threats, and violent ambition to prove she’s worthy of authority?

In this carefully researched and vividly human series debut, Rachel Elwiss Joyce showcases the complex themes of honour, responsibility, and freedom in the story of a remarkable heroine who men tried to erase from history. And as readers dive into a world defined by violence and turmoil, they’ll be stunned by this courageous young woman’s journey toward greatness.

Lady of Lincoln is the gritty first book in the Nicola de la Haye Series historical fiction saga. If you like richly textured female heroes, courtly drama, and fast-paced intrigue, then you’ll adore Rachel Elwiss Joyce’s gripping true-life tale.

“A towering, epic saga… one of the greats in this genre.” — Readers’ Favorite

“Profoundly moving… Nicola de la Haye shines with determination and emotional depth.”— The Coffee Pot Book Club

“An extraordinary book that shows a woman successfully overcoming the constraints of her time… with wits, will, and an unbreakable spirit.” — The Historical Fiction Company

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About the Author

After a rewarding career in the sciences, Rachel returned to her first love—history and the art of storytelling. Fascinated by the women history neglected, or tried to forget, she creates meticulously researched, emotionally resonant fiction that brings her characters’ stories vividly to life. Her fascination with the past began early. At six years old, she was already inventing tales about medieval women in castles, inspired by her treasured Ladybird books and other picture-rich stories that transported her to another time. By the time she discovered Katherine by Anya Seton as a teenager, she knew the joy and escape that only great historical fiction can bring. Rachel’s two grown-up children still tease her (fondly) about childhoods spent being “dragged” around castles, archaeological sites, and historical re-enactments. For Rachel, history and imagination have always gone hand in hand.There was, however, a long gap between the stories of her childhood and her decision to write her own novel. The spark came when she discovered the remarkable true story of Nicola de la Haye—the first female sheriff of England, who defended Lincoln Castle against a French invasion and became known as “the woman who saved England.” Rachel knew she had found her heroine, and a story she was destined to tell. Rachel lives in the UK, where she continues to explore the lives of women who shaped history but were left out of its pages. Lady of Lincoln is her debut novel, the first book in her Nicola de la Haye Series, with sequels to follow. Find out more at www.rachelelwissjoyce.com and find Rachel on Facebook, 

X/ Twitter: @RachelElwJoyce and Bluesky @rachelelwjoyce.bsky.social

Historical Fiction Spotlight: Woden's Vengeance (The First Kingdom Book 3) By Donovan Cook

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

450AD Britainnia: The war has begun - a war feared by both men and gods.

But will the old give way to the new?

Prince Vortimer has imprisoned his father, King Vortigern – The High King of Britain. With Woden's spear, Vortimer believes God has chosen him to lead an army south to banish the Jutes once and for all from Britain's shores. Triumphant after the first battle, Prince Vortimer lays siege to the Jutes, but the war is far from over.

In a desperate fight for survival, Octa and the Jutish warlords, Hengist and Horsa, are trapped on Thanet, their island home, as Prince Vortimer’s army surrounds them. With dwindling numbers, their only hope is to send for reinforcements, but winter is upon them, and the journey will be perilous.

In a race against time and his own wishes, Octa leads the expedition to recruit Saxon and Jutish warriors. But will they follow young Octa the Coward? To prove himself, Octa must confront his past and seek vengeance on those who wronged his family, all while being mindful of Woden's wrath.

Can Octa stand strong as the fires of war rage around him?

And will warriors pledge their allegiance to a man known as Octa the Coward?

Praise for Donovan Cook:

'Woden’s Spear is yet another shield crunching epic from Donovan Cook. Any reader who loves battle, Saxons, warriors and adventures won’t be disappointed! A spell binding tale of early Britain certain to keep pages turning and readers entertained.' - Peter Gibbons

'Cook gives you thunderous action in a tightly woven plot. An epic adventure from a crumbling empire to a mysterious mist strewn land. Not one to be missed for fans of Cornwell and Kristian.' - Adam Lofthouse

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About the Author

Donovan Cook was born in South Africa but raised in England, and currently works as an English tutor. He is the author of the Ormstunga Saga, which includes his debut novel Son of Anger and the follow up, Raid of the Wolves. His novels come from his fascination with the Viking world and Norse Mythology and he hopes that you will enjoy exploring this world as much as he did writing about it. When Donovan is not teaching or writing, he can be found reading, watching rugby, or working on DIY projects. Being born in South Africa, he is a massive Springboks fan and rarely misses a match. Find out more at Donovan's website https://www.donovancook.net/ and follow him on Facebook, Twitter @DonovanCook20 and Bluesky @donovancook.bsky.social

Historical Fiction Spotlight: Margery and Me, by: Maryka Biaggio

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

In the 1920s, Margery Crandon captivated both Boston society and psychic researchers with her astonishing seances. At her gatherings, her deceased brother Walter regularly appeared, entertaining the circle with his witty and cheeky remarks. 

Margery's abilities earned her the admiration of luminaries, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and William Butler Yeats. But one man stood in opposition: Harry Houdini, the legendary magician, who was determined to expose her as a fraud.

Margery and Me tells the true story of the medium who mystified scientists, challenged skeptics, and sparked a sensation across America and Europe. As Houdini and Margery clashed in a battle of wits and wills, the question remained: Could the master illusionist unmask her, or would her extraordinary powers be enough to convert even the most resolute of doubters?

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About the Author

Maryka Biaggio is a psychology professor-turned-novelist who brings forgotten lives back into the light. Specializing in historical fiction inspired by real people, she crafts emotionally resonant narratives anchored in careful research. Her debut novel, Parlor Games (Doubleday, 2013), launched a distinguished career that includes Gun Girl and the Tall Guy and Margery and Me. Her work has earned numerous accolades, including the Willamette Writers Award, Oregon Writers Colony Award, Historical Novel Society Review Editors' Choice, La Belle Lettre Award, and a Publishers Weekly pick.  Find out more  at:https://marykabiaggio.com and find Maryka on Facebook

Historical Fiction Spotlight: Lucie Dumas, by Katherine Mezzacappa

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

London, 1871: Lucie Dumas of Lyon has accepted a stipend from her former lover and his wife, on condition that she never returns to France; she will never see her young son again. As the money proves inadequate, Lucie turns to prostitution to live, joining the ranks of countless girls from continental Europe who'd come to London in the hope of work in domestic service.

Escaping a Covent Garden brothel for a Magdalen penitentiary, Lucie finds only another form of incarceration and thus descends to the streets, where she is picked up by the author Samuel Butler, who sets her up in her own establishment and visits her once a week for the next two decades. But for many years she does not even know his name. Based on true events.

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About the Author

Katherine Mezzacappa is Irish but currently lives in Carrara, between the Apuan Alps and the Tyrrhenian Sea. 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 and novel 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 is lead organiser for the Historical Novel Society 2026 Conference in Maynooth, Co. Kildare. Katherine 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. Find out more from Katherine's Website and find her on Facebook, Instagram  and Bluesky: @katmezzacappa.bsky.social

Historical Fiction Spotlight: Annie's Day, by Apple Gidley

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

War took everything. Love never had a chance. Until now.

As a young Australian Army nurse, Annie endures the brutalities of World War II in Singapore and New Guinea. Later, seeking peace, she takes refuge in Berlin—only to find herself caught in the upheaval of the Blockade. Through it all, the death of a man she barely knew leaves a wound that refuses to heal, threatening to bind her to a life of loneliness.

Decades later, Annie is still haunted by what was lost—and what might have been. Her days are quiet, but her memories are loud. When a dying man’s fear forces her to confront her own doubts, she forms an unexpected friendship that rekindles something she thought was long gone: hope.

Annie’s Day is a powerful story of love, war, and the quiet courage it takes to start again—even when it seems far too late.

Praise for Annie’s Day:

"Moving and enlightening..." ~ Deborah Swift, bestselling author

"This is a story of courage and love, and it lingers long after you turn the last page." ~ Caroline James, author, 5* Goodreads review

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About the Author

Apple Gidley's nomadic life has helped imbue her writing with rich, diverse cultures and experiences. Annie’s Day is her seventh book. Gidley currently lives in Cambridgeshire, England with her husband, and rescue cat, Bella, aka assistant editor. Find out more at https://www.applegidley.com/ and find her on  Facebook • Twitter / X and  Instagram

Historical Fiction Spotlight: The Crownless Queen: - a story of secrets, sacrifice and survival against the odds. by Elizabeth Chadwick

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

1360: Having left her days of rebellion behind, Jeanette of Kent has finally found contentment as a wife and mother. Then, she is delivered a new blow: her beloved husband, Thomas Holland, has died on duty overseas.

Though broken, Jeanette readies herself once more to fight to protect what is hers. And when Prince Edward, heir to the throne and her longtime friend, unexpectedly steps forward and offers marriage, she accepts for the sake of her family.

As their relationship deepens, love blossoms again for Jeanette, but it comes at a price. With great power comes great responsibility - not least bearing a future king - and, as the wheel of fortune climbs higher, it becomes harder and harder to hold on.

Jeanette has more to lose than ever before. But with the wolves gathering beneath her, can she survive the fall?

From the award-winning and bestselling author Elizabeth Chadwick comes the much-awaited second novel in the Jeanette of Kent duology, The Crownless Queen - bringing to a powerful conclusion the remarkable story of a woman who began life as a royal rebel and ended it behind the throne...

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About the Author

Elizabeth Chadwick lives in a cottage in the Vale of Belvoir in Nottinghamshire with her husband and their 4 terriers, Pip, Jack, Billy and Little Ted. Her first novel, The Wild Hunt, won a Betty Trask Award and To Defy a King won the RNA’s 2011 Historical Novel Prize. She was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Award in 1998 for The Champion, in 2001 for Lords of the White Castle, in 2002 for The Winter Mantle and in 2003 for The Falcons of Montabard. Her sixteenth novel, The Scarlet Lion, was nominated by Richard Lee, founder of the Historical Novel Society, as one of the top ten historical novels of the last decade. She often lectures at conferences and historical venues, has been consulted for television documentaries and is a member of the Royal Historical Society. For more details on Elizabeth Chadwick and her books, visit www.elizabethchadwick.com, follow her on Twitter,and Bluesky 

@chadwickwriter.bsky.social

Historical Fiction Spotlight: The Temple of the Muses: A vision realised from one woman’s belief that knowledge belongs to everyone (The Chiswell Street Chronicles, Vol 2) by Jane Davis

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

London, 1780. As the city smoulders in the aftermath of the Gordon Riots, booksellers James and Dorcas Lackington refuse to answer despair with charity. Instead, they place their faith in something far more radical: books.

Convinced that reading offers the surest escape from poverty, the Lackingtons launch a daring experiment—pricing books so cheaply that even apprentices and servant girls can afford them. It is a bold challenge to the rigid social order of Georgian England, and one that places them squarely in danger.

Dorcas knows that life alongside James and his unshakable optimism will never be smooth. But she is no mere helpmeet. She is his compass, his conscience, and often the sharper mind. In a modest corner of Moorfields, their bookshop ignites a quiet revolution as ordinary people encounter philosophy, liberty, reason, and love for the first time.

Not everyone welcomes this awakening. The Junto, a powerful circle of men who believe that books breed dangerous ideas in the minds of the poor, move swiftly to crush the Lackingtons’ venture. As threats and intimidation escalate, Dorcas realises that survival will not come from retreat—but from becoming too large to silence.

Her answer is audacious: to build a cathedral to literature, not for kings or scholars, but for every woman and man who has ever been told that knowledge is not theirs to claim—The Temple of the Muses.

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About the Author

Jane Davis lives in a Surrey cottage that was originally the ticket office for a Victorian pleasure garden, known locally as ‘the gingerbread house’. Her home frequently finds its way into her stories – in fact, it met a fiery end in the opening chapter of 'An Unknown Woman'. When she isn’t writing, you may spot Jane disappearing up the side of a mountain with a camera in hand, or haunting Victorian cemeteries searching for the perfect name for her next character. Find out more at Jane's website and find her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter @janedavisauthor and Bluesky @janedavisauthor.bsky.social

Historical Fiction Spotlight: The Last Queen: Book One of The Chronicles of Cleopatra, by G. Lawrence

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

The Last Queen, Book one of The Chronicles of Cleopatra, is an imagining of 

the early life of Cleopatra VII

Egypt, 58 BCE: Descendant of Alexander the Great and daughter of the reigning Pharaoh, the Ptolemy Princess Cleopatra grows up in a palace full of wonders, delights, and dangers.

As her father takes flight from Egypt as his throne is usurped, Cleopatra and her siblings are left behind to fend for themselves as their elder sister, Berenice, rises to power, and the new Pharaoh may not look kindly on others who carry Ptolemy blood, who might lay claim to the throne.

Through peril and politics will Cleopatra travel, growing in mind and body as her true fate unfolds before her, leading her to the throne of Egypt.

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About the Author

Gemma Lawrence is an independently published author living in Wales in the UK. She studied literature at university says, 'I write mainly Historical Fiction, with an emphasis on the Tudor and Medieval periods and have a particular passion for women of history who inspire me'. Her first book in the Elizabeth of England Chronicles series is The Bastard Princess (The Elizabeth of England Chronicles Book 1).Gemma can be found on Twitter @TudorTweep and Bluesky @glawrence.bsky.social‬