Thursday, 4 June 2026

Daughter of Mercia (Dr Anna Petersen Mysteries #1) by Julia Ibbotson


⭐ First Book Anniversary Blog Tour ⭐

Daughter of Mercia

Dr Anna Petersen Mysteries #1
by Julia Ibbotson


Publication Date: June 6th, 2025
Series: Dr Anna Petersen Mysteries
Publisher: Archbury Books
Pages: 301 ebook / 392 pb
Genre: Medieval Dual-Timeline Mystery Romance


A brand-new Anglo-Saxon time-slip full of mystery and romance.

Echoes of the past resonate across the centuries as Dr Anna Petersen, a medievalist and runologist, is struggling with past trauma and allowing herself to trust again. When archaeologist (and Anna's old adversary) Professor Matt Beacham unearths a 6th century seax with a mysterious runic inscription, and reluctantly approaches Anna for help, a chain of events brings the past firmly back into her present. And why does the burial site also contain two sets of bones, one 6th century and the other modern? 

As the past and present intermingle alarmingly, Anna and Matt need to work together to solve the mystery of the seax runes and the seemingly impossible burial, and to discover the truth about the past. Tensions rise and sparks fly between Anna and Matt. But how is 6th century Lady Mildryth of Mercia connected to Anna? Can they both be the Daughter of Mercia?

For fans of Barbara Erskine, Elena Collins, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley and Christina Courtenay.



Praise for Daughter of Mercia:

“Ibbotson’s prose immerses you in the vivid world of the Anglo-Saxon era, richly layered with sensory detail that brings both the past and present timelines to life. I could feel the atmosphere—the cold stone and the wind on the hills. Her writing weaves the two eras seamlessly, connecting people across time and creating a mysterious, slow-building tension that keeps you turning the pages.”
~ Alis Page, Reviewer, 5*

“... an atmospheric, and wonderfully immersive, novel that has it all: characters with their own conflicts, both in the past and the present; a mystery that links the eras; the intrigue of Mildryth's fate and Anna's secrets; and all within the fascinating setting of archaeology.”
~ Ruins & Reading, 5* Review



Buy Link:
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.


Julia Ibbotson


Julia Ibbotson is fascinated by the medieval world and the concept of time. She is the author of historical mysteries with a frisson of romance. Her books are evocative of time and place, well-researched and uplifting page-turners. Her current series focuses on early medieval time-slip / dual-time mysteries.

Julia read English at Keele University, England, specialising in medieval language / literature / history, and has a PhD in socio-linguistics. After a turbulent time in Ghana, West Africa, she became a school teacher, then a university academic and researcher. Her break as an author came soon after she joined the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme in 2015, with a three-book deal from Lume Books for a trilogy (Drumbeats) set in Ghana in the 1960s.

She has published five other books, including A Shape on the Air, an Anglo-Saxon timeslip mystery, and its two sequels The Dragon Tree and The Rune Stone. Her latest novel is the first of a new series of Anglo-Saxon dual-time mysteries, Daughter of Mercia, where echoes of the past resonate across the centuries.

Her books will appeal to fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, and Christina Courtenay. Her readers say: ‘Julia’s books captured my imagination’, ‘beautiful story-telling’, ‘evocative and well-paced storylines’, ‘brilliant and fascinating’ and ‘I just couldn’t put it down’.

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Wednesday, 3 June 2026

The Agincourt King – Audiobook (Plantagenet Legacy Series) by Mercedes Rochelle


The Agincourt King – Audiobook

Plantagenet Legacy Series
By Mercedes Rochelle



Publication Date: April 8th, 2024
Publisher: Sergeant Press
Pages: 260
Genre: Historical Fiction

Audiobook :
Publication Date: May 4th, 2026
Publisher: Sergeant Press
Narrator: Kevin E. Green
Listening Length: 8 hours 36 minutes

From the day he was crowned, Henry V was determined to prove the legitimacy of his house.

His father's usurpation weighed heavily on his mind. Only a grand gesture would capture the respect of his own countrymen and the rest of Europe. He would follow in his great-grandfather Edward III's footsteps, and recover lost territory in France. Better yet, why not go for the crown?

Poor, deranged Charles VI couldn't manage his own barons. The civil war between the Burgundians and Armagnacs was more of a threat to his country than the English, even after Henry laid siege to Harfleur.

But once Harfleur had fallen, the French came to their senses and determined to block his path to Calais and destroy him. By the time the English reached Agincourt, they were starving, exhausted, and easy pickings. Or so the French thought.

Little did they reckon on Henry's leadership and the stout-hearted English archers who proved, once again, that numbers didn't matter when God was on their side.



Universal Buy Link (Paperback and #Kindle):
Available to read on #KindleUnlimited.



Mercedes Rochelle


Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history, and has channeled this interest into fiction writing.

Her first four books cover eleventh-century Britain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. The next series is called The Plantagenet Legacy about the struggles and abdication of Richard II, leading to the troubled reigns of the Lancastrian Kings. 

She also writes a blog: HistoricalBritainBlog.com to explore the history behind the story.

Born in St. Louis, MO, she received by BA in Literature at the University of Missouri St.Louis in 1979 then moved to New York in 1982 while in her mid-20s to “see the world”. The search hasn’t ended!

Today she lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.

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Sunday, 31 May 2026

What the Ocean Brings by Tonya Ulynn Brown


What the Ocean Brings

by Tonya Ulynn Brown


Publication Date: June 4th, 2026
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Pages: 393
Genre: Historical Romance

Quebec, Canada, 1847. 

While trying to escape the Potato Famine, shipwrecked Irish immigrant Breanna Clarey awakens injured and alone on an unfamiliar beach. To make matters worse, she has been separated from her family, and her friend, Crow, is lying dead at her feet. But when Dawson Roberts, a reclusive fisherman with a guarded past and big dreams for his future, finds Breanna, he puts his plans on hold to offer her shelter and help find her family.

But life for an Irish immigrant isn't easy. Facing a deadly quarantine station, dangerous immigration officials, and grief over her missing family, Breanna struggles to exert her independence and navigate her new world. While Breanna confronts an unknown future, Dawson is plagued by a painful past. They each must determine their own course, even if it means ignoring the pull they have on each other.

When the future takes an unexpected turn, only the ocean that has brought them so much devastation can help them find their way back to where they belong.



Excerpt

Louis was still spewing obscenities when the bell rang again. Charlie threw a punch but missed, and Breanna reckoned it had something to do with him not being able to see very well. When he swung a second time and missed, Louis took advantage of the opportunity and punched him in his ribs. Charlie bent over trying to catch his breath, and Louis hit him again in the same spot.  

Charlie fell to the ground with a thud. Breanna thought for sure that was all the man would be able to take, but he scrambled to get up again. However, before his feet could gain purchase, Louis kicked him in the ribs. 

“That’s dirty!” Dawson shouted, pointing his finger and grabbing the rope. He would have climbed back in the ring if Ames hadn’t caught him and pushed him back. By this time, half the audience was shouting so loudly in protest that she couldn’t hear the count. 

Breanna knew they had reached 30 when Louis stumbled over to his corner and grabbed his shirt. Charlie was still lying on the floor, and Clarice was at his side trying to help him up. Everyone was shouting, and there was great confusion. She looked to Dawson for an explanation, but he had climbed into the ring and was shouting at the referee.  

“Double or nothing!” he parlayed as he pulled his suspenders off his shoulders and began unbuttoning his shirt. “Let me fight him,” Dawson haggled. 

More shouting followed, and Breanna watched in horror as Dawson removed his shirt and stepped up to the line. 

“What is happening?” she cried to no one in particular, but a woman standing next to her with a long cigarette hanging out of her mouth said, “Honey, it looks like your man is about to fight King Louis.” 

When others started realizing there would be another fight, they began passing money back and forth, and everyone placed their bets. Clarice helped Charlie to the side of the ring, but he could barely stand.

“Oh, Charlie, I am really sorry. Will ye be needing a doctor?” 

Charlie didn’t answer for a moment. When he had finally caught his breath, he said, “I can’t leave now. Dawson is going to fight.” 

“But why? I don’t understand what is happening.”  

“I’d venture to say, he bet money on my fight. It must have been a pretty penny for him to go after Louis like that.” 

Breanna gasped in disbelief. “His boat money.” 

Charlie looked at her through his one good eye and shrugged. She felt tears stinging her eyes as she turned back to the ring.  

Suddenly, Dawson was there in front of her. He grabbed her by her upper arms and pulled her toward him. Placing a quick kiss on her lips, he shouted, “Wish me luck.” 

Breanna reeled from the contact. Rocking back on her heels, she steadied herself with the ropes that squared off the fighting ring. She watched as Dawson stepped up to the line again, stretching and flexing his arms to loosen up. That is when she finally noticed him.  

She had never seen Dawson without his shirt on. In all the weeks that she had lived in his house and worked alongside him on his boat, he had always been fully clothed. His chest and arms were just as big as Charlie’s, but instead of the thick patch of ginger-colored hair on his chest, Dawson’s hair was dark, matching that on his head. He sported two tattoos, one on each side of his chest, but they were obscured by his suspenders, and she couldn’t make out what they were. She stared in fascination. 

When the bell rang, it was obvious that Dawson had a clear advantage. Louis was tired, and Breanna was surprised that he had even agreed to this second fight. Yet, he still put up a good fight, and by the time it was over, Dawson had a split brow, two broken ribs, and his money back. Louis went home with a broken nose and humiliation.  

Buy Link:

Tonya Ulynn Brown


Tonya Ulynn Brown is an award-winning historical romance author who writes emotionally rich tales of ancient castles, treacherous plots, and forbidden love. With a deep passion for the turbulent histories of England and Scotland, she brings the past vividly to life through stories where danger and desire walk hand in hand.

Tonya holds a master’s degree and teaches Reading and Writing at the elementary level. Fueled by iced coffees, beautiful books, and an enduring obsession with Mary, Queen of Scots, she fills her days writing, teaching, and researching the lives of long-dead monarchs and other historical figures.

Most of all, she loves spending time with her husband, two sons, and one very spoiled French bulldog.


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Wednesday, 20 May 2026

HEROICA: Three women, three centuries, three reckonings Roma Nova by Alison Morton


HEROICA:

Three women, three centuries, three reckonings
Roma Nova
By Alison Morton


Publication Date: May 14th, 2026
Publisher: Pulcheria Press
Pages: 162
Genre: Collection of alternative history short(ish) stories


Even the strongest state is vulnerable to its past.

2020, Roma Nova. Carina Mitela investigates a potential rebellion but discovers the long-buried secret that ignited the attempted uprising links directly to her own powerful family.

1683, Vienna. As Europe struggles against the Ottoman onslaught, Honoria Mitela leads her troops into the desperate battle to save besieged Vienna. The fate of Europe – and of Roma Nova itself – hangs in the balance.

1849, Central Italy. Statia Mitela’s impulsive act saves one life but jeopardises Roma Nova’s very existence and threatens her descendants with public disgrace, financial ruin and permanent exile. 
-----------
Three stories of the women of the Mitela family, descendants of the founders of Roma Nova, bound by blood and courage.



Praise for HEROICA:

“All three stories in this collection deal with honour and the question of being true to oneself, especially if this entails running the risk of coming into conflict with the state and the status quo. All three central women are physically and morally brave, even rash. Their strength of spirit is never in doubt.”
~ Lorna Fergusson, Fictionfire

“For anyone who has read and enjoyed the Roma Nova stories before, this collection of novellas is a must. And if you haven’t, then please start from the beginning with INCEPTIO – you’ll be hooked!”
~ Christina Courtenay, bestselling author of romantic time-travel fiction


Buy Links:


Alison Morton


Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. Her twelve-book Roma Nova series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but use a sharp line in dialogue. 

She blends her fascination for Ancient Rome with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.  

Alison lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her three contemporary thrillers, Double Identity, Double Pursuit and Double Stakes.

For the latest news, subscribe to her newsletter at https://www.alison-morton.com/newsletter/ and receive 'Welcome to Alison Morton’s Thriller Worlds' as a thank you gift.

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Escape of the Grand Duchess by Susan Appleyard

 


Escape of the Grand Duchess
By Susan Appleyard


Publication Date: 27th July 2025
Publisher: Ingenium Books Publishing Inc.
Page Length: 412
Genre: Biographical Historical Fiction 

Escape of the Grand Duchess by Susan Appleyard is a gripping historical novel that shatters the notion that royalty is synonymous with privilege and ease. At its heart is Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, the youngest sister of Tsar Nicholas II—a Romanov who defied a doomed destiny and survived.

Unlike her ill-fated brother and his family, Olga’s story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and daring escape. Trapped in a loveless marriage to a reckless gambler—who harbours secrets of his own—she finds hope in the arms of a dashing army lieutenant. But before she can claim her own happiness, she must first endure the brutal realities of World War I, where she serves as a nurse on the frontlines.

As the Russian Empire teeters on the brink of collapse, the infamous Siberian mystic Rasputin tightens his grip on the imperial court, setting the stage for revolution. With the Bolsheviks seizing power and the Romanovs marked for death, Olga faces an impossible choice: risk everything to stay or flee into the unknown with her true love and their children.

Rich in historical detail and driven by an unforgettable heroine, Escape of the Grand Duchess is a sweeping riches-to-rags tale of survival, love, and the strength it takes to forge a new life in the face of unimaginable upheaval.

Pick up your copy of
Escape of the Grand Duchess

Susan Appleyard



Susan was born in England, which is where she learned to love English history, and now lives in Canada in the summer. In winter she and her husband flee the cold for their second home in Mexico. Susan divides her time between writing and her hobby, oil painting, although writing will always be her first love. She was fortunate in having had two books published traditionally. Since joining the ebook crowd, she has published nine books, some of which have won various awards.

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Monday, 18 May 2026

Some Starry Night by Irene Latham






SOMe Starry Night

By Irene Latham


Publication Date: April 14th, 2026
Publisher: Historium Press
Pages: 264
Genre: Historical Fiction

Under the pale glow of a Parisian spring in 1886, two restless souls move toward the same horizon-unaware that their meeting will ignite a love as luminous and fleeting as the stars themselves.


Vincent van Gogh arrives in Paris with little more than paint-stained hands and an aching determination to create something worthy of the world. Living in the cramped apartment of his brother Theo, he struggles against poverty, doubt, and the relentless pull of his own restless mind.


Across the ocean in Amherst, Emily Dickinson receives news that changes everything. Faced with the nearness of death, the reclusive poet does the unthinkable: she leaves the quiet safety of the Homestead and sails for Paris, determined to taste life before it slips beyond her reach.


When Emily agrees to sit for Vincent's portrait, their worlds collide in a blaze of color, poetry, and dangerous intimacy. Through letters, poems, and whispered confessions, the two artists discover in one another a fierce, unguarded understanding-one that will shape their art, their faith, and the fragile hours they have left.


But love between stars is never simple. As time grows short and darkness gathers, Vincent and Emily must decide whether beauty is meant to last...or simply to burn bright enough to change the night forever.


Some Starry Night is a sweeping, lyrical imagining of the hidden story behind Vincent van Gogh's most iconic painting – an unforgettable tale of love, creativity, and the courage to live fiercely, even in the shadow of the end.



Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link

Historium Press Buy Link


Irene Latham


Irene Latham writes poems and stories from the Purple Horse Poetry Studio & Music Room in Blount County, Alabama. She is the author or co-author of many books for young people, including African Town, winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Outstanding Historical Fiction.

This is her first novel for adults.




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Daughter of Mercia (Dr Anna Petersen Mysteries #1) by Julia Ibbotson

⭐ First Book Anniversary Blog Tour  ⭐ Daughter of Mercia Dr Anna Petersen Mysteries #1 by Julia Ibbotson Publication Date: June 6th, 2025 Se...