Whether you're a seasoned mystery aficionado or new to the genre, this book promises a journey filled with intrigue that you won’t want to miss out on. Check out Murder on West Lake by I. M. Foster! A scream shattered the tranquil air, echoing off the ice-covered lake, and Daniel's heart froze. He knew that voice all too well. About Murder on West Lake by I.M. Foster A scream shattered the tranquil air, echoing off the ice-covered lake, and Daniel's heart froze. He knew that voice all too well. After a pleasant afternoon of ice skating on the frozen waters of West Lake, local librarian Kathleen Brissedon stumbles across a gruesome sight in the nearby gazebo. It only takes a moment for her beau, assistant coroner Doctor Daniel O'Halleran, to determine that the victim was murdered. To protect Kathleen from the ghastly sight of the man’s slashed throat, Daniel insists she return home while he examines the body further. Though the immediate cause of death appears obvious, he fears the subsequent autopsy will uncover more questions than answers, and it's clear that he has his work cut out for him if he's going to find the person responsible. Kathleen has no intention of remaining demurely at home, not when there's a murder to solve. Slipping back to the scene, she conducts her own investigation. Though her discoveries prove interesting, Daniel is too concerned about her safety to stifle his annoyance, especially after the killer makes a second attempt closer to home. But as the puzzle pieces begin to fall into place and Daniel starts closing in on the truth, the killer sets their sights on him. With the danger increasing, Kathleen intent on assisting in the investigation, and his family descending on Patchogue to spend the Christmas holidays, Daniel has his hands full. Will he and Kathleen be able to put their heads together and discover who is behind the attacks, or will the killer continue to plague the tranquil South Shore village unhindered? Buy the Book Kindle | Paperback As of this posting, this title is available in Kindle Unlimited. Meet I.M. Foster I. M. Foster is the pen name author Inez Foster uses to write her South Shore Mystery series, set on Edwardian Long Island. Inez also writes historical romances under the pseudonym Andrea Matthews, and has so far published two series in that genre: the Thunder on the Moor series, a time-travel romance set on the 16th century Anglo-Scottish Borders, and the Cross of Ciaran series, which follows the adventures of a fifth century Celt who finds himself in love with a twentieth century archaeologist. Inez is a historian and librarian, who love to read and write and search around for her roots, genealogically speaking. She has a BA in History and an MLS in Library Science and enjoys the research almost as much as she does writing the story. In fact, many of her ideas come to her while doing casual research or digging into her family history. Inez is a member of the Long Island Romance Writers, and the Historical Novel Society. Website:  www.imfostermysteries.com   Connect/Follow Online Amazon  | BookBub  | Goodreads  | Twitter/X  | Facebook  | Instagram Title: Murder on West Lake Series: South Shore Mystery series – Book 3 Author: I. M. Foster Publication Date: December 9th, 2024 Pages: 438 Genre: Historical Mystery Thank you for visiting Books & Benches! Consider helping the authors who write the books by sharing this post.

Driven by violence, treachery, and the sea's merciless tides, their fates collide. 'A compelling blend of historical detail and inspired storytelling.' —Tony Riches, author of The Brandon Trilogy . The Fugitive's Sword by Eleanor Swift-Hook Autumn 1624 Europe is deeply embroiled in what will become the Thirty Years' War. A young Philip Lord, once favoured at King James' court, has vanished without a trace, under the shadow of treason. Outside the besieged city of Breda, Captain Matthew Rider faces the brutal reality of wintering his cavalry in the siege lines, until he crosses paths with Filippo Schiavono, a young man whose courage and skill could change everything. Kate, Lady Catherine de Bouqulement, arrives in London prepared to navigate the dangerous politics of King James' court to ensure troops are sent to her mistress, the exiled Queen of Bohemia. Within Breda’s walls, a foundling named Jorrit unwittingly stumbles into a lethal conspiracy when Schiavono hires him, supposedly to help sell smuggled tobacco. But Schiavono’s plans go awry and they are compelled to flee the city, only to be captured at sea. If Schiavono is unable to prove his loyalty and ruthlessness to a savage Dunkirker privateer captain, both he and Jorrit will face certain death. Meanwhile, in London, Kate is forced to fight her own battle against those seeking to coerce her into their schemes and finds herself trapped in a terrifying and deadly power struggle. Driven by violence, treachery, and the sea's merciless tides, their fates collide. Buy the Book: Kindle | Paperback At the time of this posting, this title is in Kindle Unlimited. Enjoy an Excerpt from The Fugitive's Sword  by Eleanor Swift-Hook Inside the besieged city of Breda, November 1624   “Love maketh lean the fat men’s tumour, So doth tobacco. Love still dries up the wanton humour, So doth tobacco.”   Jorrit heard the voice raised lightly in song and scrambled out from his hiding place behind the tavern’s cesspit. The Englishman. If Jorrit was quick enough he might get to him before any of the other boys, as he had on a previous occasion. Then he might hope to earn some pennings. Many pennings indeed. The last time he had helped the Englishman he had been rewarded with a whole dubbeltje. Incentive enough to send Jorrit scurrying.   “Love makes men sail from shore to shore, So doth tobacco. ‘Tis fond love often makes men poor So doth tobacco.”   Having some understanding of English, Jorrit heard the words and knew what the Englishman would be bringing. He was a tobacco smuggler.   Breda had had plenty of time to prepare itself for the siege and was well provisioned with just about everything from ham and cheese to bread and fruit, and there were animals and stocks of grain ready at need. Everyone, even Jorrit, knew they could last until next year easily and no one thought for a moment the Spanish would stay so long as that. It was late November and once the winter really began to bite, they would die like flies and those who were left would desert or withdraw. That was of course if the Stadtholder Maurits, half-brother to Justinus von Nassau who commanded the garrison here, did not before that bring an army in strength and sweep the Spanish into the sea.   Jorrit had heard all this, and he had no reason to doubt it. But he also knew that when the burghers had laid their plans and made provision in their stocks and supplies, they had thought of wine and beer, but no one had considered that they might need a supply of tobacco. He knew because everyone complained about it.   Which was why the Englishman came sneaking into the city. Tobacco here was worth ten times what he might get for it in Amsterdam or Haarlem or even amongst the Spanish outside the walls. The Englishman was just one of the men risking his life to penetrate those Spanish troops and reach the defences where there were many eager to help him inside with his precious cargo. And then he needed boys like Jorrit to help carry the load and distribute his wares.   “Love makes men scorn all coward fears, So doth tobacco. Love often sets men by the ears, So doth tobacco.”   To Jorrit’s delight there were no other boys in sight. But then it was not yet dawn and the only people who were up were those preparing for the working day. If he had not been out early to try and fish, Jorrit himself would have been curled up in his truckle in Moeder Machteld’s attic. As it was, he had not managed to fish at all and had even lost his line and the carefully collected bait. One of the men he had cozened out of five duits the previous day had also been out fishing and, seeing him, had given chase. Which was why Jorrit had concealed himself behind the cesspit in the first place.   If Moeder Machteld knew he had been out thieving again she would box his ears and maybe even throw him out of the house. If he could get honest work with the Englishman, he could bring her the money in good conscience and she would not believe the tales that the fisherman might take to her.   He caught up with the Englishman and then had to half run still to match his broad stride. He was carrying a huge pack, but the weight of it seemed not to slow him at all.   “You need a runner again, sir? I can help you, sir. You will remember I was very useful to you last time. I’m the boy who can speak English.”   The Englishman stopped and looked down at him. Despite himself Jorrit shivered inside. The man’s eyes were as cold as the sea in winter and the turquoise colour of it on a clear day. He wore a sword with a basket hilt and looked as if he would be happy to use it given any excuse. He had hair that was white, but not from age—far from it, he was not at all an old man. In fact, he looked no older than Pieter who’d just turned sixteen and had once been one of Moeder Machteld’s boys but now worked for her, keeping the house in good repair and turning away those who came to the door and were unwelcome. The Englishman was taller than Pieter though, but his shoulders were not so broad nor his chest as deep. He frowned now, as if annoyed that Jorrit had troubled him.   “I know my numbers,” Jorrit said quickly., “I can read and write too.” Moeder Machteld had seen to that as she did for all the boys she took under her roof. She made sure they all went to school at least two or three mornings each week and then made them read to her from their pocket books.   “If I remember, you are called Jorrit,” the Englishman said. “Last time I was here you found out some information for me.”   He had not forgotten.   Jorrit nodded and grinned. It had been easy enough. The Englishman had wanted to know the size and strength of the Spanish and defending forces around the southern gate and needed a sketch of the defences there so he could see if that might offer him a better route into the city. As time went on and the Spanish lines drew ever more tightly, Jorrit knew it was becoming harder for men to sneak in and out and new routes were needed.   “That’s me, sir. Can I help you again today, sir?”   The Englishman was looking at him with a little more interest now.   “I’m not sure, can you?” He hefted the heavy pack on his shoulders then slid it to the ground. “Here, you look strong enough. You can carry this.” End of excerpt. Copyright © Eleanor Swift-Hook Praise for Eleanor Swift-Hook 'Brutal, dark, and brilliant; it kept me gripped from the gruesome opening to the thrilling conclusion.' —Jemahl Evans, author of The Last Roundhead . 'Thrilling and powerful battle scenes, an intriguing conspiracy that runs through the books and a dash of romance – the Lord’s Legacy series has it all’ —Fiona Forsyth, author of the Publius Ovidius mysteries . Meet the Author Eleanor Swift-Hook enjoys the mysteries of history and fell in love with the early Stuart era at university when she re-enacted battles and living history events with the English Civil War Society. Since then, she has had an ongoing fascination with the social, military and political events that unfolded during the Thirty Years’ War and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. The Soldier's Stand , book two in Lord's Learning and the sequel to The Fugitive's Sword , is now available for preorder  and will be released on 25 February, 2025.   She lives in County Durham and loves writing stories woven into the historical backdrop of those dramatic times. Website: www.eleanorswifthook.com Twitter/X | Facebook | BlueSky | BookBub | Amazon | Goodreads This blog tour was organized by: Book Details Book Title: The Fugitive’s Sword Series: Lord’s Learning, book 1 Author: Eleanor Swift-Hook Publication Date: 8th October 2024 Publisher: Schiavona Books Pages: 305 Genre: Historical Adventure

A historical coming of age saga of teenage girl's courage and triumph. Let Charlotte's story in Downriver by Jennifer M. Lane be a reminder that no darkness is too deep, no tyranny too strong, when fueled by the relentless pursuit of justice. Downriver by Jennifer M. Lane A sulfur sky poisoned her family and her heart. Now revenge tastes sweeter than justice. It’s 1900. In a Pennsylvania coal town tainted by corruption and pollution, Charlotte's world collapses when her parents meet a tragic end. Sent to a foster family in a Maryland fishing village, she’s fueled by grief and embarks on a relentless quest for justice against the ruthless coal boss, Nels Pritchard. But Charlotte is no ordinary girl. She shares the fiery spirit of her father, whose powerful speeches inspired worker riots. With a burning desire for vengeance, she sets out to uncover the truth behind Pritchard's crimes, unearthing a shocking connection between the town's toxic air and the lifeless fish washing up on the shore of her Chesapeake Bay foster town. To expose the truth, Charlotte builds a network of unexpected allies. There are gutsy suffragists, a literary society of teenage girls willing to print the truth… and Weylan. The captivating young man lost his own family to Pritchard’s poison. He offers support, but Charlotte questions his true motives when he lures her to break the law. Could she be falling into a dangerous trap, leading her to a fate worse than poison? With her unwavering spirit and determination, Charlotte must forge alliances and navigate a web of treachery before Pritchard seeks his own ruthless revenge. Join Charlotte in this small town, coming-of-age dystopian historical saga as she finds resilience, courage, and triumph in her search for identity, independence, and her true home. Buy the Book: Kindle | Paperback Bookshop | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million At the time of this posting, this title is in Kindle Unlimited. " Downriver by Jennifer M. Lane is a captivating and profound reading experience, skillfully blending emotion and suspense to create a memorable story." — The Historical Fiction Company Enjoy an Excerpt from Downriver by Jennifer M. Lane I spend a fitful night tangled in my sheets. In the morning, I gather the stories the literary society has collected and written, and I pack them into the bottom of a fruit basket. I cover them with apricots in case I’m stopped along the way. Then I dress in a dark skirt and a shirt and, slip in the morning light.   With my eyes peeled for anyone who might see me, I traipse through the tree line along the side of the newspaper building with my skirt hiked over my shoes to keep the burrs from sticking to my hem. Then I knock on the back door like Weylan told me to. Three quick raps. A pause. Two more.   The door flies open so fast, he must have been standing next to it waiting for me. He pulls me into the darkness, and into a short hall. There are rooms on either side, their doors open at odd angles, and the sunlight streaming in the roofline windows makes triangles on the floor. He motions for me to follow him down the hall. “Did anyone see you?”   “No.” I pull the pages from the bottom of the basket as I follow him down the hall. “How long do you think it will take?”   “No idea.”   A room this large should feel emptier than it does. Chairs and stools are scattered around with no rhyme or reason, pushed out of the path of the last people who worked here. Counters run along two walls. All sorts of letter trays and boxes of letters clutter the place. It smells like damp concrete. Like rocks and old wood.   This isn’t his first time here in the daylight. I can tell by how easily he moves, pushing letter cases around on the counter. I spread the pages out in order, and he hands me a little metal tray with a locking slide on one end.   “It’s a composing stick,” he says. “This lever sets the column width. We’ll line the letters up in this tray, here. You put them in upside down.”   “That’s a relief,” I say. “Much easier than backwards.”   “It still takes time, but at least we can work together. We can work on separate stories and piece them together when we’re done.”   It’s too finicky a task for much talking, and our silence is easy at first, comfortable and warm, but questions worm into the quiet, and I can’t resist indulging them.   “You don’t trust me?” I ask.   “I do now. Generally, I don’t trust anyone.”   “I’m honored then.”   “Is this like what your father did in Stoke?” he asks.   “No, not at all. He gave speeches.”   “He worked with coal?”   “Not his whole life, but yes.” The words fall out of me easily. “When my parents were young, it was a small village. A few houses, mostly farms. A chapel. Then someone found coal, and people sold off their farms in pieces. Their sons started working there, like my father. They liked the company store and all it promised, but they traded their lives for a pittance. Didn’t realize they were selling their souls until it was too late.”   “What do you miss the most?” he asks.                         “My life,” I say with a snort. “The little things, honestly. It was a beautiful place to live, but I miss the tall clock in the sitting room. The sound of people walking on the porch. How the front door slammed. The smell of the kitchen. I miss the woods around us, because I knew every tree. And I miss my father’s pen.”   “His pen?” Weylan almost laughs.   “It’s silly. I know. It wasn’t silver or anything fancy. Just carved wood.   “What happened to it?” He lifts a full block of text and places it on the galley tray.   “Lost when we moved. The bank said it all had to be sold, everything but our clothes. It belongs to someone else now. It’s my turn. Can I ask you something?”   “Of course,” he says.   “Did you ever look into the fish? Were you ever so angry you wanted to know why they made people sick?”   He raises a shoulder. “The truth belongs to powerful people like Whitaker. It’s easier to let them have it.”   “You can’t honestly believe that.” I pluck a comma from a tray and place it at the end of line. It makes a satisfying click as I press it into place. “That doesn’t sound like you at all. Besides, that’s a reality they’re shaping, not the truth.”   Weylan says nothing for so long that I think I’ve offended him. He works with his head down, finishing a line and topping it with a lead slug. He feels far away.   “All of these people told their stories,” I say. “They—”   “I’m not telling mine.” His voice isn’t rough but it’s definitive.   “No, I suspect if you wanted to, you would have by now. I just mean that putting it into words can be good.”   “I’m sure that’s true,” he says. “But once you put it out there, people can do what they want with it. They can twist it. Change it. Call you a liar. I prefer cold facts.”   Facts. Another thing we have in common. I would chase them to the end of the earth. “That’s fair.   The silence falls on us again, and I’m torn between apologizing and not being sorry at all.   “I didn’t mean to push,” I say. That much is true. This strange club we belong to doesn’t mean we feel the same, and that’s fine. He doesn’t need or want my apology; I can tell by his smile. No offense meant, none taken.   “I’m afraid,” he says.   “Afraid of this? Of what they’ll do if they find out it was us?”   “No. Of the truth.” He places a full block of letters on the galley and starts over. “Because once you know the truth, you might feel even more powerless. I want to build my own life, my own future. Not have it taken from me or dictated. I can’t do that if it all feels pointless.”   “So what made you want to help us, then?” I ask with a great deal of hesitation. “If you don’t want to know the truth—”   He turns to face me, his elbow on the counter, inspecting his thumb. The lead makes our fingers gray and metallic, as if we’ve been mining for something precious.   “I offered because I met someone who wasn’t afraid of the truth. Someone who went looking for it. And I want to know her more.”   My breath catches in my throat. He makes an odd sort of melancholy wince, like he’s choking back a disappointment, and I don’t know if it’s with himself or with me, but I do know this is the best and worst thing I could have heard because every moment I’m with Weylan feels less lonely. It feels like action, like my heart has momentum, and revenge eats at me less since I met him. It’s direction and hope, all mashed together, and the lightness I feel with him I can only describe as relief and whatever the opposite of alone is. Since I met Weylan, my life has a purpose even more salient than the acid cloud of vengeance that’s hung over me, and not only is it distracting, it’s the kind of thing I could get used to. I could come to crave being with him. But that means I’d have something to risk losing, and I’m never going to let myself lose another thing again. End of excerpt. Copyright © Jennifer M. Lane Meet the Author A Maryland native and Pennsylvanian at heart, Jennifer M. Lane holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Barton College and a master’s in liberal arts with a focus on museum studies from the University of Delaware, where she wrote her thesis on the material culture of roadside memorials.   Jennifer is a member of the Authors Guild and the Historical Novel Society. Her first book, Of Metal and Earth , won the 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Award for First Novel and was a Finalist in the 2018 IAN Book of the Year Awards in the category of Literary / General Fiction. She is also the author of Stick Figures from Rockport , and the six book series, The Collected Stories of Ramsbolt . Website: www.jennifermlanewrites.com   Twitter/X | Facebook | Instagram | BookBub | Amazon | Goodreads This blog tour was organized by: Book Details Book Title: Downriver Series: The Poison River Series (Book 1) Author: Jennifer M. Lane Publication Date: May 28, 2024 Publisher: Pen & Key Publishing Pages: 344 Genre: Historical Any Triggers: Death, Violence

Prepare to be transported to Italy, where whispers linger in the air and mysteries lurk around every corner. The sun sets over a picturesque town, casting long shadows that hide forbidden truths, stolen treasures, and the danger of betrayal. Welcome to a story of "shrouded mystery, caught up in a whirlwind of intrigue, theft, lies, and attempted murder." About Trouble in Assisi by Heidi Eljarbo Assisi, 1973. On art historian Fabiola Bennett’s first day in Assisi, a local gentleman takes her aside to ask for advice about a painting that has wondrously appeared in the basilica’s bell tower. So much for enjoying relaxing days filled with dining on pasta and gelato.   Soon, Fabiola and her besties, Pippa and Cary, are thrown into a shrouded mystery and caught up in a whirlwind of intrigue, theft, lies, and attempted murder, all of which overshadows the postcard-like charm of the small, historic town.   Rome, 1511. Life is going well for Teodoro Nicoletti. Since he was a young man in Florence, he has worked and learned alongside the most-favored artist Raphael.   When Pope Julius II commissions Raphael to paint several frescos in the reception rooms of the Vatican Palace, Teodoro follows his master to Rome and discovers firsthand the admiration and rivalry between Raphael and two other reigning artists: Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.   But the prickliest thorn in Teodoro’s side is his beloved Elisabetta’s father. The old man is determined to keep his youngest daughter from becoming Teodoro’s wife. Buy the Book This title is available to read on Kindle Unlimited. Kindle | Paperback Check out the Fabiola Bennet Mystery series! Meet Author Heidi Elbarjo Heidi Eljarbo is the award-winning author of dual-timeline historical fiction with heartwarming clean romance, wit, and adventurous mystery. Heidi grew up in a home filled with books and artwork and never imagined she would do anything other than write and paint. She studied art, languages, and history, danced on the BYU Ballroom Dance Team, and still sings in choirs. After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She and her husband have a total of nine children, and fifteen grandchildren—so far—in addition to a bouncy Wheaten Terrier. Their favorite retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summertime and ski the vast, white terrain during winter. Heidi’s favorites are family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical. Sign up for Heidi’s newsletter ! Connect with Heidi Website  • Twitter  • Facebook  • Instagram  • Pinterest BookBub  • Amazon Author Page  • Goodreads Book Title: Trouble in Assisi Series: A Fabiola Bennett Mystery Author: Heidi Eljarbo Publication Date: 28th May 2024 Publisher: Independently published Pages: ~ 225 pages Genre: Historical Mystery / Dual Timeline Mystery

Are you a fan of curling up with a thrilling murder mystery that keeps you guessing? If so, don't miss Murder on West Main by I. M. Foster! A breeze blew up from the water, causing her to shiver, so he took his jacket off to place it over her shoulders. About Murder on West Main by I.M. Foster When Colin Brissedon arrives at work one summer morning to find his new boss murdered, all eyes turn to him. After all, the man had threatened to fire him just a few days before, and his colleagues are more than happy to tell the tale. Kathleen admits her brother is no angel, but she can’t believe he would sink this low. Fortunately for them, neither does Daniel O’Halleran, the village’s new coroner’s assistant. Of course, he needs more than his gut feeling to prove it. But that’s not going to be an easy task, considering the victim does not appear to have been held in high regard. In fact, Daniel is hard-pressed to find anyone who did like him, though there are more than a few who had reason to wish the man dead. To make matters worse, Kathleen is intent on conducting her own investigation despite his wishes, and he fears the consequences could be deadly. And yet, with the pieces of the puzzle laid before him, he can’t shake the feeling that something is missing, an integral clue that will tie everything else together. Will Daniel be able to find the elusive detail and discover the reason behind the gruesome murder of the prominent attorney? Or will the guilty party live to kill again? Buy the Book This title is available to read on Kindle Unlimited Universal Buy Link Meet I.M. Foster I. M. Foster is the pen name author Inez Foster uses to write her South Shore Mystery series, set on Edwardian Long Island. Inez also writes historical romances under the pseudonym Andrea Matthews, and has so far published two series in that genre: the Thunder on the Moor series, a time-travel romance set on the 16th century Anglo-Scottish Borders, and the Cross of Ciaran series, which follows the adventures of a fifth century Celt who finds himself in love with a twentieth century archaeologist. Inez is a historian and librarian, who love to read and write and search around for her roots, genealogically speaking. She has a BA in History and an MLS in Library Science and enjoys the research almost as much as she does writing the story. In fact, many of her ideas come to her while doing casual research or digging into her family history. Inez is a member of the Long Island Romance Writers, and the Historical Novel Society. Website:  www.imfostermysteries.com   Connect/Follow Online Twitter:   twitter.com/IMFosterMystery   Facebook:  facebook.com/IMFosterMysteries Instagram:  instagram.com/imfosterauthor   Book Bub:   bookbub.com/profile/i-m-foster   Amazon Author Page:  amazon.com/stores/I-M-Foster/author/BQBFQK8854 Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/22926746.I_M_Foster    Book Title: Murder on West Main Series: A South Shore Mystery Author: I. M. Foster Publication Date: December 20th, 2023 Pages: 368

Climb aboard! Don't miss the heart-pounding climax of the Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail series. Rolling Home is the final installment. Rolling Home by David Fitz-Gerald In the heart of the rolling village, dissent brews as the stubbornest naysayer refuses to continue the journey. With an ominous early snowfall and memories of the ill-fated Donner Party haunting the pioneers, Dorcas Moon faces a new wave of challenges. Just when she believes things can't get worse, a disastrous river crossing claims their wagon and submerges their belongings. As the rolling village approaches the final leg of the journey, the looming threat of outlaws intensifies. The notorious bandit known as The Viper and his ruthless brothers are determined to rob the greenhorns, sell their stock, and kill every last one of them. The pioneers had heard tales of their brutality, but now, with Dorcas' daughter kidnapped and Dorcas captured, everyone is in danger. What will become of Dorcas Moon, her family, and their friends? Will anyone survive the perilous journey? Rejoin the expedition and witness the thrilling end to a gripping saga. ••• This title is available to read on Kindle Unlimited. Kindle | Paperback ••• Discover the Rest of the Series ••• Meet the Author David Fitz-Gerald writes westerns and historical fiction. He is the author of twelve books, including the brand-new series, Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail set in 1850. Dave is a multiple Laramie Award, first place, best in category winner; a Blue Ribbon Chanticleerian; a member of Western Writers of America; and a member of the Historical Novel Society. Alpine landscapes and flashy horses always catch Dave’s eye and turn his head. He is also an Adirondack 46-er, which means that he has hiked to the summit of the range’s highest peaks. As a mountaineer, he’s happiest at an elevation of over four thousand feet above sea level. Dave is a lifelong fan of western fiction, landscapes, movies, and music. It should be no surprise that Dave delights in placing memorable characters on treacherous trails, mountain tops, and on the backs of wild horses. Website | BookBub | Amazon | Goodreads   Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Linktree Book Title: Rolling Home Series: Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail (book 5) Author: David Fitz-Gerald Publication Date: June 15, 2024 Publisher: David Fitz-Gerald Pages: 254 Genre: Western, Historical Fiction

Forbidden love in a country in turmoil . . . What a way to draw the reader in! Escape to the Bordeaux countryside during the reign of Napoleon III with unexpected twists, romance, and historical intrigue. Michèle Callard shares a glimpse into The Sand Vines with an excerpt from the book. Read on and enjoy! "Callard's ability to paint a world with her words brings the story alive. I loved it."– Amazon Review About The Sand Vines by Michèle Callard Bordeaux 1870 – Life is hard on the moor. If Flore, a shepherd’s daughter, is not married by autumn, she must go into service and lose everything she holds dear. Back form the French army, the dashing Ricar has set her heart and body on fire. Will he propose to her before it is too late? Martial the viscount’s son adores Flore from afar. Aware that she can never be his. When a betrayal and a forest fire put Flore in danger, Martial seizes his chance, grabs her hand and takes her to safety far away in the north of France, hoping they might start afresh, but war looms. . . Will it bring them together or tear them apart? Buy the Book The Sand Vines Enjoy an Excerpt from The Sand Vines by Michèle Callard Notre-Dame de Paris Just below her, corseted inside brand-new quays, the wide ribbon of the Seine flowed west, carrying trains of barges. Snug inside its wall, a stylish, elegant Paris was rising from mud, scaffolding and rubble. It was not at all what Flore had expected. No wonder Martial’s brother had fallen in love with it. He had money. Paris was a courtesan, a grande cocotte, fun only for those who could afford her. Beguiling, expensive, Paris put on airs, while at her heart lurked a core of poverty and shame. After a long time, Flore turned to Minnie. ‘What’s it like where you come from?’ Minnie did not answer at first, focussed on a large expanse of green to the right of the river. ‘See those two grand buildings down there? They are the Louvre and the Tuileries Palace, where the emperor lives. A lot of people hate him. They want a republic, as we have in America. He won’t last much longer.’ Serious, her gaze now bore into Flore. ‘Let me tell you something. When he goes, I won’t want to be around.’ Her chin in her hands, she leaned against the parapet. ‘I come from New York. It’s just like Paris. How about you?’ ‘My country is marshy and wild, but to me it has everything, woods, rivers, the ocean.’ Flore’s voice trailed. Would she ever see it again? ‘They’re planting pines all over it now. Soon it will be the biggest forest in the world.’ ‘What’s wrong with pines?’ ‘You can’t eat them.’ Minnie pointed south. ‘Over there is the entrance to the catacombs, the first stop in my ghoulish tour of Paris. Underground caves full of bones and skulls. You visit them by candlelight. Americans love it.’ ‘Bones?’ ‘Uh-huh. You can also visit the sewers, ride over them in a little cart. It’s a bit smelly, but it’s fun.’ She hugged herself. ‘Brrr, it’s windy up here. Come on, let’s go down.’ Skulls? Sewers? Flore wondered as she crossed the wide space where Quasimodo had yearned for Esmeralda. Fun? She caught up with Minnie at the bottom of the steps. ‘The catacombs, is that where you’re taking me?’ ‘Not today. Our next stop’s right here.’ Minnie halted in front of an imposing stone building just behind the cathedral. ‘We’re in luck—there’s no queue today. You would not believe the queues normally. They go on for miles.’ They joined a line of working women in aprons and bourgeoises in crinolines herding their broods into a wide corridor and shuffled forward, following the sound of water. An aquarium! They were all the rage. Flore had seen them in almanacs and could not wait to see the fish. Step by step, they chatted until they came to a large marble space with a floor-to-ceiling expanse of glass to one side. Flore halted, suddenly very cold. This was no aquarium. End of Excerpt ©Michèle Callard. Meet Michèle Callard Michèle Callard grew up in France. A country girl at heart, she swapped her Paris flat for a cottage in rural England where she lives with her Irish husband and the youngest of her three sons. She writes fast-paced novels set in different regions of France, bursting with authentic characters, colours, flavours, and history. Visit her online at michelecallard.com . Follow/Find the Author Online Website: michelecallard.com Facebook: facebook.com/michelecallardauthor Instagram: instagram.com/michele.oconnell.44 Threads: threads.net/@michele.oconnell.44 Pinterest: pinterest.co.uk/oconnellofsalford Book Bub: bookbub.com/profile/michele-callard Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/stores/Michèle-CALLARD/author/B09WRT58ZT Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/22320819.Mich_le_Callard Book Details Book Title: The Sand Vines Series: The Vine Saga, Book 1 Author: Michèle CALLARD Publication Date: 01 May 2024 Publisher: Millefeuille Press Page Length: 400 Genre: Historical fiction Like what you've read? We hope you'll share the bookish joy with others! Thank you for visiting Books & Benches and supporting the authors.

Delve into a tumultuous and pivotal era in American history with Richard Buxton's Shire's Union Trilogy. The author generously shares an excerpt from book two of the trilogy, The Copper Road . " Whirligig is a magnificent novel, epic in scale!"– Gill Thompson, Author of 'The Child on Platform One.' About Whirligig by Richard Buxton Shire leaves his home and his life in Victorian England for the sake of a childhood promise, a promise that pulls him into the bleeding heart of the American Civil War. Lost in the bloody battlefields of the West, he discovers a second home for his loyalty. Clara believes she has escaped from a predictable future of obligation and privilege, but her new life in the Appalachian Hills of Tennessee is decaying around her. In the mansion of Comrie, long hidden secrets are being slowly exhumed by a war that creeps ever closer. The Shire’s Union  trilogy is at once an outsider’s odyssey through the battle for Tennessee, a touching story of impossible love, and a portrait of America at war with itself. Self-interest and conflict, betrayal and passion, all fuse into a fateful climax. Written by award winning author Richard Buxton, the Shire’s Union trilogy begins with Whirligig , is continued in The Copper Road , and concludes with Tigers in Blue . Buy the Books Whirligig | The Copper Road | Tigers in Blue Don't miss the rest of the Shire's Union trilogy 'Highly recommended for readers who feel all the great war stories have already been written.' —Historical Novel Society Enjoy an Excerpt from The Copper Road by Richard Buxton Comrie – February 1864 It was a poor day for grave digging. The ground was frozen after two clear nights. Shire could feel the topology of the smallest ridge or runnel through his boots. He stamped his feet on the hard ground but failed to generate any warmth, just a fizzy numbness that slowly dissolved to leave them achingly cold. Clara stood beside him, made all the paler by the low gray sky that had eased over the hills as they’d climbed up here at first light. Why was she doing this? What purpose could it possibly serve? She made no entreaty to warmth other than to work each ungloved hand tightly over the other. She’d been doing that more and more as the week had gone on, inside or out. She wore only a gray shawl over a black dress while she watched the gravediggers at work. He thought to take off his army coat and wrap her, play the chivalrous soldier, but any approach he’d made this morning had been ignored or curtly dealt with. Best to leave her be. She’d ridden off yesterday, late in the afternoon. No one knew where she was going. She’d refused to wait for Shire to get a horse tacked up to go with her. It was after dark when she’d returned and Mitilde had ragged on her like she was a truant child and steered her to the fire in the den. After she’d made Clara eat, Mitilde had laid into Shire. ‘You so lame that you can’t stop this girl from ridin’ off? What you here for if not to mind her?’ It was useless to tell Mitilde that it had never been that way. Clara had picked at her food and calmly told them that men would arrive early in the morning. A father and son she’d found in Ocoee who would come up and move the body since everyone here refused to do it. Mitilde had looked horrified and clutched at the doorframe. When she’d steadied herself, she said, ‘I’ll tell Moses to be ready.’ Then she left. ‘We won’t need Moses,’ Clara had called after. Now, before Shire in the cold morning, the father and son chipped away at the frozen ground, the wiry older man doing most of the work. He talked all the while. ‘Miss, I’d be obliged if you would leave us to it. Or at least let this boy walk you away while we get the leavings out. It ain’t a sight a lady should see, and there’s no casket you say.’ Clara gave no sign of having heard a word. Shire assumed he was the boy referred to, as Moses – usually an ‘old boy’ - was back in the trees gathering dead branches. There were a few other graves up here on account of this boy, he thought. The crosspiece had fallen from the crude grave-marker sometime during the winter, so all that identified the grave was a broken chair leg taken from one of the two long huts nearby. Lined up next to it were five unmarked low mounds, waiting on their first spring to gain so much as a blade of grass. The gravediggers decided to take a different tack. They asked where they could find water to soften the ground. It was a long way back down to the house, too far to make it practicable, but Clara and Shire didn’t know where the water was up here. They all walked over to Moses who’d emerged from the woods and was busy dragging what dry wood he’d found up to the walls of the huts. He pointed the men to a trickle-creek that hatched somewhere in the pass above and they went to find it. Moses had been ready and waiting first thing in the yard at Comrie. He hadn’t asked if they needed help but just slotted in behind Clara as they started up the long steep path to the grave. It was slow going as the gravediggers had to manhandle the pine casket along the narrow path. Moses had been agitated. He chivvied along close behind Clara and tried to persuade her no good would come of this. Clara had ignored him until he got so worked up he jumped in front and stood in her path. Shire bunched up behind. Clara took a moment to catch her breath. ‘Go home, Moses, you don’t have to watch this.’ ‘Then let me move him, not these folks.’ ‘I wouldn’t ask that. You don’t owe him any loyalty.’ ‘I ain’t sayin’ I do.’ ‘Go then.’ Moses stood his ground. ‘Guess I’ll come witness.’ ‘Alright. Maybe it’s time to burn the huts too. You could do that.’ Now Moses sullenly prepared for the fire while the gravediggers poured pail after pail over the grave until the three-inch frost was softened enough for them to take up their shovels again. The minutes played out. Thinking of words that might offer comfort or distraction was beyond Shire. It wasn’t a deep grave. The diggers were surprised to hit metal. By degree they unearthed a thick link of chain and the father decided it was easier to pull on it than to dig it out. Shire turned to Clara. ‘There’s nothing to be gained by watching this.’ She struck away his hand and stepped past him; spoke through clenched teeth while staring toward the grave. ‘Nothing for you perhaps, but I will look on him and see he is rotted and gone.’ Several feet of chain came away easily but then it pulled taut and would only give up a stubborn link at a time. The boy stepped over and gripped the chain like his father and leaned his weight away from the grave. The ground stirred and finally gave way. Both arms, half-rotted but with enough sinew to hold the yellow bones in place, lifted from the ground like a sinner’s first earnest prayer to God. End of Excerpt ©Richard Buxton. 'A compelling historical saga packed with unforgettable characters. A FINALIST and highly recommended!' — The Wishing Shelf Book Awards Meet Richard Buxton 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. He travels extensively for research, especially in Tennessee, Georgia and Ohio, and is rarely happier than when setting off from a motel to spend the day wandering a battlefield or imagining the past close beside the churning wheel of a paddle steamer. Richard’s short stories have won the Exeter Story Prize, the Bedford International Writing Competition and the Nivalis Short Story Award. His first novel, Whirligig (2017) was shortlisted for the Rubery International Book Award. It was followed by The Copper Road (2020) and the Shire’s Union trilogy was completed by Tigers in Blue (2023). To learn more about Richard’s writing visit www.richardbuxton.net . Follow/Find the Author Online Website: www.richardbuxton.net/ Twitter: twitter.com/RichardBuxton65 Facebook: facebook.com/ShiresUnion Instagram: instagram.com/richardbuxton63 Book Bub: bookbub.com/profile/richard-buxton Amazon Author Page: amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B06XV3FYQF/about Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/16673953.Richard_Buxton Click to View Book Details Book Title: Trilogy consisting of: Whirligig (Book 1) The Copper Road  (Book 2) Tigers in Blue  (Book 3) Series: Shire’s Union Author: Richard Buxton Publication Date: WG = 22/3/2017 TCR = 26/7/2020 TIB = 8/12/2023 Publisher: Ocoee Publishing Genre: Historical Fiction Like what you've read? We hope you'll share the bookish joy with others! Thank you for visiting Books & Benches and supporting the authors.

Inspired by true events of the Civil War, a coming-of-age survival tale about two sisters and the harrowing journey that will change their lives forever… We're delighted to have historical Fiction author Kinley Bryan visiting with an excerpt from her beautiful second novel, The Lost Women of Mill Street .  About the Book 1864: As Sherman’s army marches toward Atlanta, a cotton mill commandeered by the Confederacy lies in its path. Inside the mill, Clara Douglas weaves cloth and watches over her sister Kitty, waiting for the day her fiancé returns from the West. When Sherman’s troops destroy the mill, Clara’s plans to start a new life in Nebraska are threatened. Branded as traitors by the Federals, Clara, Kitty, and countless others are exiled to a desolate refugee prison hundreds of miles from home. Cut off from all they've ever known, Clara clings to hope while grappling with doubts about her fiancé’s ambitions and the unsettling truths surrounding his absence. As the days pass, the sisters find themselves thrust onto the foreign streets of Cincinnati, a city teeming with uncertainty and hostility. She must summon reserves of courage, ingenuity, and strength she didn’t know she had if they are to survive in an unfamiliar, unwelcoming land. Inspired by true events of the Civil War, The Lost Women of Mill Street is a vividly drawn novel about the bonds of sisterhood, the strength of women, and the repercussions of war on individual lives. Buy The Lost Women of Mill Street Kindle | Amazon Paperback | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Google Play "[A] powerful book about a not-often-seen perspective during the Civil War written with care and vivid detail." — Book Review Crew Enjoy an Excerpt from The Lost Women of Mill Street A wisp of cotton blew over loom number two and landed on Clara’s brow. The lint, one of countless pieces that fluttered about the mill in a sweltering snowfall, stuck to her damp skin. She brushed it away absentmindedly, keeping the fibers from her nose and mouth, haunted by the news that had spread through the factory that morning fast as a cotton fire: Marietta had fallen. Not that any of the mill hands could claim surprise. Sherman’s advance through North Georgia had been steady as a heartbeat, certain as one day turns into the next. And now Johnston’s army would retreat again, this time leaving but sixteen miles of roadway between Sherman’s troops and the weave room where Clara and her sister Kitty tended their looms. Most townspeople with the means to leave had done so weeks earlier. When the Federals reached Cassville, thirty miles to the northwest, the “Roswell Royalty” had fled, their wagons piled high with furniture and trunks, cooking utensils and linens. But for a house slave left to stand watch, their grand homes now stood empty: Barrington Hall, Dunwoody Hall, Primrose Cottage (which was a cottage in the same way the last three years was a “neighborly spat”). It had been unnerving, watching them all leave. Clara had been reassured when the Roswell Manufacturing Company president boldly declared he would remain in town until the Yankees set a torch to his home. Despite his bravado, he, too, had left for locations further from Federal gunfire, leaving the mill workers to defend his property from the Yankee torch. He’d emptied the company store of its provisions, about two months’ worth, and parceled them out among the workers. An act of charity toward his laborers or a means to keep food from the Federals, depending on whom you asked. Either way, Clara, Kitty, and four hundred others, mostly women and children with neither the means to leave nor a place to go, remained. Paid in company scrip, what wages they’d saved after rent and food were useless beyond town limits. Clara shook the advancing army from her thoughts. Tried to, at least. There was nothing to be done. And losing your focus near the machines could be tragic, deadly even. The oppressive July heat, combined with the fetid broth of oil, sweat, and lint, seldom failed to make her lightheaded. She stopped one of her power looms to remove the shuttle and replace the bobbin, which had run out of weft. Within seconds she’d threaded the new bobbin through the hole in the shuttle, putting her mouth to it to suck the thread through, and placed the shuttle in the box. From there, the shuttle would speed back and forth between the warp threads, simultaneously over and under the lengthwise strands of yarn. She’d made it into a game for herself, how fast she could replace the bobbin. Her homespun dress clung to her sweaty skin, errant strawberry-blond curls to her temples. Though it was summer, she saw little more of the sun than she did in winter. Like all the mill workers but the slave men in the pickers room, her skin was pale as parchment year-round from working twelve-hour days, six days a week. But the sun’s summer rays baked them all inside that factory, the mill like a giant brick oven, and they loaves of bread. The glazed windows remained closed lest any breeze break delicate threads. A stocky figure appeared in the doorway a few feet from Clara. The Frenchman. He surveyed the weave room as if taking a measure of its activity. One hundred twenty power looms beat a frenetic, deafening rhythm. There were twenty rows of looms, three pairs of looms per row, each mill hand working a pair. An aisle between each pair of looms stretched the room’s length. Clara, in the first row, faced the door as she worked. She regarded the Frenchman, the temporary superintendent. This was a rare appearance, and no doubt had something to do with Marietta. Mr. Roche walked down her aisle, his chest puffed and his lips pressed together as if he were holding his breath, which he most likely was; you could get all stopped up from the lint if you weren’t used to breathing it. Clara exchanged a glance with her younger sister, who worked two looms across the aisle. Kitty playfully puffed out her chest and pursed her lips, mimicking the temporary superintendent. Clara smiled indulgently at her sister but shook her head. They had to be careful. Though their work was drudgery and the conditions poor, there were no better options for two unmarried women in Roswell, Georgia, three years into the war. Kitty hunched over, barking out a deep cough. Clara’s stomach pitted. When Benjamin returned, he would take them far from here. In the West, they would work on their own, better land and breathe fresh air. Kitty wouldn’t suffer noxious mill fumes, they wouldn’t be baked alive in these brick factories, and they would be free. Clara imagined cool autumns, and summers that didn’t bring crushing heat. In the winter, when the fields lay quiet, she might make hats to sell in town in the spring. She glanced over her shoulder. At the far end of the expansive weave room, Orton, the overseer, sat at his elevated desk. He rose as Mr. Roche approached. The temporary superintendent said something, and Orton nodded subserviently. Then he frowned. The superintendent gestured toward the front of the weave room and wagged a finger. Yes, sir, Orton said. She could tell by the movement of his lips. No one knew how many days they had left at the mill. No one knew if the Federals would raid the town. It was the not knowing that kept Clara up at night. End of Excerpt. © Kinley Bryan "The novel illuminates a lesser-known corner of history, through the eyes of an appealing protagonist...Details about the process of hat-making are fascinating without being overwhelming." — BlueInk Review Meet Author Kinley Bryan Kinley Bryan's debut novel, Sisters of the Sweetwater Fury, inspired by the Great Lakes Storm of 1913 and her own family history, won the 2022 Publishers Weekly Selfies Award for adult fiction. An Ohio native, she lives in South Carolina with her husband and three children. The Lost Women of Mill Street is her second novel. Find the author on her website at kinleybryan.com . Follow Online - Click for Author Links Website: https://kinleybryan.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kinleybauthor   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KinleyBryanWrites Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kinleybryanauthor/   Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kinley-bryan Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kinley-Bryan/author/B09J5GWDLX Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21892910.Kinley_Bryan "Well written with a steady pace...An engaging survival story set during the American Civil War." — The Book's Delight Book Title: The Lost Women of Mill Street Series: n/a Author: Kinley Bryan Publication Date: May 7, 2024 Publisher: Blue Mug Press Page Count: 300 Genre: Historical Fiction

Anna Belfrage visits Books & Benches for a Q&A on the beautiful fourth installment in her Castilian series, Their Castilian Orphan . It is 1294 and Eustace de Lamont is back in England after five years in exile. He will stop at nothing to ruin Robert FitzStephan and his wife, Noor d’Outremer. Robert’s half brother, Eustace de Lamont, has not mellowed during his absence. He is more ruthless than ever, and this time he targets Robert’s and Noor’s foster son, Lionel. Lionel is serving King Edward as a page when Eustace appears at court. Not only does Lionel become the horrified witness to Eustace’s violent streak, Eustace also starts voicing his suspicions about Lionel’s parentage. The truth about Lionel’s heritage is explosive—should King Edward find out, all would be lost for Robert and Noor. In October of 1294, Wales rises in rebellion. Robert must leave his family unprotected to fight the Welsh rebels on the king’s behalf, comforted only by the fact that Eustace too is called to fight. Except that Eustace has no intention of allowing his duty to his king—or a mere rebellion—come between him and his desire to destroy Robert FitzStephan . . . Buy the Book This title is available to read on KindleUnlimited . Kindle  • Paperback “Ms. Belfrage does it again! She drags you down – willingly, of course – into the past and immerses you. She is a master at it: from the places and time, sights and sounds, the reader is there. Her historical research is impeccable and her characters – both the fictional (especially Robert, Noor, and Lionel) and the actual historical figures – have compelling stories to tell.” — CS, Amazon review Discover The Castilian Saga Q&A with Anna Belfrage I dare you not to want to travel through time in Their Castilian Orphan after reading these behind-the-scenes tidbits in a Q&A with author Anna Belfrage. Enjoy! If you were on a pilgrimage in Their Castilian Orphan , what would you want to see first? What would you want to show a time-traveling companion from the present day first? Not quite sure if there would be any pilgrimage involved in Their Castilian Orphan —beyond the fact that King Edward has made himself right comfortable in the Archbishop of Canterbury’s residence in Kent, seeing as said archbishop is in Rome, awaiting papal confirmation to his see. Now, if I were to end up in 1294 with a time-travelling companion, I think the first stop would be London—and a somewhat horrifying and smelly experience that would be—before insisting we visit Westminster Abbey just to take in what a riot of colour the abbey was back then. After that, I’d suggest we ride off to inspect Portsmouth, where King Edward’s troops are mustering for his planned invasion of Gascony. (B&B: The great thing about reading your books is they can experience all of that without the smelly part!) Which character in Their Castilian Orphan would you most likely be friends with in real life? What about them makes you think so? I think Father Alain and I would get on like a house on fire—even if we would have to agree to disagree on religious matters. Father Alain is educated, has travelled and seen quite a bit of the world. He has his own painful baggage, has never quite forgiven himself for sins committed, which makes him a man of substantial complexity. Imagine digging into all that over a goblet or two of red wine. French wine, of course, as Father Alain would scoff at anything else. . . What are three historical tidbits from your research that did not end up in the book? Well, I had planned to have a confrontation between Edward I and the Welsh rebel leader, Madog ap Llewellyn, the confrontation when Madog (to his relief) realises he will not be hanged, drawn and quartered while to his despair realising he will be locked up for life. I also toyed with the idea of having Edward’s physician recommend a baked owl for his gout (I found this listed as a medieval remedy for gout) but decided not to use it, because it sounds a bit insane, and Edward’s physician gave me a most disgruntled look when I suggested it. “Idiotic fancies,” he said. I also ended up totally derailed by a post from a Spanish blogger describing medieval underwear for women in Spain. Seeing as my protagonists aren’t in Spain in this book, I decided not to use that. 😊 (B&B: But how interesting that would have been! 😊) Do you ever add any of your family’s own history or ancestry into your writings? If so, what from your own genealogy inspires your writing? No. But I have a draft WIP where one of hubby’s ancestors—the first Belfrage to arrive in Sweden from Scotland back in the 17th century—plays a role. Not that I paint him particularly favourably. . . (B&B: That sounds like the makings of a fantastic tale.) What is your most-loved trait about Robert? Noor? I think what I like the most about both Robert and Noor is how loyal they are to each other. Those two will always stand at each other’s side, even when they do not entirely agree with what their spouse might have said/done, they will always be there for them. (B&B: I adore fictional couples who can get past differences and remain devoted to each other. They sound wonderful.) “A haunting and poignant elegy to war, and those left behind, worthy of its Welsh heritage, Their Castilian Orphan is one of the most memorable novels I have read recently. Anna Belfrage is a favourite historical author; her narrative voice and powerful research combine for an immersive, melodic reading experience.” — HF Reader, Amazon review Meet Anna Belfrage Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with two absorbing interests: history and writing. Anna has authored the acclaimed time travelling series The Graham Saga, set in 17th century Scotland and Maryland, as well as the equally acclaimed medieval series The King’s Greatest Enemy which is set in 14th century England. Anna has also published The Wanderer , a fast-paced contemporary romantic suspense trilogy with paranormal and time-slip ingredients. Anna has recently released Times of Turmoil,  the sequel to her 2021 release, The Whirlpools of Time . Here she returns to the world of time travel. Where The Whirlpools of Time  had Duncan and the somewhat reluctant time-traveller Erin navigating the complexities of the first Jacobean rebellion in Scotland, in Times of Turmoil  our protagonists are in Colonial Pennsylvania, hoping for a peaceful existence. Not about to happen—not in one of Anna’s books! All of Anna’s books have been awarded the IndieBRAG Medallion, she has several Historical Novel Society Editor’s Choices, and one of her books won the HNS Indie Award in 2015. She is also the proud recipient of various Reader’s Favorite medals as well as having won various Gold, Silver and Bronze Coffee Pot Book Club awards. Find out more about Anna, her books and enjoy her eclectic historical blog on her website, www.annabelfrage.com . Website  • Twitter  • Facebook  • Instagram Amazon Author Page  • BookBub  • Goodreads Love great books? Share with your friends and spread the book love! Book Title: Their Castilian Orphan Series: The Castilian Series Author: Anna Belfrage Publication Date: 23 March 2024 Publisher: Timelight Press Page Count: approx. 400 Genre: Historical Fiction, Romantic Historical Fiction, Historical Romance

Escape into the dramatic world of London during the Blitz in this sweeping family saga of love, war and betrayal. A Rose in the Blitz by Ann Bennett Northamptonshire: 1980: Wealthy landowner, Hadan Rose, is dying. His daughter, May, rushes to his country estate, Rose Park, with her daughter, Rachel, to nurse him through his final days. In the afternoons, while Hadan sleeps, May tells Rachel about her wartime experiences. In 1940 , Three of the four Rose sisters leave Rose Park to serve the war effort. May, the youngest is left behind. But she soon runs away from home to join an ambulance crew in London. She experiences the horrors of the Blitz first-hand but what happens to her there has remained secret her whole life. In 1980 , at Rose Park, Rachel wanders through the old house, looking at old photographs and papers, uncovering explosive family secrets from ninety years before. Secrets that her grandfather wanted to take to his grave. At the local pub, Rachel meets Daniel Walters, a local journalist and musician who takes an interest in her. But can she trust him, or does he have an ulterior motive for seeking her company? As the secrets of the past gradually reveal themselves, both Rachel and May realise that their worlds are forever changed. Fans of Lucinda Riley, Dinah Jeffries and Victoria Hislop will love this escapist wartime saga, Book 1 in the Rose Park Chronicles. This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited . Kindle | Paperback Author Ann Bennett Ann Bennett is a British author of historical fiction. Her first book, Bamboo Heart: A Daughter's Quest , was inspired by researching her father's experience as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway and by her own travels in South-East Asia. Since then, that initial inspiration has led her to write more books about the second world war in SE Asia. Bamboo Island: The Planter's Wife , A Daughter's Promise , Bamboo Road: The Homecoming , The Tea Planter's Club , The Amulet  and her latest release The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu  are also about WWII in South East Asia. All seven make up the Echoes of Empire Collection. Ann is also the author of The Lake Pavilion , The Lake Palace , both set in British India during the 1930s and WWII, and The Lake Pagoda  and The Lake Villa , both set in French Indochina. The Runaway Sisters , bestselling The Orphan House , The Child Without a Home  and The Forgotten Children  are set in Europe during the same era and are published by Bookouture. Ann is married with three grown up sons and a granddaughter and lives in Surrey, UK. For more details please visit www.annbennettauthor.com . BookBub | Amazon | Goodreads | Twitter/X | Instagram

Released April 30, 2024! Dive back into the gripping, frontier chaos. Snarling Wolf is the fourth adventurous installment in the Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail series. The famed Snake River marks the point the wagon master claims that all the greenhorns turn loco. After twelve hundred grueling miles and four relentless months on the trail, the expedition teeters on the brink. Frayed nerves, exhausted patience, and the specter of doom cast a dark cloud over the travelers. At every turn, new dangers emerge. A young man who is like a brother to Dorcas Moon is ravaged in a mountain lion attack. A heat wave grips the dusty, barren plains and spreads sickness. The wolves that lurk in the shadows edge closer. Even the rattlesnakes seem emboldened. Dorcas' daughter, Rose's descent into madness can no longer be ignored. What began as an eerie preoccupation with death takes a shocking turn when Rose reveals her truths. Dorcas is thrust into a realm of disbelief, and her worst fears about Rose's mysterious suitor become a stark reality. As weary emigrants yearn for respite, tales of murderous outlaws spread like wildfire across the prairie. Passing strangers share the latest terrifying news. It's only a matter of when, not if, the notorious highwaymen will strike. Which bend of the mighty snake shelters the feared outlaws? Grab your copy of Snarling Wolf now and unveil the next chapter in Dorcas Moon's relentless saga. Sink your teeth into this tale of survival, madness, and the unyielding spirit of those who brave the treacherous migration. ••• This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited . Buy the Book ••• Discover the Rest of the Series ••• Meet the Author David Fitz-Gerald writes westerns and historical fiction. He is the author of twelve books, including the brand-new series, Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail set in 1850. Dave is a multiple Laramie Award, first place, best in category winner; a Blue Ribbon Chanticleerian; a member of Western Writers of America; and a member of the Historical Novel Society. Alpine landscapes and flashy horses always catch Dave’s eye and turn his head. He is also an Adirondack 46-er, which means that he has hiked to the summit of the range’s highest peaks. As a mountaineer, he’s happiest at an elevation of over four thousand feet above sea level. Dave is a lifelong fan of western fiction, landscapes, movies, and music. It should be no surprise that Dave delights in placing memorable characters on treacherous trails, mountain tops, and on the backs of wild horses. Website | BookBub | Amazon | Goodreads   Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Linktree Book Title: Snarling Wolf Series: Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail, Book 4 Author: David Fitz-Gerald Publication Date: April 30th, 2024 Publisher: David Fitz-Gerald Page Length: 229 Genre: Western, Historical Fiction