Thursday, April 28, 2022

On tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club Beheld: Godiva's Story by Christopher M. Cevasco #BlogTour #AngloSaxons #HistoricalFiction @cevasco_m @maryanneyarde

 am so excited to welcome Christopher M. Cevasco onto Oh Look, Another Book! today. You have to check our Christopher's novel - Beheld: Godiva's Story -  it sounds sooooo good!

  Thank you to The Coffee Pot Book Club for inviting me to be a part of this tour.



Beheld: Godiva's Story
By Christopher M. Cevasco



A darkly twisted psychological thriller exploring the legend of Lady Godiva’s naked ride.

Having survived a grave illness to become one of 11th-century England’s wealthiest landowners, Godgyfu of Coventry (Lady Godiva) remains forever grateful to the town whose patron saint worked such miracles. She vows to rebuild Coventry’s abbey and better the lives of its townsfolk. But the wider kingdom is descending into political turmoil, and her husband, Earl Leofric, starts to break under the strain. Godgyfu finds her own plans unravelling the moment she meets Thomas, a Benedictine novice with perverse secret desires. Three lives become dangerously entangled in a shocking web of ambition, voyeuristic lust, and horrid obsession. Can Godgyfu escape the monk’s menacing wiles and Leofric’s betrayals to secure her future in a changing kingdom? Perhaps, but first she faces a dark test of wills leading her perilously closer to a legendary ride...


What do you think? Do you want a grab a copy and find out what happens to Lady Godgyfu of Coventry? If so, you will need to head over to your favourite online bookstore by clicking HERE!!!

Christopher M. Cevasco

Christopher M. Cevasco was born in New Jersey and spent a memorable decade in Brooklyn, New York, but he feels most at home in medieval England, Normandy, Norway, and Green-land. A lifelong passion for history and fiction led him to earn degrees in Medieval Studies and English and later to embark upon a writing career that merges these two loves. 

Chris was the founding editor of the award-winning Paradox: The Magazine of Historical and Speculative Fiction from 2003 to 2009. His own short stories appear in such venues as Black Static, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Distant Echoes (Corazon Books, UK), and the Prime Books anthologies Shades of Blue and Gray: Ghosts of the Civil War and Zombies: Shambling Through the Ages. 

A long-time member of the Historical Novel Society, Chris currently serves on the society's North American conference board as registration chair for the upcoming 2023 conference in San Antonio, Texas. 

Chris lives with his wife and their two children in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

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Book Title: Beheld: Godiva's Story
Author: Christopher M. Cevasco
Publication Date: 10th April 2022
Publisher: Lethe Press
Page Length: 242 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction / Psychological Thriller
Trigger Warnings: Sexual situations, psychological abuse, violence, brief references to suicide.



Monday, April 25, 2022

On tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club — The Lake Pagoda by Ann Bennett #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalWomensFiction @annbennett71 @maryanneyarde

You have to check out this excerpt from The Lake Pagoda by Ann Bennett. Thank you to The Coffee Pot Book Club for inviting me to be a part of this tour.



The Lake Pagoda
By Ann Bennett

Indochina 1945: Arielle, who is half-French, half-Vietnamese, is working as a secretary for the French colonial government when the Japanese storm Hanoi. Although her Asian blood spares her from imprisonment, she is forced to work for the occupiers. The Viet Minh threaten to re-veal dark secrets from her past if she won’t pass them information from her new masters.

Drawn ever deeper into the rebels’ dangerous world, will Arielle ever escape the torment of her past? Or will she find love amidst the turmoil of war? 

A novel of love, loss, war, and survival against all odds. 

Trigger Warnings:
Violence


Chapter 1
Paris, November 1946

Arielle pulled her shawl tightly around her shoulders and stepped out of the entrance to the apartment building and onto the broad pavement of Boulevard St Germaine. An icy wind whipped around her, driving up from the River Seine, funnelled by the tall buildings. She shivered and gritted her teeth against the weather. It was so alien to her, this biting cold air that chilled you to the marrow of your bones. In her native Hanoi, the temperature, even in the cooler months, was always comfortable and she was so used to the sultry heat of that city that this Paris winter was a cruel shock. 

Even so, she needed to get out. She couldn’t stay inside the stuffy, cramped apartment a moment longer, and while her father was sleeping it was difficult to do anything in that tiny space without disturbing him. So, each morning she left the building to tramp the streets of this alien city, exploring the alleys of the Latin Quarter, the cobbled lanes and churches of the île de la Cité, the boulevards and gardens of the Eighth Arondissement. And as she walked, she watched the stylish Parisians going about their business, dashing to and fro in fashionable clothes, getting out of taxis, riding on trams, pouring down the steps of the metro. She was trying to understand her new home, to find her place in it, to find some meaningful connection with this great, intimidating city. And there was something else she was searching for too. 

Now, as she braced herself against the wind and started walking along the boulevard away from the apartment, she glanced guiltily back up at the windows on the third floor. She always worried when she left Papa alone. What if he were to wake up and call out for her? What if he had one of his coughing fits? But he always encouraged her to go. ‘Go on, explore while I’m resting. You need to get to know the place. You can’t stay cooped up with a sick old man all day. I’ll be fine on my own.’ But still she worried.

She carried on down the road, making for the market in Rue Mouffetard. Cars and buses crawled past belting out fumes. Through the lines of slow-moving traffic wove bicycles and pony traps, army jeeps too. It felt so bleak here and so dull after the vibrant colours of Hanoi; the plane trees that lined the pavements had lost their leaves, their branches stark against the tall, pale buildings, and the sky between them was an ominous slate grey. 

She walked past a couple of bus stops without pausing. She’d never yet got on a bus in Paris; she had no idea how they worked and was afraid of drawing attention to herself, even though she told herself it was perfectly safe here to do so. Years of having to keep a low profile in Hanoi had made her fearful of attention from anyone. Not that she need worry here in Paris, people barely noticed her. She could walk in the midst of a crowd as if she didn’t exist. And if anyone’s eyes did happen to light on her, seeing her dark skin and black hair they would quickly flick away, for she was half Vietnamese and it was as if she were invisible to them; a nobody.


Isn't this excerpt so amazing? If you want to read on, then you can grab your copy at the following stores, Amazon UKAmazon USAmazon CAAmazon AU. And you can also read this book for free if you have #KindleUnlimited subscription!

Ann Bennett

Ann Bennett was born in Pury End, a small village in Northamptonshire, UK and now lives in Surrey. Her first book, A Daughter's Quest, originally published as Bamboo Heart, was in-spired by her father’s experience as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway. The Plant-er's Wife (originally Bamboo Island) a Daughter's Promise and The Homecoming, (formerly Bamboo Road), The Tea Panter's Club and The Amulet are also about the war in South East Asia, all six making up the Echoes of Empire Collection.

Ann is also author of The Runaway Sisters ,The Orphan House, and The Child Without a Home, published by Bookouture.

The Lake Pavilion and The Lake Palace are both set in British India in the 1930s and 40s. Her latest book, The Lake Pagoda, set in French Indochina in the 30s and 40s, will be published in April 2022.

Ann is married with three grown up sons and a granddaughter and works as a lawyer. For more details please visit www.bambooheart.co.uk

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Sunday, April 24, 2022

On tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club — Where the Gulls Fall Silent by Lelita Baldock #excerpt #HistoricalFiction @LelitaBaldock @maryanneyarde

I am so excited because Lelita Baldock is sharing an excerpt from her book today. You have to check this one out! Thank you to The Coffee Pot Book Club for your invite to take part in this tour.



Where the Gulls Fall Silent
By Lelita Baldock

A small fishing village, a shunned healer, her daughter, tradition, superstition and a world set to change.

Kerensa lives with her mother, the healer Meliora, on the edge of a small fishing community on the Cornish Coast.

The townsfolk, who work the fish runs of pilchard and mackerel that make their way up the Atlantic coast, call on her mother for help with their ailments, but never for her company.

Kerensa does not know why.

Curses and superstitions whisper around her as she grows into a competent young woman, fighting for her place amongst the people of Porth Gwynn.

But what has caused the rift between her and the town?

And can their traditional way of life survive in the face of changing winds?

Where the Gulls Fall Silent is an historical fiction that explores the lives of the fishermen and women who made their living from the rough Atlantic Ocean; the hardship they faced; the secrets that divided them; and the community spirit that pulled them through.

A story of love, loss, hope and second chances.

Trigger Warnings:
Adult themes, mentioned sexual assault


Drift Nets

The oars rubbed against his calloused hands, the sun beat down on his browned forearms, the salt-spray speckled his strengthening beard. 

“Aft, Rewan!” Braneh bellowed across the inlet. 

“Aft,” Rewan repeated to his crew, his own brothers Gerens and Cardor and his friend Kenver. 
Their cox Jory called the stroke,“Right and pull.”

Rewan swung his right oar in a grand arch, matched by his mates and the boat turned, lining up with his father’s craft on the far side. Before them rowed two larger boats, crewed by Braneh, Carowen, Jago, Peren and Madern and his sons. Coming together in a roughly-shaped square, Braneh called the timing.

“Hold, watch the school. Hold,” hand raised, eyes scanning the splashing waves, “Drop!” Braneh cried.

The large seine net of woven cotton plunged into the water, the far end weighted down by stones sinking the net to the bay floor. 

Rewan waited.

“Drop the stop-net!” Braneh called.

Rewan and Gerens sprang into action, loosing their smaller webbing over the side to seal off the seine.

“Capstans!” Braneh cried, waving his arms above his head, to the men awaiting his signal on the shore, long ropes leading from them to the seine in hand. The men began to pull, the seine tugged together condensing the space inside, herding the pilchards within.

‘Tuck-net!”

“Go,” Rewan cried. Jory took up the count, “Heave and heave…”

His crew and three other boats made their way inside the waters now cordoned off by the seine and loosed the tuck-net between them. Carefully rowing in closer and closer together the boats formed a circle around the school. The fish, now sensing the trap and feeling the net coming in around them, began to splash and flap along the surface of the water, silver scales catching the sun.

“Let’s get ‘em lads,” Rewan grinned. 

Stowing their oars the fishermen took up their baskets and leaned over the side of the boat, slipping the baskets into the water and under the mass of squirming fish, scooping them out and into the boat to flop and gasp at their feet. Again and again they dipped the baskets bringing up mound after mound of slippery pilchards, flapping wildly as they fought for their lives. A few managed to wiggle free, but not for long.

The men worked fast and methodically, collecting up the slippery school. Then, boats full, Rewan waved to his father.

“Release and haul!” Braneh called. The men at the far end pulled up their netting. Rewan and his crew took up oars and began to stroke their way to the shore. The capstans met them to help pull the boats up the beach. The women, holding large baskets between pairs, came ready to collect the fish and carry them up the ramp to the sheds for processing. Off to the side, a few older men and women waded in the shallows with their smaller nets, working in circles to catch the fish that slipped around the seine or were washed to shore by the currents of the bay.

Working as one the town cleared the catch, hauling the baskets of pilchards, now flopping slower, weaker, from the beach. The final fish taken from his boat Rewan looked up towards the cliff top, watching for the huer to see if they would be called to sea again for another round.

The breeze dried the salt of sweat and sea on his brow, and hands on hips he stood, breathing deeply.

Then he saw her. 

Coming down the cliff-side, a basket of herbs against her hip as she slowly traversed the decline. She swayed elegantly, sure-footed despite the pronounced limp. 

His heart beat faster though he was now at rest, his tummy churning with excitement. He didn’t know when the change had come, when she had stopped being a pestering younger child and morphed into a creature that could control his heart. It had crept up on him, and with it a distance had grown between them. The easy company of their days playing chase on the sands replaced with a shy hesitancy.

He didn’t care what people said, had heard the talk of a curse: that her birth was an ill-omen, a promise of doom. But he knew that talk for what it was: superstitious fear.

The truth was that Kerensa was beautiful, and skilled. Had always been, even as an annoying slip of a child who’d never let him win a game of capture the flag. The corner of Rewan’s mouth hitched up in amusement at the memory; the little girl, eyes fierce and determined, too proud to take the pasty… That light still shone within her. A strength that would not be thwarted. 

And he wasn’t the only one who saw it, of that he was sure. His was not the only heart that beat for Kerensa Williams.

“… I said, come on sailor! The Huer’s waving!” 

Rewan looked down at his younger brother. Cardor, slight with youth, the first fuzz of hair shading his upper lip, followed the line of his brother’s gaze. Grinning knowingly he elbowed Rewan in the ribs. “Fish won’t wait!” he cried running down the beach to their boat waiting patiently on her side. 
“But will she?” Rewan whispered to himself. Indulging in one last glance up at Kerensa’s soft silhouette, he shook his head. Focus, he told himself and hurried down to join his crew.

Doesn't this book sound amazing, if you would like to read more than head over to Amazon. And, get this, you can also read this book for free if you have #KindleUnlimited subscription. Fabulous!!! 

Lelita Baldock

Lelita Baldock is an author of historical fiction and crime fiction. She has a passion for dark stories, with an unexpected twist.

It was during her years studying English Literature at University that Lelita discovered her love of all things reading and writing. But it would be another 15 years before she would take up the challenge and write her own novel.

Her debut novel, the historical fiction Widow's Lace, is an Amazon best-seller.

Her follow up, The Unsound Sister, saw her take a different direction in her writing, trying her hand at crime fiction and has been warmly received globally.

Her third novel, Where the Gulls Fall Silent, a traditional historical fiction set in mid-1800s Cornwall, is out now.

Lelita also runs a blog and newsletter featuring fellow authors and other creatives.

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#BookReview - Escape The Choice (The Choice Series, Book 1) by Ellie Yarde #YoungAdult #Romance @ReadingAlNight

 



Escape The Choice 

(The Choice Series, Book 1)

By Ellie Yarde

How do you make a choice when you don't want to choose?

Oliver's friendship may be important to Ali, after all, she's the only friend he's got, but that's all they will ever be – friends. When it comes to Noah, she can't help but hope their friendship will become something more. Her heart flutters when he is near, and her eyes always seem to find his.

Unfortunately for Ali, Oliver would make things very difficult if anything were to happen between her and Noah, and while Noah has never told her not to be friends with Oliver, his distaste for the man is quite clear. For Ali to resolve the ongoing dispute, she will have to choose between them. But how can Ali choose between the two men when her decision will mean she has to cut one of them from her life?

A quick read filled with friendship, love, and a deep adoration of coffee and muffins.


What is more perfect than reading a short story on your coffee break? Well, reading a short story written by young adult romance author, Ellie Yarde!!! I was really looking forward to reading Ellie's debut novel. The blurb, with its mention of a deep adoration for coffee and muffins, really closed the deal!!

This sweet, short, college romance follows a young university student, Ali. Ali is so sweet and caring, she is one of those people who want to please everyone, but by doing so she cannot be true to her feelings.
 
Ali has two love interests in this novel. Oliver is a close friend, but there is something very dark about his character. He needs to be in control of their relationship at all times. Oliver really made my skin crawl, he is a very dislikable character indeed. The other love interest is Noah who is perfect for Ali.

I thought this short story was simply fabulous. I enjoyed every minute of it. The characters came across as very real in the telling, and the story was incredibly fast-paced. I cannot wait to read book 2.


This book is amazing. I highly recommend it. And get this it is only 0.99 on #Kindle and it is also available on #KindleUnlimited, so what are you waiting for? Grab your copy NOW - HERE!

Ellie Yarde

Ellie Yarde is primarily a reader and blogger. She writes short stories, which are published on her blog, Reading All Night, where she also shares her reviews. Escape The Choice is Ellie’s debut novel, and the first in The Choice Series. 

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Thursday, April 21, 2022

On tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club — A Ha’penny Will Do by Alison Huntingford #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @ahuntingford9 @maryanneyarde


Once again I am part of a tour organised by The Coffee Pot Book Club, and today A Ha’penny Will Do by Alison Huntingford is in the Spotlight! 


A Ha’penny Will Do
By Alison Huntingford

Love, dreams and destitution.

Three members of one family are linked by their struggle to survive poverty and war at the turn of the century.  

Kate, a homesick, lonely Irish immigrant, dreams of being a writer.  After difficult times in Liverpool she comes to London looking for a better life.  Hoping to escape from a life of domestic service into marriage and motherhood, she meets charming rogue William Duffield.  Despite her worries about his uncertain temperament, she becomes involved with him. Will it be an escape or a prison? 

Fred is a restless elder son, devoted to his mother yet locked in a tempestuous relationship with his father.  War intervenes and he secretly signs up to serve abroad.  Is his bad reputation deserved?  What will become of him?

Joe, too young to sign up for WW1, is left to endure the hardships of war on the home front and deal with his own guilt at not being able to serve.  He starts an innocent friendship with his sister-in-law which sustains him through hard times.  Will he survive the bombs, the riots, the rationing and find true love in the end?

These are their intertwined and interlocking stories recreated through the medium of diaries, letters and personal recollections, based on the author’s family history covering the period of 1879 – 1920. The truth is never plain and rarely simple. 

This novel is a fresh and compelling look at life for the working-class poor in England at the end of the Victorian era.  Covering issues such as the struggle for home rule in Ireland, the hardships of domestic service, marital strife, the suffragettes and the horrors of World War 1 on the home front and abroad, this is a realistic and gripping tale which keeps the reader involved in their human plight all the way.

Doesn't this novel sound amazing. If you would like to pick up a copy of this book you can do so at the following locations: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and my personal favourite bookstore, Waterstones

Alison Huntingford

Alison Huntingford has a degree in humanities with literature, and has always enjoyed reading, especially, the great writers of the 19th century. 

She is an only child of two only children and so has always felt a distinct lack of family. This has inspired her to research her family history and most of her writing is based on this. Her debut novel, The Glass Bulldog, was published in 2019, and was nominated for the Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction. This is her second full length novel, although, she has also written several short stories. 

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their pets, listening to music, going to the cinema, and gardening.  She lives in Devon, on the edge of Dartmoor.

Social Media Links:







Wednesday, April 20, 2022

On tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club — The Professor’s Lady (The Thompsons of Locust Street, Book 3) by Holly Bush #HistoricalRomance #BlogTour @hollybushbooks @maryanneyarde

Holly Bush is sharing an excerpt from her fabulous novel today. It sounds sooooo good!! Thank you to The Coffee Pot Book Club for your invite to take part in this tour.


The Professor’s Lady
(The Thompsons of Locust Street, Book 3)
By Holly Bush

Meet the Thompsons of Locust Street, an unconventional family taking Philadelphia high society by storm…


1870 Kirsty Thompson is determined to begin her own business bringing beloved Scottish fabrics and yarns to Philadelphia but first she must meet the men and women who weave the plaids and spin the wool. How will she ever escape her protective older siblings and sail to Scotland?

Albert Watson is a medical doctor focusing on research, especially that of Joseph Lister and his sterilization techniques. He speaks at universities in America and in England while visiting his London relatives. As he prepares to sail for just such an engagement, Kirsty Thompson boards his ship to beg him to take her with him. What’s a gentleman to do? Albert cancels his trip across the ocean to escort Miss Thompson back to Philadelphia and finds there is danger afoot for her and her family.

Soon he comes to realize there is also danger for his heart, even for a man who rarely pulls his nose from a medical journal. He finds himself unable to put Miss Kirsty Thompson out of his thoughts, where they belonged, because certainly a beautiful, ambitious, and charming young woman could have no interest in him. Or could she?


“Whatever has happened, Albert?” his mother asked when he found her in her favorite chintz-covered chair in the room she called the drawing room. “That Clawson person said you were not going to London! Have you contacted your Uncle Bertrand? Louisa will be expecting you! You must send a transatlantic immediately, even though it will be quite expensive. Albert? Have you heard what I’ve said to you?”

“Yes, Mother. I’ve heard it all. C-clawson has already sent a telegram to Uncle Bertrand and Aunt Louisa with my apologies.”

“Whatever happened? Clawson was quite mysterious and would not give me any answers! And I do not understand why that person must live here! In our home!”

“We have the space as there are sixteen bedrooms in this house aside from the staff quarters. It isn’t unusual in England for a s-secretary to live with his employer, and it is convenient for me to have him here. And he does have his own entrance.”

“It is bad enough that you have him dine with us occasionally. I would have insisted on his own entrance if he did not! I don’t want to be seeing him coming and going at all hours.”
 
“And Graybell and Mrs. Munchin live here in their own apartments.”

“Of course they do! B-butlers and housekeepers always live with their employers.”

“And often so do secretaries.”

She opened the magazine she was holding. “As usual, you are determined to ignore my wishes.”

He’d only been marginally aware of his mother’s histrionics until after his father died. He was away at preparatory school and then college, and when he was home, he spent most of his time reading medical books and working with his father while he was alive. It had come as rather a shock that his mother was as unpleasant as she was, which he’d discovered after his father’s funeral. From what he’d been able to wheedle from Graybell over the last few years, his mother’s behavior had not changed. It had just been hidden from him. He loved her. She was his mother. But he often wondered how a wife would ever fit in. 

“A friend needed an escort, and I provided it, and therefore I did not sail with the Maybelle to England. Mr. Clawson will reschedule my speaking engagement, and I will ask Aunt Louisa if it will be c-convenient for us to stay on a new date.”

“Of course it will be convenient! Whyever would they not want you to stay with them? Your father was a successful and well-regarded physician to the highest echelons of British society and Bertrand just a merchant.”

Just a merchant, Albert thought to himself. Uncle Bertrand had made a fortune in bits for horses, although his wide range of metal products included everything from rails for the ever-expanding British railroads to containers for flour and sugar. “I’ll just want to make sure they have not made plans to travel or entertain other guests. I wouldn’t want to be a burden.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. They don’t travel. Louisa is a spendthrift, and they’ve three daughters to launch, none of whom show much promise to be beauties.” She looked at him with panicked eyes. “Whatever you do, do not let yourself be caught in a compromising position with the two eldest. Louisa would love to see one of them married to you and moved here to America, to live in my home!”

“Calm yourself, Mother. I’ve no intention of marrying any of my cousins.”

She took a deep breath, her back straight, her hands clenching a handkerchief, and turned her head to look out the front windows. “I’ve been preparing myself for your marriage. You’ll need to have sons to carry on your father’s title. I will have much to teach a young woman about household management.”

The reality of his situation came crashing down on him at that moment. His mother, his mother, could make it nearly impossible for him to have any sort of normal relationship with a woman. Although in his last letter, Uncle Bertrand had replied to his subtle questions about how his father had managed his mother’s tendency to drama through all the years of their marriage with this advice: Stand firm. Your father never raised his voice and did not allow your mother’s moods to threaten his, for as you know, my brother was the most even-tempered and pleasant person one could ever meet! What else he did not allow was when she disparaged another person, especially staff. I know you love her, as any dutiful son should, but your mother can be cruel, especially, it seems, to those of her sex.

“I will see you at dinner, Mother,” he said, refusing to begin a conversation about who actually ran the household—his mother or Mrs. Munchin.

If that excerpt tickles your fancy and you want to read the rest of the book then head over to your favourite online bookstore. Here are the links, hold onto your hats — Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon CA, Amazon AU, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and, last but not least, Apple Books.

Holly Bush

Holly Bush writes historical romance set in the U.S.in the late 1800’s, in Victorian England, and an occasional Women’s Fiction title. Her books are described as emotional, with heartfelt, sexy romance. She makes her home with her husband in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. 

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Thursday, April 14, 2022

On tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club - The Brantford Wagers (The Brantford Series, Book 1) by Nadine Kampen #RegencyRomance #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @cookiebuxton @maryanneyarde

 

Today's guest is Historical Romance author, Nadine Kampen. Nadine is sharing an excerpt with us from her début novel, The Brantford Wagers (The Brantford Series, Book 1). Thank you to The Coffee Pot Book Club for inviting me to be a part of this tour.


The Brantford Wagers

(The Brantford Series, Book 1)

By Nadine Kampen



Is Clara Vincent ready to risk it all for love?

Clara Vincent is “the artful dodger” when it comes to marriage, especially when her father is bent on match-making. Will her attitude change when she meets two eligible suitors and is drawn into the lives of intensely competitive families? Clara falls unexpectedly in love, but when fortunes are reversed and relationships up-ended, she needs to decide whether to trust James Brantford, who is seeking retribution, or accept the love of the man everyone else believes is her ideal match. 

As the Brantford wagers unfold and lay bare the history of past relationships, will Clara be able to learn the truth and finally follow her heart?




From Chapter 17 – The Fall Picnic 

Not far from Clara and Mrs Sand, near to Mrs Brantford, were two long tables set with food and beverages. The meal was to be served at four, said Mrs Sand, and this was to tide them over. ‘I do hope my brother will make an announcement over dinner, but he would not confirm it, even to his own sister. He can be so very stubborn.’ She giggled like a child and waved her brush in the direction of her brother. ‘Look at him, dear soul, surrounded by all the eager young ladies. There is only one way to put a stop to all the ladies chasing him, if he would only see it for himself.’

Mrs Sand resumed her painting, and Clara moved quietly away, drinking in the beauty of the property. She felt a deep appreciation for this family’s heritage, and she longed for the stability they enjoyed. She envied the Brantfords, being raised likely for generations in the same house. Her own family had moved several times, settling into Wellsmere a few years ago. She was envious, not of the man’s wealth, but of the history that Mr Brantford was to inherit.

Nearby lay a short path leading to a wild little garden. From here, a pathway led towards a small lake. Clara walked with a quick step, away from the other guests and the manor. She breathed in the sweet, moist air, grateful for time to herself at last.

‘Miss Vincent!’ came a man’s voice.

Seeing it was Mr Langley, she gave him a friendly wave in reply. Langley’s long stride brought him to her side, and they strolled together along the path.

‘It is good to see you,’ he said. ‘It has been difficult to break away from visiting at Ashton’s. And now, just this morning, to my dismay, I received a summons from my Aunt Melbourne. I am to leave in two days to collect my Aunt and take her to London. It is rather sudden,’ he protested. ‘I hope, however, to see you eight weeks from now at my aunt’s estate.’ He looked relieved when she nodded her agreement.

‘This estate puts me in mind of Wellsmere. Here, in particular, it is especially beautiful,’ he gestured towards the mature woodland. ‘These are grounds to have and to hold. I could be content in such a place. Nay, I am in fact already content. Did you realise, Miss Vincent, that the other gentlemen are envious of me? They wait in anticipation for me to leave your side.’

Discomfited, and to lighten the mood, Clara replied playfully, ‘Come, Mr Langley, very few of them can even see us. In any case, I must prove you wrong. Look there. See how Mr Drinscol pays rapt attention to his wife.’

‘She has much to say, and he, alas, is compelled to listen.’

‘I would wager it goes both ways,’ she commented, then tried another tack. ‘Over there, my cousin Stancroft strolls happily with his neighbour.’

‘Ah, the charming Miss Drinscol. She cannot play cards for love nor money, which is not in itself important, but it bodes ill for other matters.’

Clara’s eye caught a movement between the pair, and her glance lingered as John reached under his greatcoat and handed a slip of paper to Miss Drinscol.

‘Most of the men I see would leave their present company in a moment, whereas I would not trade these moments with you, Miss Vincent, for the company of any.’

‘I beg you, Mr Langley, do stop!’ she laughed, blushing. She hurriedly moved the conversation on to another topic.

Studying her face, Mr Langley thought he had never seen her look so lovely. He smiled at her and said, ‘Do you see that canal over there? It is entirely man-made. The father aims to bring the river closer so he can fish at leisure and improve his view.’

‘Yes, so I understand,’ she replied.

‘What a grand scheme. That is a man who appreciates the finer things in life. Were I in Mr Brantford’s position, the younger Brantford, I would engage a Mr Repton, or one of his understudies, to improve even further on the design. However, the canal will be completed soon. How I would love to purchase this estate!’

The path they were on led back towards the great house, and they could hear faint strains of conversation from a group nearby. When Clara tripped over a protruding root, Mr Langley drew her arm through his to steady her. Seeing Mr Brantford ahead of them, he pinned her arm securely at his side. His gloved hand resting atop hers in proprietary fashion, he called out a greeting to their host inviting him to join them.

Brantford hesitated, surveying the pair. He spoke a few words to his grandmother and came towards them. 

‘We are speaking of homes, Mr Brantford, and admiring yours. What a grand old structure. Two centuries at least, I should think.’

Mr Brantford said curtly that the home was, in fact, one hundred and sixty years old.

‘Well, it is one of the finer houses in these parts. Let me buy it from you, if you ever sell. I have fallen in love with it,’ Mr Langley said with a boyish laugh. ‘Your family has had it long enough. I will happily take it off your father’s hands.’

‘The entail expires after it passes to me in due course, so I will keep you in mind.’

‘That is a fortunate situation. But we lose Miss Vincent with our talk of entails. Are you in love with old houses, Miss Vincent?’

Clara Vincent knew, without doubt, that she was in love, but her mind was far from being fixed on stone walls and chimney stacks.

Doesn't this novel sound amazing?! If you would like to grab your copy of The Brantford Wagers you can do so at the following places - 

Nadine Kampen

In her début novel, The Brantford Wagers, Nadine Kampen draws on her passion for stories that bring a smile and warm the hearts of the reader. The author immerses the reader in the fictional world of traditional historical romance, set in the memorable Regency England period, sharing the hopes, schemes, and antics of her characters. 

Prior to her career as an author, Nadine served as a regional marketing manager with an international consulting firm and as a communications and marketing director on university campuses. Earlier in her career, she worked in public relations and journalism, and was co-author and project lead for five non-fiction books comprising The Canadian Breast Cancer Series, published in 1989.

A resident of Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada, Nadine loves relaxing with family and friends, reading and walking, playing tunes on her 1905 Bell piano, and gardening. 

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Wednesday, April 13, 2022

On tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club - Shake Loose the Border (Thunder on the Moor, Book 3) by Andrea Matthews #BlogTour #TimeTravelRomance #ScottishHistoryRomance @AMatthewsAuthor @maryanneyarde


Stop what you are doing and check out Andrea Matthews's book, Shake Loose the Border (Thunder on the Moor, Book 3). If you like time-travel romance set in Scotland (who doesn't?) then this book just might deserve a place on your to-read pile!  Thank you to The Coffee Pot Book Club for your invite to take part in this tour.



Shake Loose the Border 
(Thunder on the Moor, Book 3)
By Andrea Matthews


With Will and Maggie’s wedding just a week away, the last thing they need to stumble upon is Johnnie Hetherington’s dead body tied to a tree, especially one that’s so close to their cottage. Recognizing it as a sure sign that Johnnie has betrayed the family once too often, Sergeant Richie Carnaby gathers Will and his family together for questioning, though it seems obvious only a fool would kill a man on his own land. Then who did murder the rogue, and why?

Feeling confident it wasn’t any of the Fosters, Richie allows Will and Maggie’s wedding to proceed, but the couple has barely exchanged vows when the Armstrongs attack in force. Geordie is determined to rescue his niece from the clutches of Will Foster, whether she wants to go or not. And if he happens to make her a widow in the process, so be it. Will senses the danger and implores Dylan to get Maggie away to safety, no matter where — or when — that may be.

Though Maggie protests, Will assures her he will follow as soon as he is able. Yet how can that be possible when Dylan whisks her back to the twentieth century? Sharing her fears about Will, and unable to forget his own love, Annie, Dylan attempts to return to the past one last time despite his growing concerns over the disintegrating amulet stone. But will he make it in time to rescue Will, or will the villainous Ian Rutherford, who has already killed in cold blood once, win the ultimate battle and see Will and Maggie separated forever?


Maggie blinked as dawn broke that Saturday morning. She had survived the harrowing experience of the previous Thursday night and the tiring prenuptial feast of the night before and now looked forward to the start of a wonderful life with her new husband. He would always be there, guarding her, protecting her, but she had discovered an inner strength in herself as well. 

Today, however, was her wedding day, and Will’s sisters fussed around her like she was a fairy-tale princess. In fact, when they had finished, she was. Her long auburn hair fell down her back in gentle waves. Just as on the day of her handfast, braids had been plaited at her temples, woven with ribbons, and pulled back and tied at the nape of her neck. On her head was a floral crown of wildflowers, bound together with rosemary and ribbons of blue and green to represent both their families. They matched the swathbonds that encircled her waist and the bridal laces that hung from her satin sleeves. A number of ribbon garters were tied to her legs, and they too were the colors of choice. But the gown itself was of the deepest blue, decorated with small beads and delicate lace trim. The square neckline revealed only the slightest bit of her chemise so that her neck lay bare, except for the small string of ivory roses given to her by Will at their handfast, and her kirtle was of silver damask.  

Mary wore a dress of pale blue while Eleanor and little Peggy donned gowns of forest green, in keeping with Maggie’s colors. But Annie wore Betty’s wedding dress, which was the same beautiful shade of rose that colored Maggie’s nosegay and adorned her hair. The same soft shade that had filled her cheeks after Will first made love to her and would no doubt touch them anew when next they met. 

Annie smiled broadly as she tied the last ribbon to Maggie’s dress. “There! A more bonnie bride they’ve never seen in all of Tynedale, and to think ’tis to be wasted on that nae-account brother of mine.” 

“You don’t mean a word of that,” Maggie said with a grin, for it was no secret how close Annie and Will really were. 

“Ye’re right there. If ’twere no’ for our Will . . . ’Twas him what found me that morn, ye ken. I didna want him to touch me, I was that ashamed, but Will never gave up, talking to me, bringing me flowers, telling me how bonnie I looked, liar though he was. I never would have made it without him. When yer kin carried him off, nowt what happened to me seemed all that important anymore.” 

Maggie rested her hand on Annie’s. “Don’t ever let what Ian did to you make you think poorly of yourself. Turn it against him by letting it make you stronger.” 

“I am trying, though ’tis hard at times.” 

“You’re going to wear this dress someday soon, Annie.” 

“I hope so, though I’m no’ sure who ’twill be . . .” She looked around, making sure no one else was listening, though Maggie was fairly sure what she was about to say and equally certain it was common knowledge. “I do care a great deal for Dylan Hetherington, but I’m afeard I’m no’ alone there.” 

Maggie tried to conceal her smile, wondering if Dylan would ever confide his twentieth-century origins to the girl. “And have you spoken to him about it?” 

“A wee bit, and he says his heart belongs to none but me, yet he’s made nae promises either. I can hope, though, d’ye no’ think?” 

“I just don’t want you to be hurt if . . . Annie, I love Dylan dearly, and I do think he’s a good soul, one who can give a great deal of love. But he is still searching for something, and he is a bit of a . . .” 

“A rogue. Oh, I ken that right enough, but how’s a lass to win him if she’s afeard of rising to the fray? I’ll be all right, Maggie, for if he takes a liking to someone else, ’tis his loss, no’ mine.” 

Maggie smiled and hugged Annie warmly. The morning sun was just beginning to peek over the windowsill, and she could hear the sounds of preparation going on below. Biting her lip, she took a peek outside. Will was already there, and she listened intently to the sound of his voice. How she wanted to join him, but it wasn’t yet time, so she contented herself with gazing out across the dew-covered fells dreaming of the night to come.  

Ah dinnae ken about you, but that book sounds right up my street, luckily I know where you can purchase it!!! Amazon UKAmazon USAmazon CAAmazon AU. And get this, if you have #KindleUnlimited subscription then you can read for free. Bargain!!!

Andrea Matthews

Andrea Matthews is the pseudonym for Inez Foster, a historian and librarian who loves to read and write and search around for her roots, genealogical speaking. She has a BA in History and an MLS in Library Science, and enjoys the research almost as much as she does writing the story. In fact, many of her ideas come to her while doing casual research or digging into her family history. She is the author of the Thunder on the Moor series set on the 16th century Anglo-Scottish Border, and the Cross of Ciaran series, where a fifteen hundred year old Celt finds himself in the twentieth century. Andrea is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Long Island Romance Writers, and the Historical Novel Society.


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Tour Schedule 



Tour Schedule

On tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club — Small Eden by Jane Davis #HistoricalFiction #TheCoffeePotBookClub #BlogTour @janedavisauthor @cathiedunn

You have to check out Jane Davis' new book, Small Eden. Thank you to  The Coffee Pot Book Club  for inviting me to be a part of this to...