"Filled with suspense and intrigue, it is a fast-paced action-packed story that will entertain everyone who has a penchant for tales with super-normal protagonists fighting super-normal villains." — Reader's Favorite Cross Waves She can kill with a thought. Gifted with an explosive psychic talent, Geneva Ericksen can’t risk letting Rolf Jorgensen in her life. If she does, she might accidentally kill him. But when Rolf’s sister goes missing, Geneva and her extraordinary abilities may be his only hope to find her. He’s hiding a deadly secret. Rolf‘s not about to let Geneva slip away from him, even if it means protecting her from his dark gift. As Rolf and Geneva trail his sister, they soon uncover a life-threatening plot: someone is attempting to profit from stealing and trapping their power in crystals. To outsmart the enemy, it will take all their combined strength. But can they trust each other enough to survive? Kindle | Paperback | B&N | Kobo | Apple Books | Add to Goodreads In the author's words . . . I’m not gonna lie. Cross Waves was not an easy book to write. It took me four years of editing and rewrites, working with some fantastic developmental and copy editors, to produce this book. My favorite part of the story is a character by the name of Caleb Stone who makes his appearance, seemingly out of nowhere, in the last third of the book. He’s such a fascinating character, a “creature of nighttime dreams and smoke and mirrors, a shadow of a man, more figment of imagination than flesh and blood.” I’ve had more than one advance reader tell me they can’t wait to read Caleb and Julia’s story, which will be the focus of book three in the series. Hope you enjoy the book! — Amanda Uhl “As the story progresses, the tension builds and my heart was pounding in anticipation. I read it in one sitting. That's how good this book really is...one of the best romances I have read in a long while.” — Goodreads Reviewer Enjoy an Excerpt from Cross Waves “I’m tracing Julia now. If I don’t open my eyes in ten minutes, wake me up.” He narrowed his eyes and frowned, but she’d already closed her own, so his look was wasted. What the hell did she mean, wake her up? Didn’t she wake up on her own? His heartbeat jig-jogged around in a mad beat. He glanced at the clock on the radio and began counting. Sixty seconds. What did she see? His talent lurched forward inside him, and he gritted his teeth. He focused on the road ahead to keep his power contained. Eight miles later, he stopped at a red light, eyeing the clock again. She’d been under seven minutes now. He tapped his fingers on the wheel, glancing at her still form while he waited for the light to change. Eight minutes. Shouldn’t she be waking up? Did she even breathe? The light changed, and he moved forward. Nine minutes. “Enough.” He poked her side. “Geneva, wake up.” Her body lay still as a corpse. Adrenaline drove a spike through his heart. He stomped on the brakes and veered off the road, then jammed the vehicle in park. He leaned across the seats and shook her shoulder, hard. She didn’t stir. “Geneva, wake up. Now.” No reaction. His heart did a wild dance, and power broke loose from its chain, rising toward the surface of his mind. He unsnapped his seatbelt, gripped her shoulders, and focused on her mind, searching for a hole in her defenses. He found one and blasted through it. A thousand twinkling lights sparkled and stunned his senses. They rotated through her mind in quick succession: deep oranges, vibrant reds, soft yellows. Her heartbeat drummed in time with the steady glow of the lights. She gasped for oxygen. “Let go.” He took control of her mind, forcing air into her starved lungs. She gasped, the sound scraping his insides raw. A sharp ache pounded his temple. Inside her mind, the lights dimmed. Her power shifted, some part of her brain recognizing the intrusion as she came to consciousness. The dark colors took on shades of gray. “Rolf?” His heart leaped in his chest. “It’s about time. What the hell happened to you?” He clutched her shoulders and pulled her toward him. “My God.” Geneva jerked in his arms, probably stunned he held her. But he couldn’t let go. Not yet. Not until he knew she was safe. She cleared her throat. “There were so many colors.” Her voice sounded weak…shell-shocked. “I couldn’t make them stop. They kept coming at me, over and over. I tried to dilute them, but…I got lost. I couldn’t figure out how to resurface.” Fear thickened his throat. He pulled her closer. He clenched his jaw and tried to keep his worry and anger inside, but they wouldn’t be contained. “Don’t you ever do that to me again.” “Mmmfh.” Geneva twisted in his arms. “Let me go.” She managed to lift her head from where he’d smashed it into his shoulder. “What’s the matter with you? Why are you shouting?” Rolf loosened his grip but did not let go. Energy surged and writhed toward her light, a mad bid for freedom. Heat exploded through his body, and he tilted her chin until their eyes met. “You could have died.” Excerpt Copyright © Amanda Uhl. Shared/posted with permission. Kindle | Paperback | B&N | Kobo | Apple Books | Add to Goodreads Note: Audiobook is coming soon — narrated by the author. Meet the Author Amanda Uhl has always had a fascination with the mystical. Having drawn her first breath in a century home rumored to be haunted, you might say she was "born" into it. After a brief stint in college as a paid psychic, Amanda graduated with a bachelor of fine arts in theatre and a master's degree in marketing. Over the past twenty years, she has worked as an admissions representative and graphic designer, owned her own freelance writing company, and managed communications for several Fortune 500 companies, most recently specializing in cyber security. Amanda is an avid reader and writes fast-paced, paranormal romantic suspense and humorous contemporary romance from her home in Cleveland, Ohio. When she's not reading or writing, you can find Amanda with her husband and three children, gathering beach glass on the Lake Erie shoreline or biking in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Learn more at amandauhl.com Follow and connect: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Series: Romance with Paranormal Elements Series: The Mind Hackers Series, Book 2 Release Date: October 19, 2020 Type: Novel Content Rating: 4 Hearts and some violence View our rating system One lucky person will win a $10 Amazon Gift Card and e-book edition of Cross Waves ! Enter using the form below. Earn a bonus entry by commenting on this post and telling us what you like about reading romance and/or paranormal books. Entrants must be 18 years or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law. Giveaway ends October 31, 2020. The winner will be randomly drawn on Nov 2, 2020. This giveaway is sponsored by the author. Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

"This book was an emotional rollercoaster in all the best ways! It had me hooked from the first sentence and didn't let me go until it was over." — Books I Love Her Accidental Highlander Husband Marian Fletcher Blackley, Duchess of Endsmere, is on the run from the English Crown for killing her abusive husband...no matter that it was self-defense. She has only one safe place to go--the MacKinlay clan in Scotland, where her sister is the laird's wife. War Chief Cameron MacKinlay has vowed never to marry after witnessing his widowed mother's grief. He has his lands and his clan, and that's enough for a good life. When one day a sprite of a lass comes running out of the forest with hounds nipping at her heels and an English bounty hunter not far behind, he feels compelled to save her by claiming the disheveled duchess is his wife. But he certainly didn't intend to marry her for real! And now he'll do anything to protect her... Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Add to Goodreads In the author's words . . . Q&A with Allison B. Hanson Please, tell as a little about what makes Cameron and Mari tick. Mari is the heroine and she’s just killed her husband—a duke—in an act of self-defense and is on the run. From Scotland originally she flees England to go to the clan her sister married into. The MacKinlays. Cameron MacKinlay is the war chief and cousin to the laird. He’s been promised into a marriage to form an alliance with another clan. But when Mari comes running out of the woods with dogs and trackers on her tail, Cameron claims her as his wife to protect her. After surviving life with an abusive husband the last thing she wants is another husband. Cam didn’t want to marry anyone, but now that he is he will protect her at all costs. Mari is strong, despite her tiny physique. She’s been through a lot and has faced it with grace and compassion. Cam is this huge warrior who could take down three men at a time, but his real strength lies in his ability to be tender and kind. What type of hero do you like best? My hero, Cameron, has been described as a cinnamon roll hero. Firm on the outside and soft and sweet on the inside. While the alpha male hero is okay sometimes, I prefer someone who’s sweet and respectful, while also able to strike down his enemies with a sword. A perfect example is when Cam is able to wash off the blood from battle and then scoop up one of the laird’s sons to play. What appeals to you most about historical Scottish romance? Her Accidental Highlander Husband is my first step into the historical realm. I have twenty contemporary books published in different genres. I wasn’t sure how I would like writing historical. There’s a lot of pressure to get the history right. And while you need to know what happens, you can’t throw every historical nugget into your story or it will pull readers from the focus which is your characters. But the thing I especially like about making the shift is the ability to be disconnected. In modern-day life we’re all connected by a wireless tether. Someone can’t really be out of touch. Yes, we contrive the broken phone or the dead battery to create distance, but in reality we wouldn’t go days or weeks without being available. However, in the 1600s that wasn’t the case. So you have the ability to add that to the tension. Someone can be blindsided, because there was no way for them to have known something. And if someone didn’t want to see you anymore, it was an easy thing to disappear. What does literary success look like to you? Why? Since I hadn’t planned to become an author, every step of the process has been surreal. When my first book came out, I only hoped that someone I didn’t know would buy it. If a stranger liked my book, I’d feel like it was real. Now, I enjoy reading the reviews or meeting readers at events. When someone tells me they cried, or stayed up all night, that feels like success. To know I’ve touched someone like that. And it’s even better because it’s a stranger. Books & Benches: Cameron and Mari sound like people we want to meet! Thank you so much for giving us a deeper look into who they are. "Allison B. Hanson delivers a great love story in Her Accidental Highlander Husband . Marian and Cam are frantically thrust together, but show tremendous courage and character to support each other so wonderfully. “There is no such thing as accident; it is fate misnamed.” Consider me an instant fan." — The Reading Cafe Meet the Author One very early morning, Allison B. Hanson woke up with a conversation going on in her head. It wasn’t so much a dream as being forced awake by her imagination. Unable to go back to sleep, she gave in, went to the computer, and began writing. Years later it still hasn’t stopped. Allison lives near Hershey, Pennsylvania. Her contemporary romances include paranormal, sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery suspense. She enjoys candy immensely, as well as long motorcycle rides, running and reading. Learn more at allisonbhanson.wordpress.com . Watch an interview with the author here . She would love to hear from you. Click here to leave a message. Sign up here for her newsletter to be informed about new releases as well a deleted scenes and pre-release excerpts. Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads Genre: Historical Romance/Scottish Publication Date: September 28, 2020 Publisher: Entangled Amara Series: Clan MacKinlay, Book One Type: Novel Content Note: 5 Hearts View our rating system During the blog tour, the author is giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card! To enter, please use the Gleam form below. The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on October 16, 2020. You must be 18 or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law. This giveaway is sponsored and hosted by the author and Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends using one of the easy share buttons at the end of this post.

Fans of Mary Jo Putney and Sabrina Jeffries will fall for this delightful story of a high-spirited lady determined to marry for love—but betrothed to a tempting spy whose work has put them both their hearts…and their lives…on the line. Misleading a Duke Finishing school failed to turn them into proper society ladies. Now these four friends vow to remain single until they find suitors worthy of their love and devotion… Betrothed to a man she has barely met, Lady Faith Landon calls upon her three best friends—the self-proclaimed Wallflowers of West Lane—to help uncover the secrets of her mysterious fiancé. Her suspicions are aroused when she learns that he has recently returned from France. Is he a traitor to his country? The truth is quite the opposite. Nicholas Ellsworth, Duke of Breckenridge, is a secret agent for the English Crown who has just completed a risky mission to infiltrate Napoleon’s spy network. After his adventures, Nicholas craves the peace and quiet of the country and settling into domestic bliss with his bride. Until he discovers Faith’s deceptive investigation. How can he wed a woman who doesn’t trust him? But a powerful spark has ignited between Nicholas and Faith that could bring about a change of heart. Faith seizes her second chance to prove to Nicholas that they are a true love match but his past catches up with them when three French spies come to exact revenge. Surviving rather than wooing has become the order of the day. Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook | Kensington | Add to Goodreads In the author's words . . . Q&A with A.S. Fenichel Books & Benches: We're thrilled to welcome A.S. Fenichel to Books & Benches so we can get a little more behind-the-scenes info about Misleading A Duke . The title tells us so much, yet keeps us guessing, and by golly we want to know more! Let's hear from the author . . . What excites you about writing? I love to write. That’s not to say that it doesn’t take it out of me from time to time. There is nothing as satisfying to me as sitting down in front of a blank scream and having a story come to life. Imagine, there’s nothing and then lives, lands, houses, and a plot. And, it all comes from a wisp of thought, a cry on the wind. To me it’s a miracle. I feel very blessed to be able to tell a good story. What makes Misleading A Duke special to you, or different from what you've written before? Misleading A Duke has one of the strongest heroines I’ve ever written. The interesting thing is, you might not have seen that in Faith when you met her in The Earl Not Taken . Even she always thought of her friend Poppy as the brave one. However, when things get dicey and her fiancé’s espionage past comes back to haunt him, Faith is the super hero she needs to be. Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want? I write the stories that come to me. I hope that readers will want to read them and so far so good. I do not write to trend or go out searching for something that’s never been done before, though I hope the way I tell a story is original. Since I’m writing romance, the reader can count on a happily ever after, but I hope the telling is unique. I can only be me and write the stories as I see them in my head. The appeal is totally up to the wonderful readers. Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly? What an interesting question. I don’t really know. I’m not sure I believe there are people who don’t feel emotions. I know there are people who hide or bury their emotions, but they still feel them. Writing might be a great outlet for someone who doesn’t show what’s happening on the inside in real life. I’m not sure a sociopath would write a good book, or at least the book would have an unusual perspective. Speaking for myself, I’m pretty emotional. I cry at a good commercial. However, I’m not sure that’s a prerequisite to being a good writer. If someone has a story to tell and that story is beating away strong enough that you’re willing to sit in front of a computer for a few months or longer to get it out, you probably have the ability to write a book. Maybe tenacity is more prerequisite than emotion. ;) Will you give us a little scoop on what's coming next? I’m currently working on The Wallflowers of West Lane book 3, Capturing The Earl . This books draws readers into the life of orphan, Mercy Heath as she has to watch while the only man who’s ever interested her attempts to court her best friend Aurora. Since Mercy has no title or money and Wesley is an Earl, she has no hope of winning him. She knows she’s not worthy of such a man. (B&B Note: Book 3 releases January 26, 2021) Books & Benches: This sounds like an utterly delightful series, and we expect a lot of readers are going to agree and cozy up with the new book this fall. Thank you for sharing a bit more about you and Misleading the Duke with our readers. Enjoy an Excerpt from Misleading a Duke “Are you determined to be alone, or might I join you, Your Grace?” Faith called from only a few feet behind him. He must be losing his training for her to have sneaked up behind him without notice. “Is there something you wanted, Lady Faith?” She stepped closer. Several curls had freed themselves of her elaborate coif and called out to Nick to touch them. “It is a lovely garden.” She glanced around and smiled. “Yes. Geb has taken bits from all his travels and placed them in his home and this garden. I think it brings him comfort.” Faith’s golden eyes filled with sorrow. “Do you think Mr. Arafa is lonely here in England?” “It is never easy to live amongst a people not your own.” Nick considered all the time he’d spent in France, Spain, and Portugal and how much he’d missed the rainy days in England and people who understood his humor. “The Wallflowers are very fond of Mr. Arafa. We have not entertained much, but I will see that he is added to our invitation list. Perhaps a circle of good friends will make him feel more at home.” She’d placed her index finger on her chin while she considered how best to help Geb. Adorable. He needed to be free of this woman. “You didn’t say what it was you wanted, Lady Faith.” Frowning, she walked forward and down the path. “Must I have a reason to walk in the garden with my fiancé?” Leaving her to her own devices and returning to the house flitted through his mind, but it would cause gossip and he was curious about her reason for seeking him out. “We are hardly the perfect picture of an engaged couple.” “No. That is true. I wanted to apologize for any undue strain I may have caused you by trying to find out what kind of character you have.” “Is that your apology, or shall I wait for more?” he said when she didn’t elaborate. She stopped and puffed up her chest. Her cheeks were red and fire flashed in her eyes. “Why must you be so difficult? Even when I’m trying to be nice, you find fault. The entire situation was mostly your doing. If you had been open and honest, that would have been an end to our query and none of the rest would have been necessary.” Even more beautiful when she was in a temper, he longed to pull her into his arms and taste those alluring lips. He was certain just one tug would topple all those curls from the pins that held her hair in place and he could find out if they were as soft as they appeared. It was maddening. “I hardly see how it was my fault. You and your friends spied on me and involved Geb, which is unforgivable.” As soft and lovely as she was, a hard edge caught in her voice. “I suppose, then, you will not accept my apology. I see. Well, in that case, I’ll leave you to your solitude.” She turned to walk away and stopped, eyes narrowed into the darkness beyond the gardens, which were surrounded by tall evergreens. Following her gaze, Nick saw nothing, though the hair on the back of his neck rose. “What is it?” “I felt eyes on me, as if someone was watching.” She shivered and continued straining to see in the shadows. “I’m sure you are imagining things.” He dismissed her worry. That hateful glance fell on him before she plastered false serenity on her face. “Perhaps.” He preferred the disdain to the untruthful agreement. Why he should care when he wanted nothing to do with her, he didn’t know. “Shall I escort you back inside, Lady Faith?” “You are too kind, Your Grace, but I can manage the journey on my own.” With a curt nod, she stormed away from him toward the house. Unable to look away, he admired the gentle sway of her hips until she climbed the veranda steps and went inside. Lord, how he longed to hold those hips and slide his hands up to that slim waist, and so much more. He shook away the wayward thoughts before he embarrassed himself with his desires. One thing was certain, Faith Landon would be his undoing. Excerpt Copyright © A.S. Fenichel. Shared with permission for blog tour. Meet the Author A.S. Fenichel gave up a successful career in New York City to follow her husband to Texas and pursue her lifelong dream of being a professional writer. She’s never looked back. A.S. adores writing stories filled with love, passion, desire, magic and maybe a little mayhem tossed in for good measure. Books have always been her perfect escape and she still relishes diving into one and staying up all night to finish a good story. Multi-published in historical, paranormal, erotic and contemporary romance, A.S. is the author of the several series, including Forever Brides, Everton Domestic Society, Wallflowers of West Lane and more. Strong, empowered heroines from Regency London to modern-day New Orleans are what really excites A.S., and that’s what you’ll find in all her books. A Jersey Girl at heart, she now makes her home in Southern Missouri with her real-life hero, her wonderful husband. When not reading or writing, she enjoys cooking, travel, history, puttering in her garden and spoiling her fussy cat. Learn more at asfenichel.com . Blog | Twitter | Facebook Genre: Historical Romance/Regency Publisher: Kensington/Lyrical Press Type: Novel Content Note: 5 Hearts (steamy, but not super steamy) View our rating system Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

"You’ll find a likable, believable couple, an adorable kid, and the magic called love that ties them all together. Take a chance, pick this one up, and discover this part of Last Stand, Texas for yourself." — Keeper Booksh elf A Family for Christmas He never thought he’d have a real family Christmas… For the past eight years, Bill Smith has been unable to set down roots. But he never forgot the magical night he spent with an auburn-haired beauty in Last Stand, Texas. When she finally tracked him down, he was more than happy to donate a kidney to AJ, the son he never knew he had. But now that AJ is better, Bill wants more time with him and his mother. He wants a family. Annie Burleson can’t help but be grateful to this almost-stranger for saving AJ’s life. Still, she’s a little wary. AJ has already been through so much—what if Bill leaves again? And with Christmas in full swing, it’s difficult to discern which emotions are festive and which are forever. As Annie and Bill’s lives collide, their mutual love for AJ makes this more than a marriage of convenience. But is it enough to give them the family Christmas they all deserve? Amazon | Nook | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play | Add to Goodreads Enjoy an Excerpt from A Family for Christmas That night after the fishing expedition, Bill found himself lying awake, staring at the ceiling and thinking about the boy’s request for a brother. It was a natural thing for a child to ask about, but he himself had managed to push all thoughts of sex with Annie deep to the back of his mind. Now that he allowed the idea to bloom in his head, the memories of their one time together, all those years ago, came flooding through him. This time he let himself remember everything: the silk of her skin, the scent of her hair, the plaintive sounds she made as he touched her. The way she had moved beneath him, welcomed him inside her. The more he let himself remember, the worse his body ached. Then Lucky began to snore, two beds away, and Bill knew all possibility of sleep was gone. He stood up and took his jeans from the chair beside the bed, pulled them on, and put on his boots and jacket. Then he quietly made his way to the door. Outside, the Texas sky was black and clear and lit with a million stars. The land rolled, dark and mysterious, for more miles than he could see. Up on the ridge, a coyote began to sing, the eerie notes quivering as they echoed against the barn. He shivered. He knew how that coyote felt. He’d been alone for a good part of his life. But now he had the chance for something different. He had a son. And next Saturday he’d have a wife, too, if in name only. Is that what he wanted? Excerpt Copyright © Nola Cross. Shared with permission for blog tour. All rights reserved. Meet the Author Nola Cross began writing before she even started school and won her first writing contest at the age of nine. It’s always been her dream to be an author, and in recent years she’s been blessed to be living that dream. Her stories focus on emotion, spirit, and true love, stories she hopes her readers will relate to and want to read more than once. Small town America is her favorite fictional setting. Nola lives with her husband and youngest son in a comfortable old fixer-upper in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, in southwest Washington state. She loves to connect on social media with readers, authors and other friendly folks. Connect with the Author: nolacross.com | Facebook | Twitter Series: Contemporary Western Romance Series: The Burlesons of Texas, book 2 Publisher: Tule Publishing Release Date: October 8, 2020 Type: Novel Content Rating: 5 Hearts View our rating system Nola Cross will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to five randomly drawn winners via Rafflecopter during the tour. Must be 18 years or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law. This giveaway is sponsored by the author and organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends. Have you read the book? Let us know your thoughts!

"This might be one of the best American Civil War novels that I have read. Richard Buxton writes with passion for his subject and his characters, bringing both to life with detailed research and superb writing skill." — Amazon Review The Copper Road Shire is far from home, his old life in Victorian England a fading memory. He’s battled through war-torn America to keep a cherished promise to his childhood companion. Now she’s pushing him away, while the war won’t let him go. Fighting for the Union, Shire must survive the brutal campaign for Atlanta and try to imagine a future without her. Clara is free from her husband but not from his ghost. After a violent end to an abusive marriage, she struggles to keep her home in the Tennessee hills as the war steals away its treasures and its people. Tod, a captured Rebel, escapes in Pennsylvania. His encounters on the long road back to his regiment cast the Civil War in a different light. He begins to question his will to fight. Three young lives become wrapped in the Rebels’ desperate need for copper. Friendships, loyalty and love will be tested beyond breaking point. Shire has new promises to keep. The Copper Road is the second novel from award winning writer Richard Buxton. Book one of Shire’s Union, Whirligig , was shortlisted for the Rubery International Book Award. Amazon US | Amazon UK | Paperback In the author's words . . . Q&A with Richard Buxton Books & Benches: It is a pleasure to welcome Richard Buxton to Books & Benches to share his newest release, The Copper Road . From what we've read, readers are enthralled with the level of detail in the book, especially because they feel they are right there in the midst of everything with the characters. Let's go behind-the-scenes with the author to learn more about The Copper Road . . . Will you tell us a little about Shire and Clara, and what makes them tick? Shire and Clara carry through the Shire’s Union series. Both are English, but steadily transforming into 19th century Americans. They were childhood sweethearts, but Clara is from wealth and privilege while Shire is not. Shire was once a homeboy with no particular desire for adventure. But he kept a promise and trailed Clara to America to rescue her from a doomed future. That done, in The Copper Road he is struggling to survive in the Union Army. He’s very much in love with Clara, but doubts that she’ll ever truly feel the same way. The war is turning him into a hardened soldier. Above all Shire is loyal but has to choose between his fellow soldiers and Clara. Clara came to America to marry, but also to escape what she saw a predictable and safe life in England. She wants to make her own decisions, plot her own course. Her actions in The Copper Road are driven by her desperate need to recover after a brutal and cruel marriage. She loves Shire, but can’t quite see past the little boy she bossed around when they were children. Tod Carter is based on a real historical captain in the 20th Tennessee who escaped while being transferred between Union prisons. We follow his odyssey from Pennsylvania back to Georgia. Tod wants to get back to his regiment, but what he sees in the old Union, and the people he encounters on his journey, begin to make him doubt his will to fight. What makes The Copper Road special or unique to you? Can you give us a little story behind the story? The Copper Road still exists today. If you head to the Ocoee Whitewater Center in Polk County, TN, you can still walk a stretch. Most of the road is now underwater after dams were built on the Ocoee River early in the 20th century. I was looking for a home for Clara, my female protagonist, and didn’t want a stereotypical ‘Gone with the Wind’ plantation, and it had to be somewhere in the south-east corner of Tennessee as the great battles for Chattanooga formed part of my first novel, Whirligig . While researching, I discovered the Copper Road which was built in the 1840s to take wagonloads of supplies into the hills and to the new copper mines at the wonderfully named Ducktown. Smelted copper was hauled back out. It was a two-day trip for the muleskinners to the railhead. I became entranced by old tales of the road, Appalachian folk law that told of moonshine and murder. There was also a dark civil war history. Here was somewhere remote and lawless, a great setting for me to mix history with my imagination. I visited from England several times and wrote short short-stories about the road to help me understand the history. When it came to my second novel, I wanted to explore it still more. The adventures of my three main characters become entwined with the armies’ need for copper, so the title works to describe the road they are on metaphorically as well as physically. Do you remember the moment when you first considered yourself a writer? When I was in my mid-forties, my father passed away. He left me a little money, enough for me to take timeout from my IT career and study for a masters in creative writing at Chichester University. I wanted to write novels but crafting short stories was a great way to learn. My tales tended to fit in with my interest in America and the civil war. A theme emerged. My stories would typically be set after the war, often a long time after, and explored the war’s long shadow on people’s lives. Sadly, that shadow reaches right up to today. One story was born out of a day’s visit to Perryville, KY. It was set in the present day and, through the perspective of a young female student brought up in the town, tried to illustrate how the events of the terrible battle fought there in 1862 had left the town’s psyche forever scarred. I called the story Battle Town (available on Amazon). I submitted the story to the Exeter Story Prize. Several months later I was shocked to be announced as the winner and invited onto the prizegiving stage. To have been picked out of several hundred stories by the judges made me realize I could entertain people with my writing. In the following months I also won the Bedford International Writing Prize and the Nivalis Short Story Award, but walking off that stage in Exeter was the moment I first considered myself a writer. Which scene or chapter in the book is your favorite? Why? My favorite chapter is one where Tod has recently returned to his regiment in Georgia. He’s sorting the supplies as he’s the quartermaster. It’s spring and the fighting has yet to start up after the winter. Nearby, his woeful assistant Waddell sits carving a walking stick. As a writer you’re often looking to achieve a number of things in a single scene. In this one there’s a certain ‘before the storm’ feeling. The Union Army sits just over the blossom covered Rocky Face Ridge in the distance. The nearby regimental camp of the 20th Tennessee has been made into a sort of cozy soldier village through the winter. There’s a pleasant mix of inner and outer world. Tod is trying to assess how he feels to be back in the army and reminiscing on his adventurous route home including a romantic riverboat encounter with Clara. Something has changed in him but he’s not yet quite worked out what. The heart of the chapter is the introduction of Waddell as a new character through Tod’s eyes. Tod examines a batch of walking sticks that Waddell has made. Waddell does little else. They are all carved so darkly, full of swamp creatures and death. Waddell isn’t much cheerier himself. I love my cojoined description of Waddell and his sticks. I love the overall balance of the chapter. I felt more there than in any other chapter. At the end, the guns sound from the ridge. What is your favorite motivational phrase? Progress not perfection. This sounds like it could have been said to me from some wise uncle when I was twelve, but it actually came from a New Zealand work colleague about ten years ago. It speaks to me in all sorts of ways and not only about writing. It seems to say that if you can leave the day better than you found it, then that’s not half-bad. It takes away the pressure of making something 100% perfect and instead allows you to make things better by degrees. That really fits with my approach to writing. The Copper Road went through seven full drafts as did its predecessor, Whirligig , and in some full drafts a given chapter might get multiple passes, each one hopefully leaving it better than before. I love creating but enjoy editing and improving just as much. Layering in the emotion, sharpening the description, tightening the dialogue. You can’t get it all right first time. The down side is that with a progress not perfection approach it’s sometimes hard to know when you’re done, but then that’s not so different to real life. It’s a continuum. Just head off in the right direction and try to make it better. Books & Benches: Congratulations, Richard, on the series, and thank you for sharing with us some fascinating insights into the history behind The Copper Road . The Author Richard lives with his family in the South Downs, Sussex, England. He completed an MA in Creative Writing at Chichester University in 2014. He has an abiding relationship with America, having studied at Syracuse University, New York State, in the late eighties. His short stories have won the Exeter Story Prize, the Bedford International Writing Competition and the Nivalis Short Story Award. Richard’s first novel, Whirligig , was published in 2017 and shortlisted for the Rubery International Book Award. To learn more about Richard’s writing visit richardbuxton.net . You can also follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter . Genre: Historical Fiction Ocoee Publishing Series: Shire’s Union #2 Type: Novel Content Note: Depictions of war Richard Buxton is giving away 2 copies of Copper Road ! By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old. Void where prohibited by law. Ends October 19, 2020. This giveaway is sponsored by the author and hosted by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. Good luck everyone!

“…enjoy following one of Jane Austen’s favourite heroines as she is superbly portrayed across a selection of tales set from the Regency era to the present day.” – Cass Grafton Elizabeth: Obstinate, Headstrong Girl Each anthology in the Quill Collective series is a stand-alone book. “Obstinate, headstrong girl!” For over two hundred years, the heroine of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, Elizabeth Bennet has enchanted and inspired readers by being that “obstinate, headstrong girl” willing to stand up to the arrogance and snobbery of her so-called betters. Described by Austen as having a “lively, playful disposition,” Elizabeth embodies the perfect imperfections of strong-willed women everywhere: she is spirited, witty, clever, and loyal. In this romance anthology, ten Austenesque authors sketch Elizabeth’s character through a collection of re-imaginings, set in the Regency through contemporary times. In ELIZABETH: OBSTINATE, HEADSTRONG GIRL, she bares her most intimate thoughts, all the while offering biting social commentary about life’s absurdities. Elizabeth overcomes the obstacles of others’ opinions, not to mention her own flaws, to find a love truly worthy of her—her Mr. Darcy—all with humor and her sparkling charm. “I think her as delightful a character as ever appeared in print…” wrote Jane Austen in a letter to her sister Cassandra, January 1813―and we think so too! Foreword by NY Times & USA Today bestselling author Tessa Dare. Stories by: Elizabeth Adams, Christina Boyd, Karen M Cox, J. Marie Croft, Amy D'Orazio, Leigh Dreyer, Jenetta James, Christina Morland, Beau North, and Joana Starnes. Amazon | Audible | Add to Goodreads The variety of narratives offers something for Austenites of all stripes, and the authors’ enthusiasm for Elizabeth and Darcy’s sparring romance is infectious. Pride and Prejudice fans should take note. — Publishers Weekly Q&A with the Narrator Elizabeth Grace Please, tell us a little about this anthology. “Elizabeth: Obstinate, Headstrong Girl” is a beautifully curated anthology of short stories following our original herione Elizabeth Bennet. The stories see Elizabeth move across time and space and imagine Jane Austen’s characters in new worlds, previously unseen as well as at home in Regency England. The book serves to remind us of Elizabeth’s unique character, created so perfectly by Austen all that time ago. We remember how modern and relatable she is and can completely fall in love with her all over again. I loved narrating this book and discovering how the authors bring their own personalities to each story while remaining true to the charaters we know so well from Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”. Do you try more to be original or to deliver to listeners what they want? I find it so important for audiobooks that while you input your own style, that it isn’t too jarring for the listeners. My job is to bring the story to life in an authentic way so listeners can switch off and enjoy what they are hearing. If I do or say something in a way that seems out of place or too unexpected, I risk jolting the listener out of the story and making them think, “huh, that didn’t seem right.” As a narrator, I obvisouly have no control over where the story is going but I believe it is important, as in a script, to ensure I understand the motives of the characters and apply this knowledge to the tone in which they speak. When we read, we will make this decision on our own but in an audiobook that choice is given to me so I need to make that as believeable as possible. In summary, I don’t think it is about giving the listeners what they want but more like what they need to immerse themselves in the world I am presenting for them. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? When I am beginning a book there is a certain amount of research I need to do on how I am going to give the characters voice – including the narrator. I need to know where the story is set and when so I can immediately set the right scene. This can come down to accents which will take more research if it is one that I am not as familiar with. In which case, I will be looking at sources on YouTube and sometimes also podcasts by people from that place to immerse myself in the sounds. Do you share any personality traits with Elizabeth? Let’s say we don’t just share a name! I feel like Elizabeth is very relatable to so many women, simply because she was so ahead of her time. She behaves in “Pride and Prejudice”, I think, how we would all like to think we would act in the given circumstances. She questions all the expectations put upon her by society, she thinks hard about what she wants from life and doesn’t fall in line because she has to but because she wants to. Like Miss Bennet, I am very determined and opinionated. I am loyal to those I love and will stand up for myself and them when I need to. At my wedding, my dad’s speech mentioned him feeling like my new husband had many Darcy traits (though not as stoic, I like to think!) and he said, “I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to anyone less worthy.” How long on average does it take you to narrate a book? So for me, I narrate and edit all my audiobook recordings myself. On average, it takes me around five to six hours to complete one finished hour of audiobook. As you can imagine in this regard my time is very precious within that so it is important I am working as efficiently as possible and tracking my time effectively to review once I am finished. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be an actress! Having starred in a few musical productions and joining a drama club outside of school, I was obsessed from around the age of 9/10. I was a huge show off as a kid and loved the idea of being the star! Into my teens, I allowed the dream to fade somewhat and took the sensible route. I went to uni, got a job in the city and focused on my career, always with the itch to do something more creative. When I came to move roles in 2018, I would discuss my career with the people around me who would ask, “So what would be the dream job” and I always said I wanted to be an actress. I felt silly saying it, like everyone has a pipe dream, right? Apparently not. So I joined an acting school again and eventually quit my job to give it a real shot. To date (Corona aside) I have started making real headway in audiobooks thanks to the wonderful group of authors in the JAFF (Jane Austen fan fiction) community who have promoted me and supported my work of late. I am also continuing my acting classes, albeit online now and have booked a range of screen projects from short films to webseries with VO work in between. 10-year-old me is buzzing about this, and I am really excited to see what the next 12 months will hold. Books & Benches: Thank you so much for sharing a narrator's perspective. It sounds it would have been a fun project, and we're excited to be sharing it with our readers. A Word from the Editor Christina Boyd This Dream Team of authors–Elizabeth Adams, Karen M Cox, J. Marie Croft, Amy D’Orazio, Leigh Dreyer, Jenetta James, Christina Morland, Beau North, and Joana Starnes–joined me on another adventure with no promise of success but countless hopes. Like many journeys, we encountered unexpected turns, and even a few disappointments, but “it was our business to be satisfied” and prefer to “think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.” I am forever indebted for their creativity, inspiration, great suggestions, and adherence to schedule. And for bolstering my own offering of an Elizabeth story. I can easily count you all as my friends. I am really proud of their work and how well this collection of stories came together. In my previous anthologies, we were blessed to have such stellar Austen academics like Dr. Claudine DiMuzio and Dr. Devoney Looser write our forewords, and it was doubly important to find someone who really understood Austen, especially Elizabeth Bennet, for this project as well. I had heard that New York Times and USA Today bestselling Regency romance author Tessa Dare had once upon a time written Jane Austen fan fiction. When author Beau North suggested we ask her to write the foreword, there was a resounding “Yes!” You might say we were audacious to even ask but, in the temperament of Lizzy Bennet, our “courage always rises…” When she ardently accepted, you can imagine us: “What delight! What felicity!”–well, more like fangirl squeals! Tessa’s love of Elizabeth Bennet and her deft understanding for the scope of this anthology left me wholly gratified, knowing we asked the right person to introduce this fifth anthology of the QuillCollective series. We hope this homage to one of Jane Austen’s best-beloved heroines will not disappoint, especially those that suggested an “Elizabeth” anthology back in 2017. Like Darcy, we “had never been so bewitched by any woman” and writing this collection has been diverting/gratifying/delightful. Please accept these stories in the same affectionate spirit they were written. Elizabeth:Obstinate Headstrong Girl is dedicated to “the Elizabeth Bennet in all of us” because I’d like to think she resides in our hearts, even if but a little spark of courage, wit, loyalty–and whether we reveal her to the outside world or not, she is there inspiring us to find our own felicity and dignity. –Christina Boyd, editor Enjoy an Audio Excerpt Meet the Narrator Originally from the East Midlands in the UK, Elizabeth Grace now lives in South London (via two years in Amsterdam). She is a full time actor, voice over artist, and narrator. Elizabeth began her professional performing career a little later in life and has been studying at Identity School of Acting in London since 2019. Prior to that, she had a career agency side in Marketing which explains her penchant for client services. Since 2019, she has been growing her professional portfolio on top of the amateur theatre work she began in her formative years. She has now been a part of many projects from short films and web series to audio dramas and audiobook narration. Learn more at elizabethgraceofficial.com . Follow the Authors Elizabeth Adams - eadamswrites.com Christina Boyd - thequillink.com Karen M Cox - karenmcox.com J. Marie Croft - jmariecroft.wixsite.com/j-marie-croft Amy D’Orazio - m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100030788056041 Leigh Dreyer - m.facebook.com/authorleighdreyer Jenetta James - m.facebook.com/jenettajameswriter Christina Morland - christinamorland.wordpress.com Beau North - beaunorthwrites.com Joana Starnes joanastarnes.co.uk/news Tessa Dare - tessadare.com Genre: Regency through Contemporary Publisher: The Quill Collective Narrator: Elizabeth Grace Audiobook Publication Date: August 31, 2020 Publisher: The Quill Ink, LLC Type: Anthology Content Note: 2 Hearts View our rating system During the blog tour, the author is giving away a $20 Amazon Gift Card! To enter, please use the Gleam form below. The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on October 12th. You must be 18 or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law. This giveaway is hosted by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. Enter Giveaway Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends using one of the easy share buttons at the end of this post.

Regan Walker's, Summer Warrior , the first book in her series, The Clan Donald Saga. Summer Warrior Somerled’s parentage was noble, of the Kings of Dublin, the royal house of Argyll and the great Ard Ri, the High Kings of Ireland. But when the Norse invaded Argyll and the Isles, his family’s fortunes fell with those of his people. When all hope seemed lost, he rose from the mists of Morvern to rally the Gaels, the Scots and the Irish. Sweeping across Argyll and the Isles like a fast-moving storm, brilliant in strategy and fearless in battle, Somerled began retaking his ancestral lands, driving away the invaders and freeing the people from the Norse stranglehold. In doing so, he would win the title Somerle Mor, Somerled the Mighty, Lord of Argyll, Kintyre and Lorne and, eventually, Lord of the Isles. This is the unforgettable saga of his path to victory that birthed the Kingdom of the Isles and won him the heart of a Norse king’s daughter. Amazon | Add to Goodreads Enjoy an Excerpt from Summer Warrior The Village of Drimnin, Morvern, Argyll, late summer 1136 A.D. SOMERLED SMELLED THE SMOKE before he reached the village. A small community nestled around a crescent bay on the western shore of Morvern, everyone who lived in Drimnin was related either by blood or marriage. The villagers made a good life raising cattle and reaping the bounty of the sea. Somerled had passed this way only once, and then he had approached from the Sound of Mull in his galley. He remembered the villagers’ humble but generous hospitality. Today, he and his men had traveled on foot along the coast, wending their way through the pine woods in search of the Norse rumored to be raiding the shores of Morvern, hoping to catch them before they could strike. His ships were still too few to take them on the water. He stepped out of the trees, lush with ferns at their base, his hand on his sword hilt, prepared to fight. A ghastly sight met his eyes, sickening his stomach. Too late. Bodies were sprawled upon the grass between the shore and the woods, struck down while trying to flee. Dreadful wounds revealed some had fallen to axes. Acrid smoke rose from the cottages still burning, the flames leaping from the dry thatched roofs. He could see no longships pulled up on shore but the raiders could not have been long gone. Aghast at what he saw, he was suddenly aware there were no birds to be heard, save the hooded crows pecking at the blood-soaked bodies. “See if any live,” he said to Domnall and started forward. “Aye,” said his cousin and swung his arm in silent command, pointing to the fallen. The men hastened to obey. Both old and young had been killed by the merciless Norse. Seeing the women who had been violated, Somerled ground his teeth. Their tunics had been ripped from their bruised bodies before they were killed. “Cover them,” he said to one of his men. “Cover them all with whatever you can.” The men closest to him hurried to accomplish the task. He walked through the village, assessing the carnage. The doors of the burning cottages stood open. Goods, taken in haste, had been discarded like so much rubbish. So, too, had the Norse raiders considered the lives of the people. He knew they would see judgment in the next life but Somerled wanted justice in this life. He did not hate the Norse. How could he when his mother was one of them? But these were lesser men, ruthless pirates, some ostracized from their own people to prey on others. When his men returned with reports that none lived, Somerled faced the woods and in Gaelic said in a gentle voice, “If you live, come to us or make a sound. We will help you.” Two boys staggered out of the woods, their fearful expressions and tear-stained cheeks bearing witness to what they had seen. From the look of them, they were brothers, close in age, both with dark brown hair and wide eyes. To them, Somerled’s sun-gilded fair hair would mark him more Norse than Gael. Kneeling before them, he said, “I am Somerled, a man of Argyll, and these are my men. You will be safe with us.” When he saw relief on their faces, he said, “We will return to bury the dead but now we must go in haste to exact vengeance on those who did this. Do you come with us?” The boys shared a glance and the older one nodded. “We will come.” Somerled gave them into the care of a MacInnes man who stepped forward and offered to raise the boys with his own children. As they started to go, the older one said, “They took our sister and another girl.” It was clear from the boy’s haunted eyes he had an idea of the girls’ fate. Likely he had already witnessed the rape of the village women, including his own mother. Somerled’s eyes narrowed as his heart hardened within his chest. “We will see them avenged.” A short way down the coast, one of Somerled’s men scouting ahead had spotted dragonships offshore. They approached the top of the rise and Somerled signaled his men to stay low. A field of yellow wildflowers bloomed where he crouched behind a boulder, observing the Norse longships. He counted five, three just pulling up at the water’s edge, their sails doused, their dragon-carved stems boding ill for the people who lived farther down the coast. Counting shields, he saw they numbered nearly three hundred. The sea was calm, as if nature herself was unaware a massacre had just taken place to the north. Somerled’s heart burned within him, a furnace of rage. He wanted the waters to roar, to cry for vengeance on the heathen dogs. Behind him were the forests in which he had hunted. Gathered around him was his group of one hundred men, MacInneses from Morvern, archers from Argyll and Irish mercenaries from Antrim, who had heard of his plan to retake Argyll and joined the cause. They were stout-hearted men yet still too few to take on so many Norsemen clad in mail and conical helms and armed with swords, axes and spears. The Highlanders and Islesmen wore tunics of linen or wool over tight-fitting trews or hosen, their tunics secured at their waists with a belt. On their feet were soft leather boots. Around their shoulders, some wore woolen cloaks. A few, like Somerled and his brother, also wore leather armor. None wore mail. It was expensive and rare in these parts. All carried weapons but not all had a steel sword at their waist. No matter the odds against them, Somerled wanted those ships and he wanted justice for the lives cut short at Drimnin. Excerpt Copyright © 2020 Regan Walker "An enjoyable and satisfying read. Page turning and a never a dull moment storm that sweeps across your heart as you turn the pages with characters your love. Brilliantly written, unpredictable and carefully written to entice and beguile the reader. A must read!!" — April, Goodreads Meet the Author Regan Walker is an award-winning, #1 Amazon bestselling author of Regency, Georgian and Medieval romances. She writes historically authentic novels with real historical figures along with her fictional characters. Among the awards she has won are the International Book Award for Romance Fiction, the San Diego Book Award for Best Historical Romance, the RONE Award for her medievals and the Gold Medal Illumination Award. You can sign up for her newsletter on her website and get the "Reader Extras" there, too. Regan loves to hear from her readers. Author website: reganwalkerauthor.com Facebook Readers' Group: facebook.com/groups/ReganWalkersReaders Facebook: facebook.com/regan.walker.104 Historical Romance Review Blog: reganromancereview.blogspot.com Twitter: @RegansReview Pinterest: pinterest.com/reganwalker123 Genre: Historical Fiction Series: The Clan Donald Saga, book 1 Release Date: October 7, 2020 Type: Novel Content Rating: PG-13 View our rating system Thank you for visiting and reading! Feel inspired? Want others to experience the book magic? We hope you'll support this author by sharing with your friends using one of the easy share buttons at the end of this post.

“Lush, evocative, and sizzling-hot.” —Ann Major, USA Today bestselling author "I loved the characters. They are very well described, and each has a unique personality. The conversations are realistic, and the various personalities often clash with interesting results. I found the pace to be perfect, allowing for the characters to grow to know each other and fast enough to make it a page turner. If you haven’t read this series, I urge you to give it a try. My regards to author Cynthia Breeding, thank you for a thrilling and heartfelt novel." — The Reading Cafe Highland Renegade Emily, the Dowager Countess of Woodhaven, has received title to lands in the Highlands—MacGregor lands—and after surviving an abusive marriage, she’s determined to make a new start…without a man. She just has to win over the handsome Scottish laird whose family has lived there for centuries. How hard could it be? When Ian MacGregor heard that the Sassenach countess was actually laying claim to his lands, he figured to scare the aging widow away by showing her the hardships of living in the Highlands. She’d leave before the first snowflake fell. But he never imagined that the widow was young and beautiful and more territorial than a she-wolf. No matter, he’ll prove that a fragile, London woman like her would never survive life without her servants…and if he happens to give her the coldest and most remote rooms, all the better. Despite his best efforts to freeze her out, things between them heat up. But Highlanders hate the Sassenach, so Ian faces a dire choice—his clan or the irresistible English aristocrat who seems to have taken not only his lands, but also his heart. Amazon | Google | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Add to Goodreads In the author's words . . . Q&A with Cynthia Breeding Give us a little tease about Highland Renegade . Highland Renegade is the first of a trilogy about Clan MacGregor who were outlawed by Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1563. She awarded authority to John Campell of Argyll to oust MacGregors by fire and sword. In 1589, her son James VI, renewed the sentence and added that any clan giving aid to MacGregors would be met with the same fate. The king further banned their clan name in 1603. In 1625, Charles I renewed the statue. Charles II restored their name in 1660, only to have William III reinstate the condemnation in 1688. The clan became known as “Children of the Mist” for their ability to escape the Crown’s forces by blending in with their surroundings. It wasn’t until 1774, that their rights were fully restored and that is when this novel takes place. Do you remember the moment when you first considered yourself a writer? I wrote my first “novel” at age eleven about a girl and her horse. I was a completely horse-crazy child. Interestingly, when I was cleaning out my mother’s house several years ago, I came across my hand-written version. Thinking it would be fun to see what my child mind conceived, I was pleasantly surprised to find it did have an actual plot. I played around with it and did some revisions and finally had it published by Highland Press under author name Cynthia Roepke. The title of that book became Nostalgia Road and was the first of a trilogy which I set in the Sixties. What is your favorite motivational phrase? I attended a workshop years ago put on by (Stephen) Covey Leadership Center based on his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People . I was always impressed with Habit # 2: “Begin With The End In Mind.” I use that when I begin an outline for a new book. Besides, the obvious HEA of the romance genre, how do I want the story to end? What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? I love history so I’m always doing research of a sort. It’s on-going and I keep notes on index cards. Generally, I find an interesting period that I want to write about and then come up with the characters and situation that can be turned into a story. I developed a love for the Arthurian legends when I taught them to high school sophomores. For fun, I started researching the origins of the legends—the non-fictional theories—as well as reading nearly every version of fiction. I accumulated approximately 300 books on the subject over the course of five years. At some point, I decided it would be interesting to do a book based on Gwenhwyfar’s point-of-view. Nearly all fiction blames her for the breakup of the Round Table and the downfall of chivalry, so why not take a completely different stance? The result of that was my first published novel Camelot’s Destiny , which went on to become an award-winning romance. What appeals to you most about writing romance? What I most like about the romance genre is that there is always a happy ending, just like the faerie tales we read as children. Too often life gives us lemons that cannot be made into lemonade. If we live long enough we all encounter personal tragedies, turmoil, and trouble. (Case in point: 2020 has been devastating to so many of us and seems like a year lost.) I think what most writers of any genre enjoy is being in control of the story. In romance, we are also in control of the ending which is always an uplifting one. Books & Benches: Thank you so much for a glimpse into the interesting history behind the book and your writing. "A great story with well-developed characters, a chemistry-laden romance, and an intriguing mystery, Highland Renegade is the perfect story for lovers of historical romance." — One More Book Meet the Author An avid reader of anything medieval, Cynthia Breeding has taught the traditional Arthurian legends to high school sophomores for fifteen years. She owns more than three hundred books, fictional and non-fictional, on the subject. More information on Arthur, Gwenhwyfar and Lancelot can be found on the Historical Account link. In addition, she has won numerous awards including the Holt Medallion, Beacon Contest, Barclay Gold, More Than Magic and Ancient City Romance Authors. Cynthia lives on the bay with her Bichon Frise and enjoys sailing and riding on the beach. Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads Genre: Historical Romance Publisher: Entangled Amara Series: Children of the Mist, Book One Release Date: September 21, 2020 Type: Novel Content Note: 4 Hearts View our rating system During the blog tour, the author is giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card! To enter, please use the Gleam form below. The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on October 9th. You must be 18 or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law. This giveaway is sponsored and hosted by the author and Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours.

This series of murder and mayhem is written in a modern noir style with charming, witty, deliciously clever soft-boiled sleuths. Dead in That Beach House Once we had arrived in the Hamptons, settled in and I felt comfortable, I began to add small amounts of poison to the evening cocktails. It was from the oleander flowers. I had planted them carefully behind the barn in Ames. After only weeks, they were falling ill, listless, crying to go back to Ames. They felt too sick at the beach house. It was simple. I know you must think I’m a monster. But, really, they felt very little when I strangled them to death thanks to the poison in their system. When they were dead, I filled my library with books about murder and witchcraft. The note I leave for whomever might find them might explain what happened... The Senior Sleuths, Dick and Dora Zimmerman, much like Nick and Nora Charles from the Thin Man series, and their cozy group of interesting, quirky friends take on crooks and murderers while dealing with an outrageous case of elder abuse. Later: “Shall we say invitations are mandatory?” “Absolutely, dear. We wouldn’t want anyone to miss the fun” “They’re either belligerent, arrogant, or simply annoyed,” Zero whispered to Cloud as the so-called guests arrived. They were all murderers and those who had committed crimes against the elderly. Amazon | B&N | Kobo Add to Goodreads Enjoy an Excerpt from Dead in That Beach House For over a century the Hamptons had been a magnet for artists and writers. The views, the sea, the sunsets drew them into natures web. But, The Sunset Development Group didn’t care about any of that. They were aggressively attempting to buy up numerous parcels of prime land facing those views. For years THAT Beach House they wanted stood alone on slightly over an acre of land, isolated behind sand dunes where it had been built for a fraction of a cost of what it was worth today. For the last dozen years the law firm of Gibbons and Corbett, told them, “No, it is not possible to buy it until the 99 years is up as stated in the owners trust and will.” The original owners and law firm had been left a substantial amount of money for yearly taxes and minimal upkeep on the outside of the property, but it was clearly decaying inside. It really didn’t matter if the house rotted and was reduced to rubble. It was the land that was worth a fortune to developers. *** The house had originally been built by Lily’s great, great uncle, James Sinclair. “I never met him. My uncle Willie said he was not a very nice man. I never knew what they meant by that.” It would be discovered one of the decaying bodies found was his wife. The other two skeletons, two female were found by the police were in an upstairs bedroom on top of a tattered beige lace bed cover. They were his wife’s sisters. All three 100-year old murder victims were proven through the coroner’s examination to have been strangled to death after first being poisoned. Aunt Alice and Uncle Willie Not that being shot in the head at close range was any less despicable. End of Excerpt. Copyright © M. Glenda Rosen Learn more by visiting the author's website. Dead in That Beach House released August 22, 2020 from Level Best Books. Meet the Author Marcia Rosen (aka M. Glenda Rosen ) is author of ten books including The Senior Sleuths and Dying To Be Beautiful Mystery Series and The Gourmet Gangster , Mysteries and Menus (with her son Jory Rosen), published by Level Best Books. Marcia is also author of The Woman's Business Therapist and award winning My Memoir Workbook . She was owner of a successful national marketing and public relations agency in New Mexico and New York, and has worked with many author clients. To that end she has given classes, workshops and guest lectured on topics such as Encouraging the Writer Within You, Getting Published, Now What? (Book Marketing), Writing Mysteries...Not A Mystery, Writing From Your Soul and The Gangster's Daughter. She has published numerous articles and is a member of Sisters In Crime Los Angeles and Albuquerque, Central Coast Writers, Public Safety Writer's Association and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. Marcia presently lives in Carmel, California and is planning on moving back to Albuquerque early 2021 or end of 2020. She has author clients in New York City, Atlanta, Albuquerque, Long Island, the Hamptons and Vancouver. Facebook: @MarciaGRosen Twitter: @WriterMysteries Instagram: @mglendarosen Pinterest: marciaglendarosen www.creativebookconcepts.com www.theseniorsleuths.com Title: Dead in That Beach House Author: M. Glenda Rosen Publisher: Level Best Books Pages: 160 Genre: Cozy Mystery Giveaway M. Glenda Rosen will be awarding a $50 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Must be 18 years or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law. This giveaway is sponsored by the author and Goddess Fish Promotions. Last day of the blog tour is October 9, 2020.

Can a sister who’s lied to everyone find truth with the wrong man? A Bride for Heddwyn Secrets are everywhere… From the moment she met her sisters in a Qu’Appelle Valley orphanage, Oriole has rewritten her past to protect her present. Now Lark is married, Wren is lost, and Oriole is on a mission to find Wren before their cruel and controlling troupe manager does. In order to succeed, she must cling to her lies and evade the only man she ever let come close, the fast-talking Llewellyn brother who deserted her without a word. Second chances are few… From the moment he first heard Oriole sing with her sisters in a Cheyenne saloon, notoriously scatterbrained Heddwyn Llewellyn’s desire to change gained focus. Until tragedy struck. To protect his brothers and sister, Heddwyn turned his back on love and the only woman who’d ever riveted his attention—all while refusing to talk to him. Now, after two years apart, Oriole’s finally back in his life and so is a shot at redemption. The Songbird Sisters’ quest for freedom may have reunited Oriole and Heddwyn, but it’s also tearing them apart. Her sadistic troupe manager is more than happy to maim and murder to get his money-making musicians back. Can two hearts always on the run finally stand still long enough to save each other and their love too? A note about story links: A Bride for Heddwyn is the second book in my Songbird Junction series. It includes characters (such as reader-favorite Grandpa Gus Peregrine) featured in my Noelle, Colorado, Christmas stories: The Calling Birds (set in 1876) and Robyn: A Christmas Bride (set in 1877). All of these stories are Western historical romances with a dash of mystery and a heap of adventure. SONGBIRD JUNCTION SERIES Book 1 - A Bride for Brynmor Book 2 - A Bride for Heddwyn Book 3 - A Bride for Griffin (coming 2021) Welcome to Songbird Junction, where Welsh meets West in Colorado 1878. The journey to find a forever home and more starts here. Brynmor, Heddwyn, and Griffin Llewellyn are three Welsh brothers bound by blood and a passion for hauling freight—in Denver where hard work pays. Lark, Oriole, and Wren are three Irish-Cree Métis sisters-of-the-heart bound by choice and a talent for singing—in any place that pays. Amazon Meet the Author Fall in love with a new Old West... where the men are steadfast & the women are adventurous. You'll find Wild West scouts, spies, cardsharps, wilderness guides, and trick-riding superstars in my stories. Those are my heroines. Wait till you meet my heroes! My love for historical romance adventures with grit and passion came from watching Western movies while growing up on a cattle farm in northern Canada. I've been nominated for over 20 awards and won the RWA® Golden Heart® & the Laramie® — but my best reward is hearing from readers who have enjoyed my stories. Follow me on Amazon to be the first to hear about new releases. Visit my website ~ www.JacquiNelson.com ~ and subscribe to my newsletter to receive a FREE STORY and be the first to hear about exclusive bonus content. DO YOU LOVE HISTORICAL WESTERN ROMANCES? Then why not join historical western romance authors and readers on the Pioneer Hearts Facebook group and share your favorite stories, photos, and all things Old West? www.facebook.com/groups/pioneerhearts Genre: Historical Western Romance Type: Novel

"This cast and their narration are stellar. I eagerly look forward to the next story in the saga." — Audible Review "Narrated by 4 voice actors, the story is brought to life. Shane East, Patrick Zeller, Marnye Young and Tara Langella are fantastic storytellers and together brought out the essence of this story. Each character its own voice, inflections and nuances drawing out the frustrations, fear and emotions. This is an amazing cast of narrators and they brought me hours of entertainment." — Audible Review The Tory His King or His Conscience…which will he choose? It is the winter of 1776, and Captain John Carlisle, one of His Majesty’s not-so-finest, has gone back to the scene of the crime to right a wrong so dark it left a permanent stain on what was once an illustrious career and left a man broken, defeated, in search of justice… In an effort to win back his commission, he must discover the true nature of the relationship between the Six Nations of the Iroquois and the Colonial Army. Undercover as a war profiteer, John travels to the treacherous Mohawk River Valley and infiltrates local society, making friends with those he’s come to betray. But a chance meeting with a beautiful half Oneida innkeeper, whose tragic history is integrally linked to his own, will provide him with the intelligence he needs to complete his mission—and devastate her people. Now, as the flames of war threaten to consume the Mohawk Valley, John has the chance to not only serve King and country, but to clear his name. When the truth he uncovers ties his own secrets to those in the highest positions of the British military and threatens the very life of the woman he’s come to love, he will be forced to make a choice… ***This book contains graphic content and depictions of war*** Amazon | Audible | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Add to Goodreads "Let me tell you this, I was absolutely blown away by the audio performance. Coming into this audio, I had heard prior performances by only one of the 4 narrators. I knew the caliber to expect from one of them, but the others were new to me. Every single one of them was outstanding! They all were able to bring T.J.'s characters to life. Trust me, you're gonna want to buy this audiobook." — Audible Review Q&A with Author T.J. London What makes The Tory special or unique to you? Can you give us a little story behind the story? The answer to your question is: It’s a loooooooooooong story, but for the sake of brevity I’ll try to make it short. I always dabbled in writing; as a matter of fact, I wrote an early version of The Tory —which my husband threw in a dumpster after we got into a huge blowout twenty years ago when I was in college working on my PhD. (Never let it be said that the Revolutionary Author is not a forgiving soul, cuz he has all his limbs, anatomical parts vital to being male, and he’s still my DH.) Now, where was I? Oh, yes, writing The Tory . I actually started writing as part of counseling. Two very catastrophic events happened simultaneously; one was the onset of my father’s manic depression and me having to commit him, and the other a harassment case at my place of work which forced me to leave my beloved job. As everything spiraled downwards, I went to a terrible place and started counseling. When I would sit with my counselor every day (yes, every day, as I was not well), I would start crying, have a panic attack, and never resolve my problems. We tried meds, we tried all different techniques, but things were just getting worse and worse. So, Lorrie, my beautiful and wise counselor, suggested I write. Hence, I pulled on old inspiration, the original version of The Tory , and started re-writing it. Each appointment, I’d come to her office and read to her what I wrote the night before, and we’d talk through it. Why does John Carlisle drink? Why does he hate his life? Why is Stuart schizophrenic? Why is Dellis’s father dead? All of that was mirroring aspects of my life, actually, down to some of the genuine dialogue. As Lorrie and I discussed the story, I slowly unraveled what was going on my life and got the courage to face my pain and speak my truth. When the book was done, it was actually called The Traitor (what one of my work colleagues called me when I exposed the harassment situation at my place of work). My counselor then told me she wanted me to let someone read the book. So, I did. It was crude, but my few readers really liked the story and thought it was compelling. With a bit of coaxing, I went to some writing conferences and met with several editors and publishers, but found many naysayers who panned the story. I did eventually hook up with Kathe Robin, my concept editor, and she loved it and believed in it from the get go. Together, we split The Traitor into two books, and I decided to go independent. After that, I found my copy editor, Jo Michaels, and now she’s my indispensable guru of writing. That’s a very, very abridged version of the story, but it’s the indisputable truth, and I’m happy to say I’m still in therapy, I have a new job, Dad went to Heaven, and I now have 4 books under my belt (and a very proud counselor). That being said, I think this makes The Tory very unique! What story are you working on next, and what inspired it? I’m working on book #5, The Rebel , and book #6, The Renegades , as we speak. For those two books, we’re going to pick up alongside The Traitor and then after The Turncoat , but Alexei McKesson is going to lead the saga for a little while. This story is about: are we doomed to become our parents, and it really explores that overarching theme. Again, it comes from my personal counseling, and my own demons I’m struggling to overcome. What is something about your hero or heroine that only you know? If I told it here, then it wouldn’t be a secret. HAHAHAHA! And there are some things about my characters that are uniquely mine, and I don’t wish to share. I’m very covetous of my characters, because Dellis and John are both based on me. That being said, some of the lines they speak come directly from my counseling, and some of the events they live through are based on my own life experiences. What those are, well, that’s a secret. Are any of your characters based on real people you know? John and Dellis are both based on me and my life as I was writing The Tory . John was me in my harassment case, and Dellis was me in the personal issues I’d long suppressed. They were far too easy to write because they were warring in my head day in and day out. They were me, yes, steeped in lots of history, fiction, and drama, but the core of their story comes from my life, some of which is too personal to discuss here. Do you believe in the concept of a muse? What is yours like? Ahh… my muses. LOL. If only I could control this part of the process. Some of my muses are strong, and they demand every bit of my attention, i.e. John Carlisle in The Tory . He never stops talking. I could write twenty books about him and Dellis alone because he’s so wonderfully present, and he speaks with such bravado and humor I can’t help but indulge him. Merrick, from Man of War , was much harder, more subtle, honorable, and respectful, often waiting his turn until John shut up. LOL. Just like Merrick reads in Man of War . Eventually, as the character and I worked together through scenes, his personality shined through, and in the end, we created the brave, charismatic, slightly broken, devilish warrior that is Merrick McKesson. India is a mix of characters because she’s going through a serious trauma in her life. The ideas for her personality came from my talks with women who’d lived through domestic violence and similar events, coupled with my own personal vision for her. She comes to us broken, defeated, a woman who’s seen a lot of stuff and has learned a few lessons, and she’s not afraid to fight for what she wants. B&B: What a great Q&A, T.J., thank you. You've done a fantastic job channeling all your real-life experiences into a series of great books. Enjoy an Audio Excerpt from The Tory “A story to captivate your mind, The Tory is phenomenal. T.J. London takes us on a journey in the winter of 1776. Captain John Carlisle is undercover to clear his name. Posing as a war profiteer, he meets Dellis an Oneida Innkeeper. These two have the most interesting relationship, both intellectual and slow burn romantic. She introduces John to people to sell his goods and lets him gain trust and support of those around him. With unfortunate circumstances, dangerous characters, and intriguing partners, John takes us on an adventure. London’s descriptive writing lets us visualize each scene as it unfolds and experience the story as if we were there. It’s an amazing story, and I can’t wait to find out where John takes us next.” — Goodreads Review Meet the Author T.J. London is a rebel, liberal, lover, fighter, diehard punk, and pharmacist-turned-author who loves history. As an author her goal is to fill in the gaps, writing stories about missing history, those little places that are so interesting yet sadly forgotten. Her favorite time periods to write in are first and foremost the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolution, the French and Indian War, the Russian Revolution and the Victorian Era. Her passions are traveling, writing, reading, barre, and sharing a glass of wine with her friends, while she collects experiences in this drama called life. She is a native of Metropolitan Detroit (but secretly dreams of being a Londoner) and resides there with her husband Fred and her beloved cat and writing partner Mickey. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads Genre: Historical Fiction Series: The Rebels and Redcoats Saga, Book #1 Narrated by: Shane East, Tara Langella, Patrick Zeller, Marnye Young Audiobook Release Date: August 31, 2020 Type: Novel - Paperback & Ebook - 517 pages Audiobook Length: 15 hrs and 15 mins Content Note: R - This book contains graphic content and depictions of war View our rating system During the blog tour, the author is giving away an audiobook + paperback copy of The Tory by T.J. London to one lucky winner! To enter, please use the Gleam form below. The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on October 2, 2020. You must be 18 or older to enter. Void where prohibited by law. This giveaway is hosted by the author and Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours.

Voting is now open for the October 2020 book cover contest. View the finalists and c ast your vote on the cover contest page.