Archive for the ‘Historical’ Category

The Mark Of The Salamander by Justin Newland ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: November 8, 2023 in giveaways, Guest Post, Historical
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Book Details:

​ The Mark of the Salamander by Justin Newland
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  246 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction and Magical Realism 
Publisher:  The Book Guild
Release date:  September 2023
Content Rating: PG-13 +M. Mild sex and cruelty. Mature themes.

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Book Description:

1575.

Nelan Michaels is a young Flemish man fleeing religious persecution in the Spanish Netherlands. Settling in Mortlake outside London, he studies under Queen Elizabeth’s court astrologer, conjuring a bright future – until he’s wrongly accused of murder. Forced into the life of a fugitive, Nelan hides in London, before he is dramatically pressed into the crew of the Golden Hind. Thrust into a strange new world on board Francis Drake’s vessel, Nelan sails the seas on a voyage to discover discovery itself. Encountering mutiny, ancient tribes and hordes of treasure, Nelan must explore and master his own mystical powers – including the Mark of the Salamander, the mysterious spirit of fire.

THE MARK OF THE SALAMANDER is the first in The Island of Angels series: a two-book saga that tells the epic story and secret history of England’s coming of age during the Elizabethan era.

 
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Author Guest Post
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My latest historical fiction novel, The Mark of the Salamander, has just hit the shelves. It’s the first title in a two-book series, The Island of Angels, which tells the epic story and secret history of England’s coming of age during the Elizabethan era.

This is blog is about the title, namely The Mark of the Salamander. 

First of all, what is a salamander? Well, it’s a spirit of fire.

In Medieval times, Paracelsus, the great Swiss alchemist, identified the four beings or spirits of the elements. While the salamander is the fire elemental, gnomes inhabit the earth, undines swim in the waters of the oceans, and sylphs are air spirits.

As a spirit of fire, the salamander is a lithe creature that occupied the other world, and so would only be appear to be seen those who had the eyes to see them. Just like the other three elemental spirits, the salamander had healing properties, and had to those it attended, it gave the power of foresight, and of insight into the future.

Fire is fascinating. It lives, it’s alive. At the hearth, it warms, and yet it destroys. It melts, it smelts, and it cleanses. It houses the phoenix who rises from the ashes, it begets new birth, and yet Hell is full of the stuff.

It’s the living fire, the fire that we breathe that’s inside the air, the flame of life and living.

And there’s a ruby salamander mentioned in the novel. The idea of it came from this image of a ruby salamander pendant. Gold filigree set with rubies, it was recovered from a Spanish galleon off the coast of Northern Ireland some years after the Armada. So, although it was probably not part of the treasure taken by Drake from the Spanish ship, the Cacafuego, the fact that it was a salamander gave me the idea to use it in the novel.

What about the mark, the mark of the salamander? What’s that?

Well, I got the idea from the Ancient Greek myth about the warrior Achilles. The legend goes that his mother dipped him into the River Styx to make his entire body invulnerable, except for the part of his foot where she held him—the proverbial Achilles heel. That was his identifying feature, in his case, his weakness and ultimately, his destiny.

In a similar way, Nelan, the hero of my novel, is born with three wavy lines beneath the middle finger of his right hand. That’s the mark of the salamander. That way, his supernatural powers, such as clairvoyance, ESP, and telepathy, can be identified with a physical feature, an actual mark on the body.

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Meet the Author:

JUSTIN NEWLAND’s novels represent an innovative blend of genres from historical adventure to supernatural thriller and magical realism. His stories explore the themes of war and religion, and speculate on the human’s spiritual place in the universe.

Undeterred by the award of a Doctorate in Mathematics from Imperial College, London, he conceived his debut novel, The Genes of Isis (Matador, 2018), an epic fantasy set under Ancient Egyptian skies.

The historical thriller, The Old Dragon’s Head (Matador, 2018), is set in Ming Dynasty China in the shadows of the Great Wall.

​The Coronation (Matador, 2019) was another historical adventure and speculates on the genesis of the most important event in the modern world – the Industrial Revolution.

The Abdication (Matador, 2021) is a mystery thriller in which a young woman confronts her faith in a higher purpose and what it means to abdicate that faith.

The Mark of the Salamander (Book Guild, 2023) is the first in a two-book series, The Island of Angels. Set in the Elizabethan era, it’s an epic tale of England’s coming of age.

His work in progress is the second in the series, The Midnight of Eights, the charting of the uncanny coincidences that led to the repulse of the Spanish Armada.

Author, speaker and broadcaster, Justin appears on LitFest panels, gives talks to historical associations and libraries and enjoys giving radio interviews and making podcasts. Born three days before the end of 1953, he lives with his partner in plain sight of the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England.

connect with the author:
​website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ pinterest ~ bookbub ~ goodreads

 
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THE MARK OF THE SALAMANDER Book Tour Giveaway

 

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Death And The Sisters by Heather Redmond ~ Review And Giveaway

Posted: October 12, 2023 in giveaways, Historical, Mystery, reviews
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Death and the Sisters by Heather Redmond Banner

Death and the Sisters
by Heather Redmond
September 25 – October 20, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

 

 

Synopsis:
The tangled relationships between Frankenstein author Mary Shelley, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Mary’s stepsister Jane Clairmont form the backdrop for an intriguing historical mystery, set in London in 1814, that explores the complex dynamic between sisters and the birth of teenaged Mary’s creative genius.

London, 1814: Mary Godwin and her stepsister Jane Clairmont, both sixteen, possess quick minds bolstered by an unconventional upbringing, and have little regard for the rules that other young ladies follow. Mary, whose mother famously advocated for women’s rights, rejects the two paths that seem open to her—that of an assistant in her father’s bookshop, or an ordinary wife. Though quieter and more reserved than the boisterous Jane, Mary’s imagination is keen, and she longs for real-world adventures. One evening, an opportunity arrives in the form of a dinner guest, Percy Bysshe Shelley. At twenty-one, Shelley is already a renowned poet and radical. Mary finds their visitor handsome and compelling, but it is later that evening, after the party has broken up, that events take a truly intriguing turn. When Mary comes downstairs in search of a book, she finds instead a man face down on the floor—with a knife in his back. The dead man, it seems, was a former classmate of Shelley’s, and had lately become a personal and professional rival. What was he doing in the Godwins’ home? Mary, Jane, and Shelley are all drawn to learn the truth behind the tragedy, especially as each discovery seems to hint at a tangled web that includes many in Shelley’s closest circle. But as the attraction between Mary and the married poet intensifies, it sparks a rivalry between the sisters, even as it kindles the creative fire within . . .

Praise for Death and the Sisters:

“Death and the Sisters is a terrific blend of gritty history with a mystery that will keep readers turning pages. Impeccably researched and imaginative, Redmond’s first Mary Shelley Mystery immerses readers in the drama of young Mary Godwin and her family, as well as her budding romance with Percy Shelley, as they work together to solve a wonderfully bookish murder. I thoroughly enjoyed this series kick-off and can’t wait for the next story!” ~ Susanna Craig, author of The Lady Knows Best “Death and the Sisters is a rip-roaring murder mystery with twists and turns that introduces teenaged Mary Godwin, not yet the author of the immortal work Frankenstein, as an amateur detective. Redmond’s foray in the world of rational atheists in early 19th century London is a mesmerizing, forceful delight.” ~ Eilis Flynn, author of The Riddle of Rym “Crafted with vivid historical detail, an artfully twisted plot, and engaging characters, Death and the Sisters is an excellent start to what I hope will be a long-running series.” ~ Dianne Freeman, author of the award-winning Countess of Harleigh Mysteries “It might be the way London comes to life in all of its dark and gritty complexities, or the dynamics between Mary and her step-sister, Jane, as they set out to find the killer of the man who they discover dead in the bookshop. Everyone is a suspect—even Percy Shelley who has caught the eye of the women in the household. Propulsive and immersive, Heather Redmond is at the top of her game until the intense and satisfying end.” ~ Mary Keliikoa, author of Hidden Pieces “An intrepid cast of characters, a stunningly atmospheric 19th-century London, and a riveting murder… Highly recommend.” ~ Melissa Bourbon, bestselling author

 

Book Details:

Genre: Historical mystery

Published by: Kensington Publication Date: September 2023 Number of Pages: 320 ISBN: 9781496737991 (ISBN10: 1496737997) Series: Mary Shelley Mystery, 1

Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Kensington

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MY REVIEW

Little did Mary know, her late night search for reading material in the family bookstore would land her and her step-sister, Jane, in the middle of a murder investigation.  The girls were relieved to find it was a stranger’s body they stumbled upon and not the dashing and loquacious Mr. Percy Shelley. They both found him to be quite polished and easy on the eyes.

What a fascinating look into 19th Century England. The richness of detail put me there. Experiencing the less fortunate side of trying to keep a roof over ones head. Not the glam and glitz of higher society.

I enjoyed the dual points of view between the two sisters. It helped me understand what motivated them. What made them tick. They were both very intelligent but differed greatly in personality. Things got more intriguing when Percy also joined them in their search for answers.

Death And The Sisters is a perfect title for this story. The cover is stunning. And the writing is strong and persuasive.  A solid plot and I’d be happy to read more if this is to be a series.

4 STARS

 

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Read an excerpt:
“Come, Mary.” Jane flopped onto her bed. “Tell us a story about the prisoner ghosts wailing.” “I’ll have to think it up,” Mary said and then began to quote. “‘This relation is Matter of Fact, and attended with such Circumstances as may induce any Reasonable Man to believe it.’” “What’s that?” Jane asked. The floor creaked as she kicked off her slippers and knocked them to the floor. “Defoe, I think,” Mary said, already considering the form of her story. If only Mother had written such fanciful tales, to give her ideas on how to construct them. “I’ll consult his works in the bookshop for further inspiration. It seems like quite a good start to a ghost story.” Mary placed her slippers next to Jane’s and walked down in her stocking feet, hugging the wall so as not to set off the worst of the creaking stairs. If Mamma heard her, she’d be set to mending something. Her stepmother never thought about the cost of candles when she could make her daughters work themselves into exhaustion after dark. The bookshop’s interior door hung open. Very odd, as Mamma was particular about making sure that the smells of domestic life, particularly cooking odors, did not damage the books. Mary shrugged, glad she had come downstairs, because if Mamma had been the first to notice, she’d have no doubt blamed Mary. She lit the lantern kept in readiness for customers who wanted to browse in the dark corners. While she knew exactly where Defoe was kept, she first went to a back corner of the shop and dropped to her knees, then pulled out a much-loved volume that Mamma kept in stock because she knew that it sold, even though it was anything but highbrow or philosophical. Ann Radcliffe’s The Romance of the Forest. Feeling a little breathless, like a Gothic heroine about to swoon, she opened the book to her favorite page. With the lantern held over the engraving, she examined the bare legs of the man removing a blindfolded girl from a house. She bit her lip as she looked over the engraved musculature, feeling a familiar shiver dance up through her body. Did Shelley have legs so magnificent? He certainly possessed the broad shoulders and narrow waist of the figure on the page. She set down the lantern when it shook in her hand. “Oh, to see a form like that,” she whispered to herself. None of her Scottish suitors had possessed a body she wanted to caress. As such, none of them had enticed so much as a kiss from her. After a last heated glance, she closed the book and tucked it away again. The next shelves were in front of the bow windows. The Juvenile Library was shelved there, at the perfect height for children. Works of historical merit were on the other side. Mary rose. Her foot twisted as she took the first step. She grabbed for the edge of the bookcase with one hand, the other gripping the lantern tightly. Her fingers were trembling by the time she righted herself. She reached down and swiped at her foot. Something sticky coated her fingers. What was on the floor? “Honestly,” she muttered to herself. More cleaning. She set the lantern on the bookcase and walked past the windows. Slatted lines from the shutters were illuminated by the oil lamp that burned all night at the corner of the road. Distracted by the sudden reflected light, she tripped again. “Blast,” she cried. When she tried to take another step forward, her way was blocked by something solid. Confused, she prodded it with her foot. It felt warm, dry, and slightly yielding. She backed up to take the lantern in her hand again, then cupped the side of it with her hand to keep the illumination from the road. When she reached the mass again, she held the lantern out over the floor. Her mouth dropped open when she saw what lay in front of her. A man, like something out of a painting of the French Revolution, was sprawled on the floor. Facedown. She swept the lantern over his body. Her hand shook as she saw first one knife, then another. The first was impaled in his back. The other, in the mysterious recesses between his legs. “Faith!” Wobbly, Mary blinked hard, then forced herself to kneel down beside the sprawled figure, to touch the man’s hand. Still warm. She squeezed it, feeling that strange sensation of callused male flesh under hers, then dropped the hand. What was she doing? Molesting a corpse? She scooted back, her eyes closed, then opened them again, feeling her lips tremble at the sight of the dark blue velvet coat, the dark stain around the knife gleaming wetly in the light. She knew that coat. Shelley! That fine figure of a man, ended so cruelly. They had just seen him leave not twenty minutes earlier. Had he been accosted in the street and dumped here? “I could have loved such a being.” Tears sprang to her eyes, and she let them fall, keenly feeling her sensibility. Hadn’t he said he was a new father? And his poor young wife, not even twenty yet, a widow. “Mary?” Drat that Jane. Could she not offer up a moment’s solitude to anyone? Her stepsister’s footsteps came closer, along with the bobbing of a candle flame. “Don’t come any closer,” Mary warned. She set the lantern down. Ignoring her, Jane came down the space between the bookshelves and turned in the nook in front of the windows. “What are you doing?” she asked. Mary scrambled to her feet, hoping to block her sister’s view. The candle wavered as Jane took in the scene. She gasped loudly. “What,” Jane asked, “is that?” “Knives,” Mary said. “Murder has been done here.” “What?” Jane repeated, some frantic power coming into her voice. “Papa?” “No,” Mary said, grabbing the candleholder before the candle dropped. “Shelley.” She saw what was going to happen and held up her other hand, hoping to forestall it. But she failed, and Jane, coming closer, screamed. Mary bent under the onslaught and grabbed her sister’s hand. “Hush,” she begged, pulling her away. “We have to tell Papa before the watch comes.” Though Jane resisted, Mary pulled her through the bookshop, then forced her to sit on the steps and hold the candle while she went back for the lantern. She set it on the table in the hall. “Stay here,” she commanded. “But,” Jane whispered. “But the body.” “Papa will know what to do.” “But the watch.” “Papa should call them, not us. Do you want him surprised?” “The bookshop,” Jane said next. “Yes, it’s very bad,” Mary agreed. “It isn’t S-Shelley,” Jane stuttered. “He just left.” Mary pulled the handkerchief from her sleeve and tucked it into Jane’s unresisting hand. “It must be,” she said. “Who else? Cry quietly, please.” Hoping her sister obeyed, she picked up her skirts and ran up the steps to her father’s library. *** Excerpt from Death and the Sisters by Heather Redmond. Copyright 2023 by Heather Redmond. Reproduced with permission from Heather Redmond. All rights reserved.

 

 

About Author Heather Redmond:

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Heather Redmond

Heather Redmond is an author of commercial fiction and also writes as Heather Hiestand. First published in mystery, she took a long detour through romance before returning. Though her last British ancestor departed London in the 1920s, she is a committed anglophile, Dickens devotee, and lover of all things nineteenth century. She has lived in Illinois, California, and Texas, and now resides in a small town in Washington State with her husband and son. The author of many novels, novellas, and short stories, she has achieved best-seller status at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other retailers. Her 2018 Heather Redmond debut, A Tale of Two Murders, has received a coveted starred review from Kirkus Reviews.

Catch Up With Heather Redmond: www.HeatherRedmond.com Goodreads BookBub – @heatherredmond1 Instagram – @hiestandheather Twitter – @heatheraredmond Heather Hiestand Redmond’s Reader Group on Facebook

 

 

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Murder At Midnight by Katharine Schellman ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: October 7, 2023 in giveaways, Historical, Mystery
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Murder at Midnight by Katharine Schellman Banner

Murder at Midnight
by Katharine Schellman
September 18 – October 13, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

 

 

Synopsis:
 
Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Ashley Weaver, when a body is found shot to death after an unexpected snowstorm, Lily Adler quickly realizes that some people will stop at nothing to bury their secrets.

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Regency widow Lily Adler is looking forward to a quiet Christmastide away from the schemes and secrets she witnessed daily in London. Not only will she be visiting the family of her late husband; she will be reunited with Captain Jack Hartley, her friend and confidante, finally returned after a long voyage at sea. But secrets aren’t only found in London. Jack’s younger sister, Amelia, is the center of neighborhood scandal and gossip. She refuses to tell anyone what really happened, even when an unexpected snowstorm strands the neighborhood families together after a Christmas ball. Stuck until the snow stops, the Adlers, Hartleys, and their neighbors settle in for the night, only to be awakened in the morning by the scream of a maid who has just discovered a dead body.

The victim was the well-to-do son of a local gentleman–the same man whose name has become so scandalously linked to Amelia’s.

With the snow still falling and no way to come or go, it’s clear that someone in the house was responsible for the young man’s death. When suspicion instantly falls on Jack’s sister, he and Lily must unmask the true culprit before Amelia is convicted of a crime she didn’t commit.

Praise for Murder at Midnight:

“Delightful . . . Historical mystery fans will devour this holiday treat.” ~ Publishers Weekly

“A plummy period whodunit with a colorful collection of suspects.” ~ Kirkus Reviews

Book Details:

Genre: Historical mystery

Published by: Crooked Lane Books Publication Date: September 2023 Number of Pages: 320 ISBN: 9781639104321 (ISBN10: 1639104321) Series: A Lily Adler Mystery, 4

Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Penguin Random House

Read an excerpt:
Lily sat bolt upright. Where had the sound come from? It hadn’t been loud . . . another part of the house? For a moment, in the pressing silence, she wondered if she had drifted back to sleep without realizing it and imagined the whole thing. But a moment later, the sounds of a commotion rose just outside her window. Lily dashed to the window, throwing it open with some effort and peering out into the swirl of snow and early- morning light. The guest room she had been given was one of the smaller ones—the better to quickly heat rooms that hadn’t been prepared in advance—and as was typical for such rooms, it lacked a pretty view. Hers looked over what she realized after a moment must be the poultry yard. Darkly clad figures who she could guess were servants stumbled through the thick layer of snow that had fallen, trying to reach the two people in the middle of the yard. One Lily could see from her vantage only as a still, upright figure, hand outstretched and pointing toward the second person, who lay sprawled on the ground. The one on the ground was half covered by the ice and snow, unmoving. Lily grabbed the dressing gown from the chair, pulled on her shoes, and ran from the room. In the hallway, a few guests were poking their heads out of their doors, hair tousled and faces creased with sleep, inquiring grumpily if anyone had heard an odd noise. Lily didn’t stop to consider propriety or worry about what anyone else might think before she yelled “Jack!” as loudly as she could. She didn’t know which room he had been given, but a moment later, a door past the stairs was flung open and the navy captain’s head appeared. “What is it?” he demanded. He was already dressed and wearing his driving coat over his clothing. That was odd at such an early hour, but Lily didn’t have time to be surprised. “Downstairs.” In spite of the months they had spent apart, Lily knew she could depend on him to understand and act quickly. “Something happened. We have to help.” And in spite of those months apart, he didn’t stop to ask questions. More guests were emerging, summoned by Lily’s shout, and questions were beginning to fly back and forth as she dashed down the stairs, Jack on her heels. They didn’t need to wonder where to go; on the floor below, Mrs. Grantham was following a stately-looking woman who might have been the housekeeper or another upper servant. Their pace was just barely too dignified to be a run, but they couldn’t hide their worry as they disappeared down the steps to the kitchen. Lily and Jack hurried after them. The servants’ staircase was narrow and cold. At the bottom, servants clustered in the kitchen, talking in shrill, anxious voices as the cook tried to keep some order. The underservants glanced uneasily at Lily and Jack as they came into the kitchen, but no one seemed to know what to do or say. The door to the yard had been left wide open, and the wind blew in gusts of snow and icy morning light. Outside, more servants were gathered, though they parted like a wave as the housekeeper led Mrs. Grantham out to see what had happened. As Lily and Jack tried to follow, they were stopped by the frail but determined body of the butler, who interposed himself between them and the open door. “Madam, sir, perhaps you would care to return to your rooms? Breakfast will be ready shortly.” Jack drew himself up, clearly prepared to use his rank to push his way past the aging servant. Before he could say anything, though, and before Lily could think how to reply, Mrs. Grantham turned sharply. “What is . . .” She trailed off, eyeing Lily and Jack with trepidation. She looked ready to send them on their way with some commonplace assurance. But half a dozen emotions chased their way across her face in that moment, and she instead asked, “Mrs. Adler, how many of the rumors about you are true?” “That depends on the rumors,” Lily replied calmly, though her heart was pounding. Behind Mrs. Grantham, she could see the limbs of the eerie, still figure sticking out of the snowbank. “Though if you refer only to the ones that are most relevant at this moment . . .” She turned her gaze pointedly toward the body in the snow. “There is indeed some truth to them.” Mrs. Grantham hesitated, then seemed to make up her mind in a rush. She stepped aside, pulling the confused housekeeper with her. There were boots for the servants lined up next to the door, crusted with mud from repeated use. Lily pulled off her delicate evening slippers, slid her bare feet into the pair that looked closest to her size, and followed as she and Jack were ushered into the yard, their eyes fixed on what awaited them there. A man dressed in borrowed clothes, his skin white with cold, his hair thick with clumps of ice and snow. He could have fallen, hit his head, been caught in the storm and frozen. He could still be alive, in need of help. He could have had an innocent reason for being out in the storm. He could have. But this close, Lily could see the snow that had been kicked aside and trampled by half a dozen feet in the servants’ frantic attempts to clear it away. The icy powder was too thick on the ground for her to see the mud of the yard. But it was still stained with red and brown from where the man’s life had leaked away in the night. The once-snowy linen of his shirt was stained the same color, jagged and torn from the bullet that had ended his life. The gun that had fired it had been unearthed beside him, as snow-logged as his own body. The man’s frozen eyes and mouth were wide open, as though he had not believed until the last moment that whoever had faced him in that yard could be capable of the shot that had ended his life. *** Excerpt from Murder at Midnight by Katharine Schellman. Copyright 2023 by Katharine Schellman. Reproduced with permission from Katharine Schellman. All rights reserved.

 

 

About Author Katharine Schellman:
Katharine Schellman

Katharine Schellman is a former actor and one-time political consultant. These days, she writes the Lily Adler Mysteries and the Nightingale Mysteries. Her books, which reviewers have praised as “worthy of Agatha Christie or Rex Stout” (Library Journal, starred review), have received multiple accolades, including being named a Library Journal Best Crime Fiction of 2022, a Suspense Magazine Best Book of 2020, and a New York Times editor’s pick in June 2022. Katharine lives and writes in the mountains of Virginia in the company of her husband, children, and the many houseplants she keeps accidentally murdering.

Catch Up With Katharine Schellman: www.KatharineSchellman.com Goodreads BookBub – @KatharineSchellman Instagram – @katharinewrites Facebook – @katharineschellman

 

 

Tour Participants:

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Join In for a Chance to WIN!

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Katharine Schellman. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

 

 

 

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Ragtown by Kelly Stone Gamble ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: September 16, 2023 in giveaways, Historical
Tags: ,
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Ragtown

by Kelly Stone Gamble

 

Publication date: September 12th 2023
Genres: Adult, Historical

Helen Carter lives in the back seat of her father’s Model T in the harsh Nevada desert, surrounded by thousands of desperate souls trying to endure the hardships of the Great Depression. When her father dies while working on the Hoover Dam diversion tunnels, she finds herself alone. In this unforgiving landscape where marriage, prostitution, and starvation seem to be her only viable choices, Helen is determined to defy society’s expectations of a young woman and create her own American dream. She relies on her resourcefulness to survive but soon realizes she can’t go it alone.

Ezra Deal, a young dam worker, brought his sister to Nevada in search of the father of her child, only to have the man reject her. Tragically, both his sister and the baby pass away during childbirth, leaving Ezra with a profound sense of guilt. Determined to distance himself from any further responsibilities, he focuses on his job and locating the man who callously denied his sister. But when he learns that his friend Helen is running from not only the law but also a Las Vegas gangster, he must decide between his independent lifestyle and helping her.

As Helen and Ezra grow closer and become more invested in the diversion of the Colorado River from its course, their lives parallel this monumental change. Ezra can picture building a life with Helen, but she has other ideas. With the help of a thirteen-year-old runaway, a few prostitutes, a dead desperado, and Ezra, Helen embarks on a journey to live life on her terms.

Incorporating actual dramatic events gleaned from the oral histories of the dam workers, Ragtown highlights a time in American history when ordinary men and women overcame the challenges of the Great Depression and thrived.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

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Enjoy this peek inside:

EZRA

When we reached the camp, a circle of ten or so men surrounded another, who quickly shifted from one man to the next, cussing and threatening them with a hayfork. In the center of the circle, two small figures lay naked on the ground. Their hands and legs were spread wide apart and appeared to be tied to tent stakes. They weren’t moving.

Ben was coughing uncontrollably when he reached us. “Dear Lord,” he said in between coughs. “What the hell happened?”

“One of the boys gave a can of beans to Johnny-behind-the-rock without asking his daddy first.

They’ve been out there for over an hour now,” Helen said.

“Where did he get a hay fork?”

“He used it for a tent pole. Tore down the whole thing to get to it.”

I alternated my stare between the man jabbing at the spectators and the two small bodies on the ground. I didn’t want to get stabbed, but somehow, we had to get to those boys, and none of the other men seemed too keen on making a move.

Ben whispered something to Helen, and I heard her say under her breath, “If Ranger finds out we have a gun—”

“No.” I reached for Ben’s arm. “You’ll get fired. You can’t do that.”

Ben shook his arm loose. “Those boys are gonna die before Ranger gets here. I can’t let that happen.”

I could see the boys clearly now. They couldn’t be more than six or seven. Their skin was as red as a cock’s comb. I walked toward the circle, trying to focus on the man with the hay fork while others in the crowd tried to reason with him to no avail.

Too much going on and not enough sleep, or maybe I wasn’t thinking clearly, but as he turned his back to me to jab his weapon at someone else, I broke the circle and tackled him from behind. We hit the rocky ground together, me landing on top, the hay fork a few feet away.

The man struggled against me, and I hit him square in the temple with a closed fist. Then another. And another. I felt all the anger inside of me boiling up—anger at my father, at Billy, and even at Grace for dying on me, and I hit him again. He bucked and threw me off him, swearing as he rolled over. He tried to get to his feet, but I kicked him hard in the abdomen with my booted foot, throwing him back to the ground. I grabbed the hay fork and raised it high over my head, directly above him. His face tensed, and his dark eyes filled with anger.

As I lowered the fork, a strong hold around my midsection pulled me away, and I missed my mark by inches. “That’s enough, son,” Ben said from behind me. Four men held the offender down and, after untying the boys, hog-tied him with the same rope to keep him until Ranger arrived.

The boys’ skin had started to blister, and they were covered with red ants. I turned away, unable to look at them, and focused on Helen. “Are they alive?”

“Barely.”

Author Note: Johnny-behind-the-rock was mentioned in one of the many oral histories related to Ragtown. Too old to be employed on the dam project, he lived alone behind a large boulder with nothing to his name but the clothes he wore. He rarely came from behind his rock, moving throughout the day to stay in a shady spot. He rarely spoke and survived on what others gave him. He was known only as Johnny-behind-the-rock. I don’t know his story, I’m not sure anyone does, but I’m sure it was tragic to live as he did. I wanted to remember him in some way, even if it is only a mention in a work of fiction.

The ant scene is a fictionalized account gleaned from a true event that took place in Ragtown. I included it to show the cruelty that desperation can breed.

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About Author Kelly Stone Gamble

I want readers to take something away from my books and short stories: something memorable, whether it be an interesting protagonist, an emotion or a moment in time.

Depending on what characters decide to sit beside me on a particular day, I may write historical fiction or quirky, dark humor.

My interests are as diverse as my writing. I am at home fishing on a river, riding horses in the mountains, reading on a beach, hiking through the desert or playing pirate with my friends.

I don’t believe in growing old and I refuse to grow up.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ Moccasin Trace by Hawk MacKinney

Posted: September 1, 2023 in giveaways, Historical, Western
Tags: ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Moccasin Trace organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Hawk MacKinney will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Moccasin Trace

by Hawk MacKinney

 

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis

It is July of 1859, a month of sweltering dog days and feverish emotional bombast. Life is good for widower Rundell Ingram and his hazel-eyed, roan-haired son, Hamilton. Between the two of them, they take care of Moccasin Hollow, their rustic dogtrot ancestral home, a sprawling non-slave plantation in the rolling farming country outside Queensborough Towne in east Georgia. Adjoining Ingram lands is Wisteria Bend, the vast slave-holding plantation of Andrew and Corinthia Greer, their daughter Sarah and son Benjamin.

Both families share generations of long-accepted traditions, and childhood playmates are no longer children. Against this rustic idyll of hard work and gracious living comes inflexible discord and divided loyalties that mutilate ties of blood and bond, tearing at their lives as smoke and battle no longer so faraway crashes and maims ever closer. Ahead of the on-coming ranks of Blue, foragers and bumlers burn, loot, scavenge and kill. Hamilton faces agonizing sacrifices with dreadful consequences. With little else than his wits, he tries anything to protect Sarah, their unborn child, his sickly father, and Sarah’s family.

Enjoy this peek inside:

Back at his post behind the oaks, it wasn’t long before the Trace crowded up with a hodgepodge mishmash of wagons and carts headed as far from Augusta as they could get. As he silently watched, it seemed the whole of the Parish was on the move. His thoughts jarred by the hurried plunge of a rider coming toward him through the canebrake. He dropped to one knee, his rifle to the ready, just as Nat and one of Ben’s mules busted into the clearing.

Nat hauled up, slid off the mule, “Mister Ben said to git the word to you — Yankie patrols spotted this side of Sandersville. They burnin’ ever’thing, barns, houses, killin’ what they don’t take. Tearin’ Jericho out’a ever’thing they git their hands to.”

Hamilton grabbed his mare’s reins, pulled into the saddle, “Get back to the Bends. Tell Ben you found me, and Nat — keep a sharp eye out. Advance lookouts could be anywhere.”

Hamilton, off in a mad tear, nudged the mare faster. Wind whistled in his ears, low hanging limbs slashed his sweaty face, horses’ hooves flinging clods high behind him. Yankies moving that fast wouldn’t ask questions; they’d burn, move on, Sarah and their child be refugees like the pitiful wagons he’d seen. He reined up next to the porch, his horse skidding as he swung out of the saddle.

Bessie was on the front porch, “See you comin’ fast.” Pistol in her hand, she threw quick glance out across the fields. “Nat find you?”

“Yeh…he’s on his way to let Ben know…they might be making a wide sweep into Augusta from this side.”

“Missy’s cramps reg’lar, an’ you be the only help. Yankie or no Yankie, Missy an’ that chil’ in her belly need both of us.”

“If it’s their main bunch they’ll have bummers way ahead of their army.”

“Lordy mercy — nobody gonna stop that ceptin’ the Lord.” Bessie shoved her pistol deep in her pocket. “Don’t matter how many trompin’ ’bout, ain’t nobody gittin’ twixt me’n Missy an’ her chil’. When the Lord say that baby come, fightin’ gonna wait, but Jehovah sure gonna have a handful.”

“I’ll keep watch out by the barns.”

Bessie started inside and stopped, “Maybe watchin’ from the barn ain’t the best next thing. Mistress Corinth’a be upset we don’t let her know her grandchil’ comin’ so she can come help. When she do, young Benjamin alone in that big house settin’ there all big an’ white. You knows what I means — Yankies cain’t miss it. Bein’ hot-headed he won’t budge, an’ now ain’t the time for bein’ spiteful ’bout which soldiers got the most bullets — git shot dead. You’n me both know how that cut down Mistress Corinth’a.”

“Might be best to get Mother Greer here while we can,” said Hamilton fighting his own fear.

“If Mistress Corinth’a come she best while it daylight. Missy’s cramps likely won’t be reg’lar for a spell. ‘Fore things git busy, time is now to hotfoot over there, an’ git back here quick-like.”

“Tell Papa where I’m headed.”

“Don’t need tellin’ Mister Rundell, he been up ‘fore daybreak, his gun primed and ready. We manage…you make double-sure your butt git back here in one piece.” Shook her head, “Sweet Lord…what a mixed-up world you bringin’ this chil’ into.”

Hamilton was into the saddle. Gave the mare her head, didn’t bother with gates, jumped the fences, pushed her to a full-out gallop. He stayed clear of the Trace, cleared hedgerows and fences, splashed through slough bogs. Before he realized it, he burst through a squatter’s camp, scattering pots, pans, campfires, ramshackle shelters, and stampeded several horses. Startled poachers reached for rifles. He spurred the mare and disappeared into the brush, leaving them with nothing to aim at. Racing faster, he finally caught glimpses of the white unperturbed columns of the Bends. As he came out onto the wide buggy approach to the house, he glanced behind, making sure no one was on his tail.

About Author Hawk MacKinney:

In addition to professional articles and texts on chordate neuroembryology, Hawk MacKinney has authored several works of fiction—historical love stories, science fiction and mystery-thrillers. Moccasin Trace, a historical novel nominated for the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award, details the family bloodlines of his protagonist in the Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series: Hidden Chamber of Death, Westobou Gold, Dead Gold, Curse of the Ancients, and Blood of the Dragonfly.

Hawk’s science fiction novels include The Bleikovat Event, Vol I in The Cairns of Sainctuarie Science Fiction Series, followed by Vol II, The Missing Planets, and Vol III, Inanna Phantom.

Hawk MacKinney served in the US Navy for over 20 years. While serving as a Navy Commander, he also had a career as a full-time faculty member at several major state medical facilities. He earned two postgraduate degrees with studies in languages and history. He has taught postgraduate courses in both the United States and Jerusalem, Israel. He now makes his home in Augusta, Georgia, where he writes full-time.

Author Links: Goodreads / Website

Buy Links: Amazon / B&N

 

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Her Own Revolution ~ The Chateau de Verzat Series by Debra Borchert

Posted: August 20, 2023 in giveaways, Historical, Romance
Tags: , ,
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Her Own Revolution: Château de Verzat Series
by Debra Borchert

 


Her Own Revolution: Château de Verzat Series
Historical Romance
2nd in Series
Setting – Paris and a Loire Valley vineyard during the French Revolution
Le Vin Press (July 14, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 422 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0989454576
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0989454575
Digital Print length ‏ : ‎ 364 pages
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BYKFQGLG

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A Woman Forges a Treacherous Path to Save Hundreds from the Guillotine

If Geneviève Fouquier-Tinville had the same rights as a man, she wouldn’t have to dress like one, which she does to attend University—forbidden to women. By swearing her commitment to the revolution, she succeeds in convincing her father, the Public Prosecutor who condemns thousands to the guillotine, to hire her as a court clerk. But she intends to earn passage to join her lover, Henri, in America.

Tasked with copying lists of names scheduled for execution, she reads Louis LaGarde, a fallen noble whom she despises for having exposed her as a woman when they both attended University. Believing him innocent, she replaces his name with one already dead, saving his life. But she realizes that unless she forges a treacherous path, hundreds more will perish at her father’s hands.

When a Revolutionary hunts her down, she must accept LaGarde’s help, yet she denies her attraction to him out of loyalty to Henri. She fights for her life and the lives of those she’s come to love, but she must face the truth of her own heart.

 

About Debra Borchert 

Debra’s debut novel, Her Own Legacy, is the first in a series that follows headstrong and independent women and the four-hundred loyal families who protect a Loire Valley château and vineyard, and its legacy of producing the finest wines in France during the French Revolution. Her Own Revolution is the second book in the Château de Verzat series. A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, she weaves her knowledge of textiles and clothing design throughout her historical French fiction. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and standard poodle who is named after a fine French Champagne.

Author Links: Website / Instagram / Facebook / Goodreads

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Bookshop.org

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 14 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

August 15 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST

August 16 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 16 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

August 17 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

August 17 – The Mystery of Writing – AUTHOR GUEST POST

August 18 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

August 19 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 19 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

August 20 – Celticlady’s Reviews – RECIPE

August 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

August 21 – I’m Into Books – RECIPE

August 22 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 23 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

August 23 – My Reading Journey – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

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SWEETBITTER by Reginald Gibbons

Posted: August 19, 2023 in Historical
Tags: , ,
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“This is an adventure story and a romance, but in Gibbons’ hands, it’s that and much more. Exquisitely rendered and deeply felt, this is as astute and absorbing as fiction gets.”

—Booklist

SWEETBITTER (Jackleg Press; Publication: August 1, 2023) takes place in east Texas in 1910 during the time of white rule―not by law but by lynch mob. Amid the suffocating racism and fear, half-Choctaw, half-white Reuben Sweetbitter and Martha Clarke, a white woman, fall in love.  This is an authentic, richly detailed novel with themes of sacrifice, fear and the loss of one’s identity inspired by Giddon’s family – who’s paternal grandfather half-Choktaw – and his experiences  growing up in  protestant evangelical Texas where racism and white supremacy was rampant.  Library Journal writes: “Atypical of love stories, this realistic work maintains a historical perspective in lending the couple short-lived happiness.”

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PROLOGUE

Many generations ago Aba, the great spirit above, created many men, all Chahtah, who spoke the language of the Chahtah, and under- stood one another. They came from the heart of the earth and were made of clay, and before them no men had ever lived.

One day they all gathered and looking upward wondered what the blue of the sky and the white of the clouds were made of. They determined to try to reach the sky by building a great mound. They piled up rocks to build a mound that would reach the sky but at night the wind blew from above so strongly that the rocks fell down. The second day, too, they worked, building the mound but again that night the wind came while they slept and it pushed down their work. On the third day they began yet again. But that night the wind blew so hard it hurled the rocks of the mound down upon the builders themselves.

They were not killed, but when daylight came and they crawled out from beneath the rocks that had fallen on them and they began to talk to one another, they discovered that they could no longer understand each other. They spoke many languages instead of one. Some of them spoke the original language, the Chahtah language. Others, who no longer spoke this language, began to fight with those who did. Finally they separated. The Chahtah remained, the original people, and lived near nanih waya, the mound they had not been able to complete. And the others went north and east and west and encountered more tribes.

In this way or some other, all the peoples of the earth were created, each from some substance and thus of different appearance, and at times struggling against each other. This is what the Chahtah told to a white missionary. But this was only a little of what the Chahtah knew. It was not for that man to know everything. And then he wrote mistaken things about them.

 

Excerpted from SWEETBITTER by Reginald Gibbons © 2023 by Reginald Gibbons, used with permission from JackLeg Press.

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About Author Reginald Gibbons

Reginald Gibbons

Reginald Gibbons’ works include An Orchard In The Street (BOA Editions), Creatures Of A Day ( a Finalist in poetry  for the National Book Award, LSU Press and his most recent book of poems Renditions (Four Way Books).

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MORE ABOUT REGINALD GIBBONS

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His translations include Selected Poems of Luis Cernuda (Sheep Meadow), Sophocles’ Selected Poems:
Odes and Fragments (Princeton University Press), and his co-translations include Sophocles’ Antigone and Euripides’ Bakkhai (both with the late Charles Segal, Oxford University Press).
Gibbons’ poems and short fiction have been published in Harper’s, The New York Times, The Atlantic,
The Paris, Review, Poetry, The Georgia Review, American Poetry Review, The Shanghai Review, Tikkun,
Ploughshares, Southern Review, Southwest Review, The Chicago Tribune, and many other magazines and periodicals. From 1981 to 1997, he was the editor of TriQuarterly magazine. His book about poetry, How Poems Think, is a gallery of aspects of poetry that combine feeling and poetic cognition
(University of Chicago Press). Gibbons has won fellowships from the Fulbright Foundation, the
Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Center for Hellenic
Studies. He has received several prizes, including the Folger Shakespeare Library’s O. B. Hardison,
Jr., Poetry Prize, and the Fuller Award for lifetime achievement from the Chicago Literary Hall of
Fame. Since 1981, he has taught creative writing at Northwestern University, where he is an
emeritus Frances Hooper Professor of Arts and Humanities. From the 1980s till the 2010s, he also
taught at more than twenty residencies of the Warren Wilson MFA for Writers.

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ADDITIONAL PRAISE | SWEETBITTER

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“Gibbons writes with a poet’s graceful attention to language, limning and then blending lovely details of the East Texas landscape, its denizens, its woods, seasons and storms, with Reuben’s half-remembered, bastardized versions of Choctaw myth and Martha’s dreamy, at-arm’s-length relationship to the white world she can’t live in yet can’t do without.” —Washington Post Book World

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“A stately, lyrical meditation on turn-of-the-century Texas… As much a meditation on the American
destruction of aboriginal civilization as it is a story about star-crossed romance.” —Texas Observer
“A sweeping yet intimate first novel that tells the story of the Choctaw Indians through the troubled life of one Reuben S. Sweetbitter, half Choctaw, half white… An absorbing story.” —Publishers Weekly
“The gripping story of illicit love… in prose not easily forgotten… [A] lovely and captivating novel.”
—The Nation

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“Surprising in every way… The novel’s ending is as strong as its beginning—terrifying and beautiful, a true tour de force.” —Chicago Tribune

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“A story of dreams, of memory, of a search for identity, or love and all the senseless obstacles it sometimes must face.” —Dallas Morning News

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“A fictional world of great vividness and detail… Gibbons’ prose can be… descriptive, evocative, even
picaresque, but he does not forget how to tell a story in straightforward sentences.”
—Review of Contemporary Fiction

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PUBLICITY CONTACT:
Jennifer Harris, JackLeg Press
ON SALE: August 15, 2023 jharris@jacklegpress.org
SWEETBITTER, Reginal Gibbons | JackLeg Press | On Sale: August 1, 2023
ISBN: 978-1737513421 | 6×9 Paperback | 19.00 US | 452 Pages

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LEARN MORE | ORDER

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Reginald Gibbons| Jackleg Press | #SWEETBITTER

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Retail: Ingram Content Group | Libraries: Libraries (ingramcontent.com)

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JackLeg Press | JackLeg employs an environmentally sustainable publishing model and a rigorous
editorial process to bring the best new and familiar voices into the literary world. At JackLeg, we
stress authenticity, collaboration, and bold thinking.

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In The Shadow Of The Bull by Eleanor Kuhns ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: August 3, 2023 in giveaways, Historical, Mystery
Tags: , ,
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In the Shadow of the Bull by Eleanor Kuhns Banner

In the Shadow of the Bull
by Eleanor Kuhns
July 17 – August 11, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

 

 

Synopsis:
Ancient Crete, 1450 BC. In a world of Goddess worship, sacred snakes and sacrifice, human jealousy, resentment, and betrayal still run wild . . .

When her sister Arge drops to the floor in convulsions and dies at her wedding, fifteen-year-old Martis, a young poet and bull leaper in training, is certain she was murdered. The prime suspect is the groom, Saurus, from the Greek mainland, but when Arge’s shade visits Martis, swearing Saurus is not the murderer, Martis vows to uncover the truth. As Martis begins asking questions, she discovers that while Arge may have had no secrets, many of the people around her certainly do.

Praise for In the Shadow of the Bull:

“This complex, character-driven mystery is loaded with fascinating historical details” ~ Kirkus Reviews

 

Book Details:

Genre: Historical Mystery

Published by: Severn House Publication Date: July 2023 Number of Pages: 224 ISBN: 9781448310869 (ISBN10: 1448310865)

Series: An Ancient Crete Mystery (#1)

Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Severn House

Enjoy this peek inside:
Saurus was clad, not in a colorful loincloth, nor in the robe Cretan men wore for certain rituals, but in his leather armor. His wavy black hair spilled over his shoulders, un-oiled. And he carried his weapons, long knives in their scabbards, at his waist. His one attendant, his friend Kabya, stood behind him, dressed in like manner. Gasps of condemnation sounded through the crowd. ‘Does he think he’s going to fight someone,’ Mother said in angry disapproval. Saurus looked around at the crowd, his eyes narrowed, and then he lifted his chin defiantly. Although I didn’t like him, I recognized his uncertainty. He knew we despised him and his barbarous ways. When Saurus had first come to the palace, I’d been prepared to accept him. He knew my mother’s brother and had come with news of him. Like my uncle, Saurus was also a trader. At least he said he was, and we welcomed him into the house. My dislike dated from that first day, before I knew he would take Arge from us. He examined me and my sisters with careless lechery. I’d just come from acrobatics and wore a boy’s loincloth. As his gaze swept over me, I shuddered with a strange prickly hot feeling. And then he dismissed me with a quick, indifferent turn of his head. Then the flush that burned through me was one of anger. Despite my feelings, and his awkward broken Cretan, he’d quickly charmed all my sisters. And although Mother frequently eyed him with reserve, I saw them laughing together more than once. At first, he’d spread his easy compliments among all my sisters – though I was invisible to him – but soon he paid more and more attention to Arge. A knot of worry formed on my mother’s forehead. Several months after Saurus’s arrival, Arge announced she planned to marry him. There was Arge now, in front of the mound of ash left by previous sacrifices. Against the deep purple of her jacket, her skin looked deathly pale. She’d pressed her mouth into a long thin line. Was she regretting her decision now? I looked up at the sky, so dark the stars spangled the expanse with flecks of silver, and sent another fervent prayer heavenward – ‘Please, Lady of the Animals and of Childbirth, stop this marriage. I will offer you all the honey from my bees.’ The High Priestess with her nine attendants suddenly appeared from the shadows, stepping through the trees into the torchlight. Their eyes sparkled and one of the attendants stumbled. They were drunk on the sacred liquor, a mixture of beer, wine, fermented honey and herbs. The priestesses wore the sacral knot tied at the nape of their necks, above the tight jackets. to show they were in service to Her who gave us life. Some of them wore doves on their heads, live doves tied to the headdress by the feet, for love. Three of the women carried baskets. Instead of a dove, the High Priestess carried snakes in her headdress, living snakes that coiled as high as they could from the bindings, flicking their tongues and hissing. Snakes to promote fertility in this new marriage. As the High Priestess approached the altar, a soft moan of anticipation whispered from the crowd. The goats began struggling even harder against their bonds as they caught the scent of the snakes. The Priestess, who did not seem to notice the throng of people standing on the other side of the altar of ash and bone, turned to the first attendant. She took away the lid and removed the large heavy snake from the basket to coil it around her waist. The remaining two baskets yielded additional snakes. Chanting sonorously, she allowed the snakes to twine up her arms. I could not repress a tremor of remembered fear and my mother glanced at me. Only nine at Opis’s wedding, I’d been so terrified by the snakes that Arge had had to carry me from the ceremony. I looked at Arge now. Her expression was fixed in a grimace of pain. Suddenly she fell to the floor, writhing in convulsions and spilling bloody vomit from her mouth. For several seconds no one moved. The Priestess’s chant continued, then lurched to a stop mid-syllable. Pandemonium erupted. Screaming, Mother ran to her daughter and fell to her knees beside her. After a moment of frozen disbelief, Opis and Nuia followed at a run. I couldn’t move. I stared in horror at Arge’s body lying on the stones. What had I done? I’d pleaded with the Goddess to halt the wedding and She had. But why this way? Why kill Arge, the sweetest and most unassuming of all women? Raising my face to the sky, I began to sob. The stars in the sky blurred together into streaks of silver. ‘Why?’ I asked the Goddess. ‘Why?’ This was my fault: the Goddess had answered my prayers. *** Excerpt from In the Shadow of the Bull by Eleanor Kuhns. Copyright 2023 by Eleanor Kuhns. Reproduced with permission from Eleanor Kuhns. All rights reserved.

 

 

About Author Eleanor Kuhns:

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Eleanor Kuhns

Eleanor Kuhns is the 2011 winner of the Minotaur/Mystery Writers of America first mystery prize for A Simple Murder. That was the first in the Will Rees series. She went on to write ten more. In the Shadow of the Bull is the first in the Ancient Crete Mystery series.

Catch Up With Eleanor Kuhns: www.Eleanor-Kuhns.com Goodreads BookBub Instagram – @edl0829 Twitter – @EleanorKuhns Facebook – @writerkuhns

 

 

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway!  

 

JOIN IN ON THE GIVEAWAY:

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Eleanor Kuhns. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

 

 

 

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Murder Under A Western Moon ~ A 1930’s Mona Moon Historical Mystery by Abigail Keam

Posted: July 25, 2023 in Cozy Mystery, Historical
Tags: , ,
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Murder Under A Western Moon: A 1930s Mona Moon Historical Cozy Mystery
by Abigail Keam

 


Murder Under A Western Moon: A 1930s Mona Moon Historical Cozy Mystery
Historical Cozy Mystery
11th in Series
Setting – Montana
Worker Bee Press (July 24, 2023)
Digital Number of Pages: 280
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BTWBFCV5

Mona is the American Phyrne Fisher!

Mona Moon and her new husband, Robert Farley, Duke of Brynelleth are about to board an ocean liner to Merry Old England for their honeymoon when Mona receives an urgent telegram from Rupert Hunt, her eyes and ears in the Moon copper mines.

POTENTIAL RIOT AT MONTANA MINE STOP DEAD MINER STOP POSSIBLE MURDER STOP COME AT ONCE STOP RUPERT HUNT

Since the copper mines are the financial backbone of Moon Enterprises, Mona has no choice but to drop her plans and travel to Montana on the next train. She and Robert descend into a world of seething resentments, bitter accusations against Moon Enterprises, and bad decisions that pose a threat to Mona’s world. She travels incognito to search out the truth of Rupert’s allegations against the mining management. She must decide if Rupert is trying to prevent an innocent man from being hung for murder or if he is part of a grandiose plot against her. After all, Mona had been kidnapped by Rupert while searching for the Swift silver mine a year ago. Rupert is a scoundrel, but Mona hired him to be her scoundrel. Is this another of Rupert’s games? Regardless of the threat, Mona must get to the bottom of it. Thank goodness Robert is by her side . . . or could Robert have his own agenda?

About Abigail Keam

Award-winning author Abigail Keam writes the Mona Moon Mystery Series—a rags-to-riches 1930s mystery series which includes real people and events into the story. “I am a student of history and love to insert historical information into my mysteries. My goal is to entertain my readers, but if they learn a little something along the way—well, then we are both happy.”  She has won many awards for her mysteries, and Murder Under A Western Moon is her 40th novel.  Miss Abigail lives on the cliffs above the Kentucky River with her husband and various critters.  In her spare time, Miss Abigail is a beekeeper.

Author Links: Official Site / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Amazon / TikTok

Purchase Links
Amazon    Apple Books   Nook    Amazon UK    Amazon AU    Amazon CA

Enjoy this peek inside:

As Mona and Robert compared notes while riding back to the hotel, both of them heard a loud cracking noise that traveled through the car.

“What was that?” Mona asked.  “It sounded like the snap of a bullwhip.”

Robert ordered the driver, “Slow down, please.”  He rolled down his window and listened.

“There it is again,” Mona said.  “Driver, stop.”  She got out of the car and looked about, but it was dark with a moonless sky.  Mona couldn’t see anything.

Another crack sounded.

The Pinkertons in the car following them also got out and looked about.

A fourth crack pierced the air.

“It’s gunfire!  Take cover,” one of the Pinkertons shouted.

Mona ducked down by the side of the car as Robert joined her.  “Turn the car lights off!” she yelled.

Robert threw Mona on the ground and shielded her with his body, but they both lifted their heads upon hearing a rumble. “AVALANCHE!   AVALANCHE!” Robert yelled, as he dragged Mona to the side of the mountain and frantically covered both their heads with his arms.  Their driver huddled with them.  Since darkness prevented them from seeing which direction the snow was headed, there was no use in running.  Some of the Pinkertons realized they were in the path of the descending wall of snow and ran.  Their shrieks could be heard above the roar of the torrent as they got caught in the avalanche and were hurled down the mountainside.

“Oh, God!” Mona murmured upon hearing the men scream.

Robert whispered into her ear, “Don’t listen.  Don’t listen.”  He put his hands over her ears.

The rumbling abruptly stopped and was replaced by a haunting silence.  Robert and Mona waited a few minutes before climbing out of the snowbank which had fallen about them.  Luckily, they had not been hit with any of the displaced rocks and boulders propelled by the tumbling snow.  Robert cleared snow from their driver who also was unharmed.

Shouts came from the Pinkertons who had been in a car ahead of them.  They had not been involved in the avalanche.  “Anyone hurt?” one guard shouted.

Robert yelled, “Second car is fine except we are bound by snow, but the third car got the brunt of the slide.  We think there are casualties, but we can’t see and no one is answering our calls.”

“We are digging you out now.  Can you get into your car?”

Robert replied, “Negative.  The doors are blocked by snow.”

“Stay where you are.  We are coming.”

Mona, Robert, and the driver helped each other get the snow from around their collars, inside their gloves, and tops of their boots.  Each gave a vigorous shake to remove snow from their coats.  Both the driver and Robert dug snow away with their hands from the trunk of the car to access a shovel, emergency blankets, and a first-aid kit.  Mona moved to the back passenger door and pulled snow away from the car with her hands.  The work kept them all warm.

As the Pinkertons in the first car were making headway with the fallen snow, Mona and Robert saw car lights in the distance behind them, curving the bend in the road.  They heard the roar of the car engine and saw beams of flashlights.

“HELLO?  HELLO?”

Robert shouted, “WE’RE HERE!”

Mona grabbed Robert’s arm.  “Robert, be careful.  These could be the men who caused the avalanche.”

“WE’LL HELP YOUR MEN.  THE CAR’S GONE OVER THE SIDE.”

Robert yelled back, “YES, DO THAT!  WE’LL FREE OUR CAR AND THEN START DIGGING TOWARD YOU.”  Turning, Robert asked, “Do you have your gun on you, Mona?”

“It’s in my purse which is in the car.  What about your six-shooter?”

“Under the snow somewhere.”

“I’ve got one in my shoulder holster, and there’s another gun in the glove compartment if we can get to it,” the Pinkerton driver announced.

“Good man,” Robert said.  “Put your gun where you can use it in a hurry.”

Mona, Robert, and the driver dug around their car finally clearing the snow away from the trunk.  The driver took the shovel and shoveled the road while Robert put several blankets around Mona, whose hands had frozen so badly that she lost the feeling in them.

After an hour, the Pinkertons from the first car cleared away the snow and reached Mona and Robert.  They put Mona in their vehicle which was still warm.  She was grateful for the warmth and rubbed her numb hands in front of the car’s heater.

Robert worked with the Pinkertons to reach the third car, but once they broke through a wall of snow, there was no third car.  It had careened down the mountain.  Its blinking tail lights were faintly visible beneath the snow.

They found four men hoisting bodies through a series of ropes tied to a truck.  A man wearing a Stetson and standing near the road’s edge, watched them bring the bodies up.  Upon seeing his milky eye, Robert recognized the man, who worked for Margaret Daly.

Robert walked up to the man.  “Is everyone dead?”

“No.  I have two men in the truck.  They are banged up a bit, but otherwise fine.  They told me that someone repeatedly fired a gun, which caused the avalanche.”

“How did you happen upon us?” Robert asked.

“Miss Margaret gave orders to follow.  She felt you were in danger although we never expected anything like this.  You’ve got to admit it was devilishly clever.”

Not sure the Stetson man was speaking the truth, Robert gave him a long stare before stating, “Thank you.  Our other two cars are working, so we’ll take the injured men into town and send help back.”

“We’ll stay and clear the road.  If the law doesn’t come soon enough, we’ll bring in the bodies and leave them at the funeral home.”  The Stetson man tried to peek around Robert.  “I trust Miss Moon is fine.”

“Fit as a fiddle,” Robert replied, coldly.  “I’ll collect those injured men and be off.”  He nodded to the Pinkertons to gather their associates.  “Thank you again, and chin chin.

The Stetson man tipped the brim of his hat.

Robert walked back with the Pinkerton men, all the while wondering if he was going to be shot in the back.  Once safely ensconced in the first car with Mona, he turned to her.  “You’ll never guess who turned out to be our savior.”

Mona pulled her blanket over Robert.  “Who?”

“Margaret Daly.  She ordered the Stetson man to follow us.”

“She could have ordered him to start the avalanche.”

“I thought it odd myself that her man happened to arrive a short time after the avalanche.  I’ll guess we’ll never know the real truth, but she did warn you of danger, Mona.”  Robert lit a cigarette as his nerves were frayed.  “What do you want to do now?”

Mona didn’t chide Robert about smoking as she knew he was upset.  She was disturbed as well.  “We’ve got three managers to deal with.  We need to stay in Montana until this mess is cleared up.”

“We got out by the skin of our teeth tonight, Mona, and two of our men didn’t make it.  We need to make changes fast, and then get the heck out of here.”

“I don’t like putting our men and ourselves in danger, but we’ve got to see this through, Robert.”

A Pinkerton knocked on the car window.

Mona rolled it down.

“Sorry, folks, but we need to put one of the injured men in this car.  It’s pretty tight in the other vehicle.”

“Assuredly, bring him here,” Robert said, before turning to his wife.  “I’ll drive and we’ll put two men in the back.”

Mona got out and stood aside as Pinkertons carried their injured comrade.  They eased him into the back of the car.  Mona took off her blanket, wrapping it around the injured man.  She said to the non-injured Pinkerton, “You’ll stay with him?”

“Ma’am, he can use my lap as his pillow.  We’ll get him to a hospital all right.”

Mona replied, “We shall fly to the nearest hospital like the fastest hawk.”

“Better make it a night owl.”

Mona gave a ghost of a smile at the Pinkerton’s jest.  She slid into the front seat and turned to Robert.  “We’re ready.  Let’s get back to Butte.”

Robert took off the emergency brake and depressed on the clutch, putting the car in first gear.  The car began to roll downward and Robert put the car in second gear. “Here we go, ready or not.”

But Mona didn’t hear Robert.  She was deep in thought planning her next move.

Someone was going to pay for the death of those two men as well as Piotr Wojcik and Dr. Driscoll.  Someone indeed!

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

July 24 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

July 24 – Reading Is My SuperPower – RECIPE, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

July 24 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

July 25 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

July 25 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

July 26 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 26 – Brooke Blogs – RECIPE

July 27 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 27 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

July 27 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 28 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 28 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

July 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

 

 


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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Mrs. Odboddy’s Desperate Doings ~ A Mrs. Odboddy Mystery by Elaine Faber

Posted: May 30, 2023 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways, Historical
Tags: , ,
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Mrs. Odboddy’s Desperate Doings

A WWII Tale

A Mrs. Odboddy Mystery

by Elaine Faber

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Mrs. Odboddy’s Desperate Doings: A WWII tale (Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries)
Historical Cozy Mystery
4th in Series 
Setting – California
Elk Grove Publications (April 30, 2022)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 264 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 4294245115
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1940781297
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09ZWVPNHS

After falling from a tree, Agnes’s behavior and delusions escalate from ‘merely eccentric,’ to ‘near mayhem ’ Still seeking a permanent home for a displaced carnival tiger, she goes to unthinkable extremes in an effort to prevent city hall from destroying the big cat. When Agnes witnesses a well-known citizen commit burglary, and the church’s beloved Good Shepherd painting goes missing, she becomes obsessed with exposing the art thief. But, questions arise whether the extent of her bizarre behavior is due to a ‘brain bleed’ from her head injury, or is something amiss in her medical treatment?

As WWII rages across the Pacific, dealing with victory gardens and rationing at home doesn’t stop Agnes from fighting the war from the home front. From city hall, to the hot seat at Newbury’s Police Department, and finally to a San Francisco mansion, Agnes pursues injustice to save a tiger and expose a shocking conspiracy at the highest levels of Newbury’s elite society.

Mrs. Odboddy’s Desperate Doings is a hilarious WWII mystery-adventure you’ll not soon forget.

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Historical Facts are presented in the storyline:

Mrs. Odboddy’s Desperate Doings is a humorous cozy mystery novel where Mrs. Odboddy is fictionally involved with various historical persons and events. See Below

EDWARD REEP  Edward Reep, a California resident and water color artist, became a photographer and combat artist for the United States Army during WWII. Widely publicized in newspapers and magazines, Reep’s poignant war-time depictions made him popular with the public before and after the war. He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to help finance his pursuit of art due to his outstanding contributions to war art.

JAPANESE SUBMARINES  In 1942, the Japanese navy dispatched submarines to the USA along the western coastline from Oregon to the Aleutians. Along with several other incidents, they successfully shelled a lighthouse near Vancouver Island, WA, and torpedoed and shelled a freighter off Cape Flattery, WA. The freighter was towed to safety with no loss of life. Though a factual event, the date and location was altered somewhat in our story for purposes of involving Agnes and fictionalizing the event. 

ZOO EUTHANAZIA   Throughout the story, Mrs. Odboddy goes to extreme lengths to find a permanent home for Shere Khan, a displaced carnival tiger. During WWII. many USA zoos closed due to personnel shortages but mostly due to the lack of adequate food supply needed to sustain the large carnivore animals. Poor nutrition led to the death of many large animals and many more were euthanized due to the inability to properly feed them. In no circumstance would an existing zoo take on a displaced carnival tiger. Shere Khan’s plight in this novel, is therefore, based in fact. Never fear, Mrs. Odboddy’s determination is mighty!

THE GOOD SHEPHERD PAINTING   Bernhard Plockhorst is most famous for the painting of The Good Shepherd shown with a staff in one hand and a lamb in the other. He also painted the famous picture of the guardian angel watching over two children as they traversed along a dangerous cliff. His image of the face of Christ is the most accepted rendering of Christ’s likeness in the Christian Church. Plockhorst was from Germany, famous during the latter part of the 1800. Copies of his paintings are in practically every Christian church and many USA homes.

 

AMPHETAMINES  Though home front USA citizens knew little about amphetamines during the 1940’s, Hitler widely distributed Benzedrine and Pervitin to Germany’s battlefield soldiers to enhance stamina, endurance, and performance. Likely many of the atrocities of war were committed due to the effects of enhanced drug use. Wide effects from amphetamines vary, but well could include the symptoms Agnes suffered from their use.

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About Elaine Faber

Elaine Faber lives in Elk Grove, CA, with her husband and two feline companions. She is a member of Sisters in Crime (SIC), Elk Grove Writer’s Guild (EGWG), and Northern California Publishers and Authors (NCPA). Elaine volunteers with the American Cancer Society. She has published nine cozy mystery novels, and an anthology of cat stories. Her short stories are also published in 22 independent anthologies.

Black Cat’s Legacy, Thumper meets Kimberlee and with the aid of his ancestors’ memories, helps her pursue her father’s cold case murder.  http://tinyurl.com/lrvevgm
Black Cat and the Lethal Lawyer, Thumper (Black Cat) goes to Texas and confronts an embezzling attorney and thwarts an attempted murder plot. http://tinyurl.com/q3qrgyu
Black Cat and the Accidental Angel, Black Cat and his companion are left behind following an MVA and find new adventures on an emu farm. http://tinyurl.com/y4eohe5n
Black Cat and the Clue in Dewey’s Diary  Kimberlee follows clues to stolen gold coins in Austria, as Black Cat faces intrigue in hometown Fern Lake. http://tinyurl.com/vgyp89s
Mrs. Odboddy-Hometown Patriot, Eccentric Mrs. Odboddy is determined to expose Nazi spies and conspiracies on every hand.  http://tinyurl.com/hdbvzsv
Mrs. Odboddy-Undercover Courier, Mrs. Odboddy prevents Nazi spies from stealing the ‘secret documents’ she is carrying by train to President Roosevelt. http://tinyurl.com/jn5bzwb
Mrs. Odboddy-And Then There was a Tiger, Falsely accused, Agnes seeks the missing war bond money and befriends a displaced carnival tiger.  https://tinyurl.com/yx72fcpx
Mrs. Odboddy’s Desperate Doings. Agnes exposes an art thief, and seeks a permanent home for Shere Khan, the displaced carnival tiger, she https://tinyurl.com/5xah4cnt
The Spirit Woman of Lockleer Mountain. Is the woman in the woods a missing neighbor, the imaginary local Native American’s Spirit Woman? http://tinyurl.com/y7rp7f3x
 All Things Cat, Twenty-one short stories written about, or narrated by about cats from all walks of life. http://tinyurl.com/y9p9htak

Elaine’s Website

Purchase Link – Amazon

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

May 29 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

May 29 – Jane Reads – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

May 30 – FUONLYKNEW – HISTORICAL FACTS POST

May 30 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

May 31 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

May 31 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

June 1 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

June 1 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

June 2 – Indie Author Book Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

June 2 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 3 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 3 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

June 3 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

June 4 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR GUEST POST

June 5 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

June 5 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST

June 6 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 7 – Maureen’s Musings – REVIEW

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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