The Relic Keeper by Heidi Eljarbo

The Relic Keeper
By Heidi Eljarbo

Publication Date: 18th November 2025

Publisher: Independently Published

Page Length: 162

Genre: Historical Fiction

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.

The Relic Keeper by Heidi Eljarbo — a book that casually stole my heart and then refused to give it back.

I went into The Relic Keeper thinking I’d read a few chapters, get cosy, and be a productive human the next day.

Narrator’s voice: She was not productive.

This book has that sneaky kind of magic where you think you’re just enjoying a nice little read, and then suddenly you’re emotionally attached, wildly invested, and whispering “okay but WHAT happens next?” at 1 a.m.

Eljarbo has a real gift for atmosphere. Everything feels rich, textured, and alive — like you could reach out and touch the world she’s created. There’s mystery, heart, longing, quiet tension, and that delicious sense that every object, every moment, and every choice matters.

And the characters? I cared. A lot. The sort of caring that makes you pause mid-chapter just to emotionally process. The sort of caring that makes you slightly cross with a book for making you feel things — and then immediately grateful it did.

The writing is the kind that sneaks up on you. One minute you’re calmly reading, the next you’re far too emotionally invested and wondering how this book got permission to make you care this much. It’s smooth, engaging, and dangerously easy to read “just one more chapter” until you realise it’s somehow the middle of the night.

This is the kind of story that lingers. The kind that leaves a soft ache when it’s over because you’re not quite ready to let go yet.

Five stars, no hesitation. Would happily lose sleep again.

***

I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book which you can find on Amazon. And get this, if you have #kindleunlimited subscription then you can read for free. So what are you waiting for?

***

Heidi Eljarbo

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.

Heidi’s favorites are her family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.

Social Media Links:

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Tour Schedule

Book Review of The Unquiet Spirit (Spirited Encounters Book 1) by Penny Hampson

Oh dear… I thought I was signing up for a cosy blog tour. Instead, I’m wandering into a house that smells of rosemary, slams doors for fun, and might just be haunted. Welcome to The Unquiet Spirit — where mischief, and a dash of romance are served up with every creak and whisper.

The Unquiet Spirit 

(Spirited Encounters Book 1) 

By Penny Hampson

Publication Date: 17th October 2025

Publisher: PP&M Publishing

Page Length: 245

Genre: Paranormal Ghost Romance

Triggers: emotional abuse by partner

She wasn’t home alone...

With her love life in tatters, Kate Wilson needs a fresh start, and where could be better than the old Cornish house that had belonged to her godmother?

There’s just one problem – it comes with a ghost as a sitting tenant.

Her grumpy new neighbour, the broodingly handsome Tom Carbis, is another fly in the ointment – he seems to turn up wherever Kate goes. His dog might be friendly, but he’s definitely not.

Then the discovery of a hidden diary points Kate to a romantic mystery with links to both Tom’s family and her house’s past – a mystery that might explain the reason for her spectral lodger.

The downside? Kate needs Tom’s help to solve it and has to convince him that she is not his foe.

But working with Tom to unravel long-buried secrets has unexpected consequences, and Kate discovers far more than she bargained for.

The Unquiet Spirit is a spooky, suspense-filled, enemies-to-lovers romance.

Oh no, here we go again. I signed up to a blog tour thinking, “Sure, why not?” and next thing I know I’m clutching my cardigan, sniffing rosemary in a house that definitely has opinions, and jumping every time a door slams shut for no good reason. Kate Wilson’s new home is loud, spooky, and completely unbothered by her desire for peace. Honestly, it’s like the house has its own personality — a dramatic, melencolony one that keeps you on your toes.

Kate is trying to start over after heartbreak, bless her. All she wants is a fresh start and maybe a cup of tea that stays warm for more than five minutes. Instead, she gets whispers from the past, hidden secrets in every nook, and doors slamming. And naturally, I’m leaning in, muttering at the book like I can actually help her figure it all out. Classic.

And then there’s Tom. Oh, Tom. The grumpy neighbour with just enough charm to make you sigh and enough mystery to make you wonder if you should be worried for Kate. Their slow-burn relationship is painfully, delightfully awkward — the kind of thing where you want to shout at them, cheer them on, and occasionally swoon all at once. Honestly, I spent half the book rolling my eyes and the other half quietly approving every little interaction.

And yet, for all the bumps, whispers, and slamming doors, there’s humour and warmth threaded throughout. Hampson balances the supernatural and the human perfectly, so you’re never too scared to keep reading. I found myself laughing, sighing, and occasionally whispering “oh no, not again” as Kate navigated the increasingly chaotic house — and I loved every second of it.

In short, The Unquiet Spirit is a perfect cocktail of mystery, romance, and supernatural experiences. If you like your ghosts a little dramatic, your love interests awkward but charming, and your stories full of atmosphere and mischief, this is definitely your kind of book.

Brilliant, entertaining, and I may or may not be petitioning the ghosts for a spare room! I really want to live in Kate's house!

***

I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book, which you can find on Amazon. And get this — if you have a #KindleUnlimited subscription, you can read it for free. So… what are you waiting for?

***

Penny Hampson

Penny Hampson writes mysteries, and because she has a passion for history, you’ll find her stories also reflect that. A Gentleman’s Promise, a traditional Regency romance, was Penny’s debut novel and the first of her Gentlemen Series. There are now four novels in the series, with the latest, An Adventurer’s Contract, released in November 2024. Penny also enjoys writing contemporary mysteries with a hint of the paranormal, because where do ghosts come from but the past? The Unquiet Spirit, a spooky mystery/romance set in Cornwall, is the first in the Spirited Encounters Series. Look out for A Plethora of Phantoms coming soon.

Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time).

If you’ve enjoyed any of Penny’s books please leave a review on Amazon, Bookbub, or Goodreads, and let other readers know!

Social Media Links:

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Dance of the Earth by Anna M. Holmes

Dance of the Earth

By Anna M. Holmes

Publication Date: October 28th, 2025

Publisher: The Book Guild

Pages: 456

Genre: Historical Fiction / Ballet History

From world stages to theatres of war, Dance of the Earth is a sweeping family saga.

Set against the backdrops of London’s gilded Alhambra music hall, Diaghilev’s dazzling Ballets Russes, and the upheavals of the First World War, Rose and her children, Nina and Walter, pursue their ambitions, loves, and dreams. Dance and music shape their identities, helping each to find their place in the world.

Spanning the years 1875 to 1921—an era of profound artistic and social change—fact and fiction interweave in this tapestry of birth, sacrifice, and renewal. Art—both serious and comic—is at the story’s beating heart.

Praise

"Draws on her knowledge of British dance history to capture the changes from late 19th century to early 20th century."

Jane Pritchard, M.B.E, Curator of Dance, V&A

"A wonderful blend of fun and grit. I love the delivery and descriptions and I will be looking for more of Anna M Holmes's work."

 Abbe, 5* Amazon Review

Excerpt

DANCE OF THE EARTH.  ACT 2.  

A little about Nina, Rose’s daughter, as a young teenager.

‘Ma, take a look!’ Nina flourished the latest edition of Votes for Women, with news from the National Women’s Social and Political Union, under Ma’s nose. She flipped through the pages. ‘See! I want to join!’

‘What? You expect me to collect you from a police station for chucking a brick through a window?’ 

‘Not them. This.’ She pointed to an advert. ‘Mrs Holt’s classes aren’t difficult to get to. And she trained with Raymond Duncan, Isadora’s brother. She says, “Grace and supplement of movement are necessary for a woman’s well-being and charm.”’

‘Are they indeed,’ Ma said. ‘No harm trying.’

Wearing flowing draperies, her passion became bare-foot dancing learning to ebb and flow. Her plump teacher would stand hand to heart and begin her stories. ‘When Mr Duncan said…’ so that Nina felt a mere breath away from his famous sister. In the church hall that Mrs Holt hired, Nina would lift her chest and arms, leaping in unbounded skips – ‘Feel the breath in your lungs, filling your heart, girls” – gaining height with each inhalation. Then she’d exhale, sinking into poses only to breathe and gather herself again. Locating her solar plexus under a knobbly rib cage was tricky, and any level of grace an on-going endeavour. But Nina was nothing if not an enthusiastic pupil. For a time.

She longed to canter ahead, unseen roots holding her back.

On her fourteenth birthday, Ma and Mo sang ‘happy birthday dear Nina ’n Walter…’ and there were two cakes as always. This brother who’d been given away was a shadowy figure featuring every 29th May only to disappear for another year. Walter’s cake would be sent to him, Ma used to insist. Some years earlier it had been a surprise when a child from a big family down the street called out, ‘Mama says to tell your Ma, thanks for the cake!’ that Nina realised where Walter’s cake really went. Then she’d learnt the full story from Ma, how she’d been in love, how there’d been a handsome man, how she’d not managed to keep Walter… Once the story was told, Nina didn’t think of it again.

One day the front door banged shut and Ma yelled, ‘Molly? You here?’

‘Just me,’ she called out.

When Ma appeared, she didn’t look quite herself. ‘Oh. Oh!’ was all she could say. Whatever had happened had sent Ma into a spin. ‘Walter’s asked to meet.’ Her eyes were bright. ‘Mr Quince sent word—’

‘Who’s Mr Quince when he’s at home?’

‘A lawyer. Your father’s. I can’t believe it. I’m so excited! After all this time!’

‘Oh.’ While Ma jigged about, Nina felt heavy, as if there was a stone in her stomach. It was one thing to have a brother with a cake baked for him each year. It was another thing to have him claim a part of Ma.

Ma talked on about where to meet and what she might wear, whether she should have her hair done and what he might look like. ‘I’ll tell you all about it.’

‘I’m coming too, Ma!’

‘Not the first time, love. This will just be me and Walter.’ 

‘I want to come. Why can’t I come?’

‘Mr Quince says so. And I say so. That’ll be best.’

‘Well, don’t bring him here! I don’t want him here!’

‘Oh, no, love. It’ll be somewhere else.’

The corners of Nina’s mouth drew down. She wished this Walter Roberts had not piped up but had left them alone. Me, Ma ’n Mo. That was enough. Had always been. 

She was resolute. From now on, she hated Walter.

Buy this fabulous book over on your favourite bookstore!

Anna Holmes

Stories with big themes written as page-turners are Anna M Holmes’s speciality.

With an extensive background in dance and theatre, Dance of the Earth is a story she has longed to write.

Her novels—The Find, Wayward Voyage, and Blind Eye—are all typified by deep research.

Anna worked as a radio journalist before embarking on a career in arts management. Originally from New Zealand, she now lives in South-West London.

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