I am exciting to be hosting the blog tour for Widow’s Lace by Lelita Baldock #BookReview #BlogTour @BaldockLelita @maryanneyarde

 

 

Widow’s Lace

By Lelita Baldock

A hundred year old mystery, the widow left behind, a fallen soldier, the abandoned fiancée, an unnamed body and the young student determined to find the truth.

In 1886 famous English poet Edward Barrington moves from Derbyshire, England to a farm on the Finniss River, in South Australia. Two years later he disappears.

25 years later Archie Hargraves abandons his fiancée Clara and travels from England to meet with Edward’s widow, Rosalind. He plans to write a biography and make a name for himself, independent from his wealthy father. Returning to England in 1914 he abandons his work to join the war in Europe. His journal of notes from Australia is never released.

Ellie Cannon, a young PhD candidate at Sydney University, is writing a thesis on one of Barrington’s last known poems, The Fall. It’s not going well. Struggling with her relationship with her mother and loss of her father, Ellie is on the brink of failure.

Then a body is found by the Finniss River, 130 years after Edward’s disappearance. Could it be the famous poet?

The discovery draws Ellie into the worlds of Edward, Archie and Clara, taking her across Australia and England in her search for the truth.

Covering life in remote South Australia, the social pressures of 1900s Britain and the historical role of women, Widow’s Lace is an historical fiction, mystery cross-over dealing with themes of obsession, fear, love, inner-secrets and regret. But also the hope that can come from despair.

 

 

Well, this book blew me away! I stayed up way past my bedtime so that I could finish it. Widow's Lace is an enthralling mystery that had me guessing right up until the end, and wow, Lelita Baldock knows how to write a great plot-twist!

This story is set in two very different times - modern-day (2018) and the latter part of the 19th century. In 2018, Ellie's life is falling apart, and she has no interest in her studies. But that all changes (I will not give away any spoilers as I don't want to ruin this marvellous book for anyone). Needless, to say Ellie finds herself in the middle of a compelling - who done it, and who is it, adventure!

The historical setting was wonderfully portrayed. I must admit, I don't know a great deal about Australia in 1886, so I was really interested in what it must have been like to live there and how vastly different it was from old Blighty. I really sympathised with Rosalind and Edward because, due to Rosaline's health, they had no choice but to up sticks and make a new life on the other side of the world. It must have been a terribly traumatic experience to leave everything and everyone you knew, knowing that you would probably never see them again. I could understand Rosaline's misery, but I also admired Edward's determination to make the best out of the situation.

I am trying to be really careful in what I say, as it would be so easy to give away the plot. But let me end this review by saying that there are secrets aplenty in this novel. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this book, and I think you will too.

Amazon UK • Amazon US • Amazon CA • Amazon AU •  Barnes & Noble

Lelita has a passion for stories, especially those with a dark undercurrent, or a twist to be revealed. 

She hopes to tell interesting stories that people will find themselves drawn into. Stories that are for entertainment and escape, and hopefully a little thrill of the unexpected. She truly enjoys the experience of writing, exploring human traits and reactions as well as the darkness that can lurk unexpectedly inside anyone.

Born and raised in Adelaide, Australia, Lelita holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English and History from the University of Adelaide and a Bachelor of Education from The University of South Australia. During her twenties she worked as an English teacher in both Australia and the United Kingdom, working with the International Baccalaureate curriculum.

Now Lelita and her husband run a web development business, and she makes time for writing after hours and on weekends. It can mean long days and late nights, but she doesn’t mind, stories are her passion.

Lelita’s long term goal as a writer is to be able to publish her stories regularly and hopefully appeal to a wide range of readers.

Lelita currently resides in the United Kingdom with her husband Ryan and beloved rescue-cat, Jasmine.

Website • Twitter • Instagram • Facebook • Book Bub • Amazon • Goodreads

Thank you to The Coffee Pot Book Club for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

 

 

I am very excited to be hosting this blog tour for The Test of Gold (Hearts of Gold, Book 1) By Renee Yancy #HistoricalRomance #TheTestOfGold #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @YancyRenee @maryanneyarde

 

 

Test of Gold 

(Hearts of Gold, Book 1)

By Renee Yancy

Raised in the shadow of a mother who defied convention, but won’t allow her own daughter the right to make the same choices, heiress Evangeline Lindenmayer has been groomed since childhood to marry into the British aristocracy. 

When Lindy challenges her mother’s long-laid plans by falling in love with a poor seminary student, the explosion is bigger than the Brooklyn Bridge fireworks on Independence Day.

 

 

A tender romance. A controlling mother. And a young woman determined to take control of her own future.

Test of Gold by Renee Yancy is a Cinderella story in reverse. Evangeline isn't looking for a handsome prince - she is looking for a way to escape the destiny that her mother has so carefully planned for her. And to make matters worse, instead of a duke, which would be the ultimate triumph for her mother. Lindy falls in love with a man who is most unsuitable!

 

 This novel is not a typical romance. The heroine is not swept off her feet. Instead, she has to find the courage to break free from her mother's influence and hold.

Lindy's mother is a vile creature - worse even than Cinderella's step-mother. The lengths she is willing to go to to get what she wants is truly awful. And how Lindy comes out the other side is a testimony to her strength and her determination.

I thought this was a fantastic novel from beginning to end, and although it is not a typical romance, it is one of those stories that, once read, is impossible to forget. 

Amazon UK • Amazon US • Barnes and Noble

Renee Yancy is a history and archaeology nut who writes the kind of historical fiction she loves to read – stories filled with historical detail that immerse you in another place and time. When she isn't writing historical fiction or traveling to see the places her characters have lived, she can be found in the wilds of Kentucky with her husband and two rescue mutts named Ellie and Charlie. 

Website • Twitter • Instagram • Facebook • LinkedIn • Pinterest • Book Bub • Amazon Author Page • Goodreads

Thank you to The Coffee Pot Book Club and Renee Yancy for giving me a review copy of The Test of Gold.

 

 

 

The Source by James A. Michener

 

The Source

By James A. Michener

In his signature style of grand storytelling, James A. Michener transports us back thousands of years to the Holy Land. Through the discoveries of modern archaeologists excavating the site of Tell Makor, Michener vividly re-creates life in an ancient city and traces the profound history of the Jewish people—from the persecution of the early Hebrews, the rise of Christianity, and the Crusades to the founding of Israel and the modern conflict in the Middle East. An epic tale of love, strength, and faith, The Source is a richly written saga that encompasses the history of Western civilization and the great religious and cultural ideas that have shaped our world.

 This book took some reading, and there were times when I just wanted to put it aside, it felt like I was trying to slog my way through War and Peace (which I never finishhed) but I am so glad I perservered, for this turned out to be really, really good.

If you like long reads, and this book comes in at
1104 pages, then this book would certainly appeal to you. It would also appeal to those who are interested in this era of history.

Amazon

Captive Star by Nora Roberts #BookReview

 Captive Star

By Nora Roberts

Bounty hunter Jack Dakota knows how to handle himself, or at least so he thought. The moment he went to pick up the pretty little bail jumper M.J. O’Leary, he discovered there was nothing easy about the spitfire—or about this case. Someone had set them both up. Now they’re handcuffed together and on the run from a pair of hired killers. M.J. isn’t talking about why the men are after her—not even when Jack finds a gigantic blue diamond hidden in her purse. Everything tells Jack this alluring vixen can’t be trusted… everything, that is, except his captive heart.

I have never read a book by Nora Roberts before, and I was really looking forward to reading this book, although I discovered after I had bought the book that this was part 2 of a series, not that it made any difference. 

I can understand why Nora Roberts has such a huge following. This story was page-turning, to say the least. I will be joining the bandwagon, because I will certainly be reading more books from this author.

Amazon

The Du Lac Devil: Book 2 of The Du Lac Chronicles by Mary Anne Yarde #BookReview #HistoricalFiction

 

The Du Lac Devil: 

Book 2 of The Du Lac Chronicles

By Mary Anne Yarde

War is coming...

As one kingdom after another falls to the savage might of the High King, Cerdic of Wessex, only one family dares to stand up to him — The Du Lacs.

Budic and Alden Du Lac are barely speaking to each other, and Merton is a mercenary, fighting for the highest bidder. If Wessex hears of the brothers’ discord, then all is lost.

Fate brings Merton du Lac back to the ancestral lands of his forefathers, and he finds his country on the brink of civil war. But there is worse to come, for his father’s old enemy has infiltrated the court of Benwick. Now, more than ever, the Du Lac must come together to save the kingdom and themselves.

Can old rivalries and resentments be overcome in time to stop a war?

I can understand why this book has won so many awards. I mean, WOW! Talk about an action-packed story. This novel will quite literally break your heart, especially after you have fallen hopelessly in love with the protagonist, or perhaps anti-hero would be a better way to describe Merton Du Lac.

This novel was amazing from beginning to end and I cannot wait to get hold of  book 2 to find out what happens next.

AMAZON

Mary Anne Yarde is the multi award-winning author of the International Bestselling Series -- The Du Lac Chronicles. Set a generation after the fall of King Arthur, The Du Lac Chronicles takes you on a journey through Dark Age Britain and Brittany, where you will meet new friends and terrifying foes. Based on legends and historical fact, The Du Lac Chronicles is a series not to be missed.

Born in Bath, England, Mary Anne Yarde grew up in the southwest of England, surrounded and influenced by centuries of history and mythology. Glastonbury--the fabled Isle of Avalon--was a mere fifteen-minute drive from her home, and tales of King Arthur and his knights were part of her childhood.

A Sword Among Ravens (The Long-Hair Saga) By Cynthia Ripley Miller #BookReview @CRipleyMiller @maryanneyarde

 

A Sword Among Ravens

(The Long-Hair Saga)

By Cynthia Ripley Miller

In a grave, on the edge of a Roman battlefield, an ancient sword has been discovered. Legend claims it belonged to King David of Israel and carries a curse—those who wield it will tragically die—but not the chosen.   

AD 455. Arria Felix and her husband, Garic the Frank, have safely delivered a sacred relic to Emperor Marcian in Constantinople. But now, Arria and Garic will accept a new mission. The emperor has asked them to carry the sword of King David of Israel to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem where Arria will dedicate it in her murdered father’s memory.

As Arria and Garic travel into the heart of the Holy Land, they face many challenges and dangers. Their young daughter is missing then found in the company of a strange and suspicious old monk. A brutal killer stalks their path. And a band of cold-blooded thieves is determined to steal the sword for their own gains. But when Arria confronts the question of where the sword should truly rest—old friendships, loyalties, and her duty are put to the test like never before. At every turn, Arria and Garic find themselves caught in a treacherous mission wrapped in mystery, murder, and A Sword Among Ravens.

There are no lengths too far that people are not willing to go to in order to possess the Sword of David. This book is an action packed adventure, set in the fifth century. It was a story that grabbed my attention right from the start. It is filled to bursting with unforgettable heroes, heroines and villains. 

I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.

*Thank you to The Coffee Pot Book Club for giving me the chance to read this novel.

Amazon UK • Amazon US • Amazon CA • Amazon AU • Barnes and Noble • Kobo

Cynthia Ripley Miller is a first generation Italian-American writer with a love for history, languages, and books. She has lived in Europe and traveled world-wide, holds two degrees, and taught history and English. Her short fiction has appeared in the anthology Summer Tapestry, at Orchard Press Mysteries.com, and The Scriptor. She is a Chanticleer International Chatelaine Award finalist with awards from Circle of Books-Rings of Honor and The Coffee Pot Book Club. She has reviewed for UNRV Roman History, and blogs at Historical Happenings and Oddities: A Distant Focus and on her website, www.cynthiaripleymiller.com

Cynthia is the author of On the Edge of Sunrise, The Quest for the Crown of Thorns, and A Sword Among Ravens, books 1-3 in her Long-Hair Saga series set in Late Ancient Rome, France, and Jerusalem. Cynthia lives outside of Chicago with her family, along with a cute but bossy cat. 

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Pinterest • Amazon • Goodreads

Poetry Corner: I wandered lonely as a cloud by William Wordsworth

 

Today's poem is brought to us by William Wordsworth.

I wandered lonely as a cloud

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

About the poet

William Wordsworth (7 April 1770 – 23 April 1850) was an English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with their joint publication Lyrical Ballads (1798).

Wordsworth's magnum opus is generally considered to be The Prelude, a semi-autobiographical poem of his early years that he revised and expanded a number of times. It was posthumously titled and published by his wife in the year of his death, before which it was generally known as "the poem to Coleridge".

Wordsworth was Poet Laureate from 1843 until his death from pleurisy on 23 April 1850.

at March 09, 2021

The Du Lac Princess: Book 3 of The Du Lac Chronicles by Mary Anne Yarde #BookReview #HistoricalFiction

 

The Du Lac Princess: 

Book 3 of The Du Lac Chronicles 

By Mary Anne Yarde

War is coming…

The ink has dried on Amandine’s death warrant. Her crime? She is a du Lac.

All that stands in the way of a grisly death on a pyre is the King of Brittany. However, King Philippe is a fickle friend, and if her death is profitable to him, then she has no doubt that he would light the pyre himself.

Alan, the only man Amandine trusts, has a secret and must make an impossible choice, which could have far-reaching consequences — not only for Amandine, but for the whole of Briton.

I have seen other reviewers compare this book to Game of Thrones, but without the dragons, and oh my goodness, they are so right. This novel is superbly written. I simply cannot get enough of Merton, Alden and Amandine. I am also rather taken with Brother Sampson! 

If you have not started this series yet, then you really must put it on your to-read list because it is absolutely enthralling.

AMAZON 

Mary Anne Yarde is the multi award-winning author of the International Bestselling Series -- The Du Lac Chronicles. Set a generation after the fall of King Arthur, The Du Lac Chronicles takes you on a journey through Dark Age Britain and Brittany, where you will meet new friends and terrifying foes. Based on legends and historical fact, The Du Lac Chronicles is a series not to be missed.

Born in Bath, England, Mary Anne Yarde grew up in the southwest of England, surrounded and influenced by centuries of history and mythology. Glastonbury--the fabled Isle of Avalon--was a mere fifteen-minute drive from her home, and tales of King Arthur and his knights were part of her childhood.

Tripwire (Jack Reacher, Book 3) by Lee Child #BookReview #Thriller

 

Tripwire

By Lee Child

Ex military policeman Jack Reacher is enjoying the lazy anonymity of Key West when a stranger shows up asking for him. He’s got a lot of questions. Reacher does too, especially after the guy turns up dead. The answers lead Reacher on a cold trail back to New York, to the tenuous confidence of an alluring woman, and the dangerous corners of his own past.

I really love the Jack Reacher films, so I knew I had to read it when I saw this book on offer. Having never read any books by Lee Child before, I was really looking forward to it. 

One word: Brilliant! This book was fabulous from start to finish. It is packed with non-stop action. I loved every minute of it.

Amazon

The Heirs of Earth (Children of Earthrise Book 1) by Daniel Arenson #BookReview #ScienceFiction

 

The Heirs of Earth 

(Children of Earthrise Book 1)

By Daniel Arenson

We hide in shadows. Our planet is lost. We are the last humans, and we must go home.

Two thousand years ago, aliens destroyed Earth. Our fleets shattered. Billions died. The last humans fled a burning planet, heading to the stars.

Today we are still refugees. Hungry. Afraid. Our enemies hunt us everywhere.

So we hide. On distant asteroids. In rundown space stations. In deep caves on frozen worlds. And we dream.

Of green hills. Blue skies. Golden fields. We dream of Earth.

And for the first time, we have hope.

A few of us, just a handful of brave souls, form the Heirs of Earth. We are humans who stand tall. Who fight back. Aliens call us terrorists. The humans we save call us heroes. We have starships, weapons, and warriors. We can bring humanity home.

Earth is far. We have not seen her in many generations. But we have not forgotten. Earth is our heritage. Earth is our birthright. We will return!

I did enjoy this book, although I would not say it was the best science-fiction I have read, although the premise was very good. There was a little bit too much repetition to give it a five star review, but I did enjoy all the action and the adventure. I also thought the characters were carefully crafted and well portrayed.

All in all, an enjoyable read.

AMAZON

Daniel Arenson is a bookworm, proud geek, and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy and science fiction. His novels have sold over a million copies. The Huffington Post has called his writing "full of soul." He's written over seventy novels in several series:

EARTHRISE -- They came from deep space. They came to destroy us. Against the alien onslaught, Earth stands alone. But we will fight. We will rise. We will win. Start reading with Earth Alone, the first novel.

REQUIEM -- Welcome to Requiem, an ancient kingdom whose people can grow wings and scales, breathe fire, and take flight as dragons. Requiem is explored in seven trilogies. Start reading with Requiem's Song.

KINGDOMS OF SAND -- Enter a world of sand and splendor, a world where gladiators battle in the arena, where legionaries and barbarians fight for glory, and where empires rise and fall. Start reading with Kings of Ruin.

MOTH -- Discover Moth, a world torn between day and night--its one half drenched in eternal daylight, the other cloaked in endless darkness. For fans of classic fantasy worlds such as Middle Earth and Narnia.

The Scale: A Small Town Romance (Martha's Way Book 1) by Mika Jolie #BookReview #Romance

 

The Scale: A Small Town Romance

 (Martha's Way Book 1)

By Mika Jolie 

Minka Greene is trying to get her life together.

She’s struggling with her weight, her nonexistent love life, and a million other imperfections. Worse, her twin sister is marrying the man she’s been secretly pining over. And she’s the maid of honor.

What else could life possibly throw her way?

Enter Jason Montgomery, the best man.

Mesmerizing blue eyes. Sculpted, ink-covered body. And absolutely dangerous.

He has the power to strip her bare and leave all her insecurities exposed.

But he’s making her feel things she’s never felt before.

And she could use a distraction.

Jason wants Minka Greene.

Her sweet sensuous curves, not her heart.

Life is complicated enough without the stress of relationships.

It was only supposed to be a tryst. How did feelings get involved?

And, why is it so difficult to let go?

What a beautiful reflection on what so many of us feel - the heroine struggles with her weight, like most of us do. Don’t you just hate the media and how it makes us feel so worthless because we cannot photoshop our bodies in real life? Anyway, I thought the portrayal of Minka was so brilliantly written and so very realistic in the telling. I really loved Minka’s character, and I want to thank the author for portraying a heroin that we can actually relate to.

I thought Jason’s portrayal was sublime. There really isn’t anything about this book that I did not like. A real gem of a book.

AMAZON

Mika Jolie lives in New Jersey with her Happy Chaos--her husband and their energizer bunnies. She's a lover of words, wonder, an old-fashioned, and the whimsical delights of everyday living. When she's not writing swoon-worthy, sexy relatable romance, you can find her on a hiking adventure, beachin' it at the Jersey shore, apple, blueberry picking, or whatever her three men can conjure up.