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"The story grabbed me right from the first page and kept me guessing! It’s one of the best western mysteries I have read lately! It’s well written, suspenseful, and fast-paced!" —Nicole L. for Books & Benches, Top Pick Rose and Cassandra (aka Casey) are no ordinary sisters. One is scientifically inclined, lives in Denver, and rides a bicycle like her life—or a case—depends on it. The other rides trains, wields a blade, and keeps her identity as a Pinkerton "under wraps." The Case of the Peculiar Inheritance Witty and irascible Rose McKenzie tackles Denver’s criminal cases with a woman’s intuition and a loaded Smith and Wesson tucked in her skirt pocket. Eager for adventure beyond her scientific experiments, Rose accepts her uncle’s challenge to become Denver’s first female private detective. When a wealthy woman employs her to track down a burglar, Rose zealously applies her unique investigative talents to prove she can handle any job. After two more home invasions turn violent, Rose races to find the perpetrator before another innocent shows up on a slab at the city morgue. With the stakes raised, Rose employs the help of her friend, the attractive Dr. Taylor Whitman, to lure the perpetrator out of hiding—with Rose as the bait. What Rose fails to foresee is the complexity of the crime, involving more than one perpetrator tasked with silencing her. Will her cunning be enough to unravel the clues before it’s too late? Step into Denver’s bustling city streets at the turn of the century with Rose McKenzie, a spirited private investigator, and a woman brave enough to undertake any case. Don’t miss The Case of the Peculiar Inheritance , a stand-alone novel in the delightfully entertaining McKenzie Sisters Mystery series. GET YOUR COPY ↓ Kindle | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | IndieBound | Kobo | Apple Books | Add to BookBub "This book was so good! It's well written and full of action, drama, suspense, and a mystery to solve. It is full of twists and turns and will keep you guessing until the end. Once you start reading this book you can't put it down, you just have to know what happens next." —Goodreads review, 5 stars In the author's words . . . Although Cassandra McKenzie’s character took the stage first in my imagination, ironically, I did not write her story. MK McClintock wrote her to life in The Case of the Copper King . She became all I imagined—resourceful and fearless. The series developed out of my research into Denver, Colorado’s headlong rush into the twentieth century. While Denver’s roots were in the mineral deposits beneath her streets and surrounding mountains, the nation’s industrialization drew her into the modern age. As she attracted more residents from the eastern cities, they carried with them expectations for the conveniences with which they’d become accustomed. This clash of cultures gave birth to the idea of two sisters representing those resistant to this change and those who embraced it, Cassandra with her love of the wild mountain landscapes, and Rose enraptured by all modern contrivances devised by the men—the likes of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison. The sisters are the perfect pair to illustrate a city at the turn of the century. That’s why one will invest in a horse and the other a horseless carriage. One will take down a criminal by relying on her wits and skill with weapons, while the other finds the application of her forensic studies a more reliable means to bring the villains to justice. Whether it’s careening through Denver’s congested streets on Rose’s out-of-control bicycle or riding the rails to Silverado with Casey, we think you’ll enjoy the adventure and find a few reasons to smile while getting to know the McKenzie sisters. Enjoy an Excerpt from The Case of the Peculiar Inheritance Denver, Colorado 1899 The explosion was small compared to her previous miscalculations, blowing out only one window of the study and merely scorching the hem of the damask drapes covering it. Miss Rose McKenzie and her housekeeper, Mrs. Constance Pennyworth, quickly extinguished the subsequent fire. The housekeeper tore down the damaged drapes and threw them on the remnants of Rose’s ruined experiment. After she raised the window sashes to give the cloud of acrid smoke somewhere to go besides their lungs, she collapsed on the stool across from Rose. The housekeeper fanned her face with her soot-covered apron and grumbled, “Well now, what have you learned from that experiment, Miss Rose? I surely hope it was worth the expense of a broken window and two rather costly drapes.” Rose pulled a pencil from the mass of auburn curls pinned high on her head and scribbled notes on the still-smoking clipboard. “Reduce the potassium chloride to magnesium ratio.” Mrs. Pennyworth pushed herself to her feet with a small grunt and heaved a sigh of surprising force for a woman so small in stature. “I came upstairs to ask if you wanted me to bring your breakfast up. If you recall, you didn’t eat your supper last night.” Rose tapped the pencil against the clipboard and surveyed the disheveled state of the laboratory. “I suppose I should eat downstairs this morning.” Mrs. Pennyworth's scowl transformed into an expression of concern. She rounded the table with impressive speed for a woman who’d seen more than a half-century of birthdays come and go. She grasped Rose’s face in her two calloused hands and leaned in for closer inspection. “Why, you’re bleeding!” This time she expressed her opinion with a disapproving cluck of her tongue. “Miss Rose, you are going to do yourself in one day with all this experimenting.” She blew another ponderous breath. “I’m going to ring Dr. Whitman. That might need stitches.” Rose drew the back of her hand to dab at her temple, surprised to feel the sticky evidence of Mrs. Pennyworth’s pronouncement. “Hmm. I would have expected more blood from a head wound.” She rose quickly from her stool and stepped to the wall mirror, inspecting her forehead with sharp interest. “It’s a clean cut. It might even develop into a quite colorful bruise. You’re right, Mrs. Pennyworth, I should probably have it tended to.” Rose shook small shards of glass from her lab apron and observed brightly, “I’ve never had stitches. I’m most interested in the experience.” As her housekeeper stormed off, the exasperated blow from her lips sent a good portion of smoke out the open windows. “I’ll give the doctor a call and set another place for breakfast.” “Oh, did I forget to tell you? We’re going to the museum today. There’s an exhibit on the embalming techniques of Egyptian mummies, which promises to be interesting.” “I approve of your company, but to my way of thinking, you’ve a morbid fascination with death.” Mrs. Pennyworth harrumphed as she left the room, her footsteps hammering down the staircase. End of Excerpt Excerpt Copyright © Samantha St. Claire. The Author Samantha St. Claire is the pen name of an author passionate about American history and the people whose legacies are woven into the fabric of a nation. She writes these characters to life in her novels of the western frontier, their trials and triumphs. Coming from a family of pioneers, she honestly claims her roots as a Daughter of the American Revolution and descendant of a Scottish Laird. The road from college graduation led due west where teaching in a small Arizona town fulfilled childhood fantasies on multiple levels. Hiking and backpacking the canyons and desert fed her imagination with the landscapes she would use later in life as an author. Moving to California opened new vistas, but Idaho sparked her interest in the history of the magnificent central mountain ranges. Never faint of heart, her signature protagonists face the hazards of the frontier with courage, wit, and a healthy pinch of humor. Sign up for Samantha’s newsletter at samanthastclaire.com for early notifications of new releases and interesting news relevant to readers of historical fiction. Newsletter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads Genre: Historical Cozy Western Mystery Type: Novel Publisher: Trappers Peak Publishing Publication Date: June 22, 2021 Series: McKenzie Sisters Mystery series (stand-alone) Content Rating: 1 Heart and PG 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.

A Reader's Opinion This intrepid heroine kept me guessing till the end and made me laugh out loud! The Case of the Peculiar Inheritance by Samantha St. Claire is a stand-alone novel in the new McKenzie Sisters Mysteries series. Rose is the epitome of the perfect heroine that I love to follow. She’s colorful, amusing, ingenious, and brilliant. I loved the setting Colorado 1899 and the atmosphere with a delightful blend of humor and adventure. The story grabbed me right from the first page and kept me guessing! It’s one of the best western mysteries I have read lately! It’s well written, suspenseful, and fast-paced! This story is set during the excitement of the turn of the twentieth century when the emancipation of women was on the rise. Rose McKenzie is a woman ahead of her time. She loves all scientific experiments and sometimes gets into trouble while trying to achieve her many goals. She is also Denver’s first female private detective and takes her job very seriously. So when a woman seeks her professional assistance, she can’t help but take the case! Rose embarks on a new mission with the help of her good friend Dr. Taylor Whitman. Rose is intrigued and eager to start investigating a troubling case of theft related to a vase and mysterious letter. Although, the complexity of the crime might put her in danger! Will she solve this mystery? A female detective riding a bicycle is sure to attract your attention! That doesn’t bother Rose in this non-traditional role during a time when women wanted to achieve new goals. The Case of the Peculiar Inheritance Witty and irascible Rose McKenzie tackles Denver’s criminal cases with a woman’s intuition and a loaded Smith and Wesson tucked in her skirt pocket. Eager for adventure beyond her scientific experiments, Rose accepts her uncle’s challenge to become Denver’s first female private detective. When a wealthy woman employs her to track down a burglar, Rose zealously applies her unique investigative talents to prove she can handle any job. After two more home invasions turn violent, Rose races to find the perpetrator before another innocent shows up on a slab at the city morgue. With the stakes raised, Rose employs the help of her friend, the attractive Dr. Taylor Whitman, to lure the perpetrator out of hiding—with Rose as the bait. What Rose fails to foresee is the complexity of the crime, involving more than one perpetrator tasked with silencing her. Will her cunning be enough to unravel the clues before it’s too late? Step into Denver’s bustling city streets at the turn of the century with Rose McKenzie, a spirited private investigator and a woman brave enough to undertake any case. Don’t miss The Case of the Peculiar Inheritance , a stand-alone novel in the delightfully entertaining McKenzie Sisters Mystery series. Learn more about the series > Get Your Copy Historical Western Mystery | Pub: June 22, 2021 | 248pp | Trappers Peak Publishing Format Read: E-book | Source: Provided by the author or publisher Content Rating: 1 Heart | Reviewed by: Nicole Laverdure *As of Aug 2020, we do not give ratings to books, except for content. We review and share only those books we have enjoyed and think others will enjoy, too. Learn more .

Rose and Cassandra (aka Casey) are no ordinary sisters. One is scientifically inclined, lives in Denver, and rides a bicycle like her life—or a case—depends on it. The other rides trains, wields a blade, and keeps her identity as a Pinkerton "under wraps." Meet Cassandra McKenzie in The Case of the Copper King ! The Case of the Copper King Clever and feisty Cassandra McKenzie engages her newest assignment for the Pinkerton Agency with a knack for deception and a blade in her boot. Smart, skilled, and unafraid to get her hands dirty, Cassandra grudgingly takes on a new assignment in one of Colorado’s busiest mining towns, where murder and theft draw her deep into a puzzle of lies, quarries, and forgery. When the mysterious and handsome Quinn Morgan is enlisted to help solve the case, she reluctantly accepts his presence for an undercover scheme meant to draw out the crooks and retrieve the stolen money before they end up buried in a mountainside. Will their talents be enough to untangle truth from deceit before they run out of time? Ride the rails to Durango at the turn of the century with Cassandra McKenzie, a woman cunning enough to solve the toughest cases in some of the Rockies most rugged and beautiful places. Immerse yourself in The Case of the Copper King , a stand-alone novel in the delightfully entertaining McKenzie Sisters Mystery series. GET YOUR COPY ↓ Kindle | Amazon | Large Print | Add to BookBub "An absolutely delightful mystery adventure that will keep you guessing till the last chapter! The Case of the Copper King is a must to read if you love western mysteries with a touch of romance and lots of twists and turns." — Nicole Laverdure In the author's words . . . When Samantha St. Claire approached me about writing a book in the McKenzie Sisters Mystery series with her, my thoughts went back and forth between eagerness and apprehension. It was close enough in genre to most of my other westerns, yet fresh enough to intrigue me. Samantha's vision for the series, and her excitement for these unique sisters, was infectious. I felt an immediate kinship with Cassandra, and in truth I did not think I could do justice to Rose (good thing, because Samantha told her tale beautifully). It wasn’t until I switched the setting of the story to Durango, where I lived on a small ranch in my youth, that I really understood Cassandra and her motives. I spent months researching the area as it would have been in the 1890s, which was more difficult than I had expected, and it took a bit of help to unearth some of the more stubborn historical facts. What a delight it was to revisit wonderful memories of frolicking in the hills outside of Durango, riding horses through the mountains near the ranch, and traveling north by rail along the river to Silverton. Cassandra’s story became mine and made me see that my love for living in the past through words began much sooner than I ever realized. I hope you enjoy reading Cassandra’s tale of adventure, mystery, and a delightful touch of romance in The Case of the Copper King . And don't miss Rose McKenzie's book, The Case of the Peculiar Inheritance ! "Such a fun read. All of the characters are well rounded and believable, but Casey and Quinn are uniquely wonderful characters. I so enjoyed the banter between them. I expected the adventure but the twists and turns are unexpected as well as entertaining. This story is well written and edited that made this an enjoyable read." — Goodreads review Enjoy an Excerpt from The Case of the Copper King Colorado Springs, Colorado 1899 As one of five women making the rounds in the Lone Dog Saloon, the proprietor expected her to be in high demand. The silky blond hair was pulled up to frame her face while the rest flowed around her shoulders. She drew the attention of every man she passed at the tables, offering a wink, smile, or small wave to each of them. None of them held her interest. She sidled up to one man and held a half-full bottle close to her chest. “Care for a drink, cowboy?” “I like a little sugar with my whiskey.” “Sugar is extra, sweetheart.” “How much extra?” Amber liquid fell from the bottle into the shot glass on the scarred bar. “Ten dollars.” “That’s mighty steep for a place like this, darlin’.” Her fingers trailed up his dusty vest. “I’m worth it, darlin’.” His boisterous laugh startled a few of the patrons. “Where’s your room?” “Not so fast. I like to know the names of the men I take to my bed.” “Name’s Fletcher. I ain’t gonna take you to bed, darlin’. I’m gonna take you to heaven.” Casey palmed the Deringer and pressed it against her quarry’s belly. “Fletcher Jones. You’ve been a hard man to find.” Fletcher’s smile vanished as he looked at her with cold, hard eyes. “You got me mixed up with someone else.” “I don’t think so.” “You ain’t got what it takes to pull the trigger.” “I’ve heard a lot of things about you, Fletcher. Not all accounts agree on what you look like, who you ride with, or how many innocent people you’ve killed, but they agree on one thing.” He smirked. “What’s that?” “You’re a very stupid man.” She pressed the pistol harder against his gut. “No, no, stay right there. Don’t make this worse for yourself. I want an audience, but I’m guessing you don’t. Where is your partner?” Fletcher leaned close, the whiskey on his breath pungent and unpleasant. “Who are you?” Casey smiled. “The person tired of hunting you.” End of Excerpt. Excerpt Copyright ©MK McClintock. Shared with permission. "THE CASE OF THE COPPER KING is an enjoyable western by MK McClintock . . . I really enjoyed this story. Casey is a strong woman in a man’s job, which she does really well. Along the way to Durango, Casey meets bounty hunter, Quinn Morgan. I think looking for a murderer just got more interesting. I really enjoyed the interaction between Casey and Quinn . . . This was a wonderful western." — Goodreads review, 5 stars Meet the Author MK McClintock is an award-winning author of historical romantic fiction about chivalrous men and strong women who appreciate chivalry. Growing up on a picturesque ranch in Colorado with escapes in later years to New England and Scotland, she has cultivated a deep love for storytelling and breathtaking landscapes. Her stories of romance, mystery, and adventure sweep across the American West to the Victorian British Isles with places and times between and beyond. She also writes contemporary when she's in the mood. Residing in the northern Rocky Mountains, MK finds inspiration in the tranquility of her surroundings. You can find her online at www.mkmcclintock.com.​ "I prefer readers to get to know my characters and their stories, for they are far more interesting than I am." You can find her online at www.mkmcclintock.com .​ Also by MK McClintock MK McClintock's works include the Montana Gallagher, Crooked Creek, British Agent, and Whitcomb Springs series. She has also written A Home for Christmas , a heartwarming collection set in 1800s Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado, and The Case of the Copper King , a romantic and adventurous western mystery set in 1899 Colorado. Christmas in the Rockies  is her collection of contemporary small-town, second-chance holiday romances.  Title: The Case of the Copper King Author: MK McClintock Genre: Historical Western Romance / Western Cozy Mystery Type: Novel Publisher: Trappers Peak Publishing Publication Date: June 22, 2021 Series: McKenzie Sisters Mystery series (stand-alone) Content Rating: PG View our rating system Thank you for visiting and reading! 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The Man in the Stone Cottage by Stephanie Cowell is for readers who enjoy a moving, atmospheric exploration of the Brontë sisters’ inner lives, combining literary ambition, family obligations, and a mystery of the heart. The Man in the Stone Cottage by Stephanie Cowell “A haunting and atmospheric historical novel.” – Library Journal In 1846 Yorkshire, the Brontë sisters—Charlotte, Anne, and Emily—navigate precarious lives marked by heartbreak and struggle. Charlotte faces rejection from the man she loves, while their blind father and troubled brother add to their burdens. Despite their immense talent, no one will publish their poetry or novels. Amidst this turmoil, Emily encounters a charming shepherd during her solitary walks on the moors, yet he remains unseen by anyone else. After Emily’s untimely death, Charlotte—now a successful author with Jane Eyre—stumbles upon hidden letters and a mysterious map. As she stands on the brink of her own marriage, Charlotte is determined to uncover the truth about her sister’s secret relationship. The Man in the Stone Cottage is a poignant exploration of sisterly bonds and the complexities of perception, asking whether what feels real to one person can truly be real to another. Buy the Book Universal Buy Link At the time of this posting, this title is available to read on Kindle Unlimited. Enjoy an Excerpt from The Man in the Stone Cottage Charlotte wants to publish a book of her and her sisters’ poetry in the hopes of making the family fortune, but Emily has denied she has any poems and keeps them locked away in a drawer in her room. Then when she is walking home from the moors from hours with her secret friend in his stone cottage on the moors and realizes she had lost the drawer’s key somewhere…   The storm broke, rain pelting the back of her dress until she was running through the moor gate and through the parsonage door. No one seemed to be home though someone had been here recently. The kitchen lamp still burned dimly, and cold tea sandwiches and some cake lay under a cloth. By the lonely chiming of the tall clock, she knew she had been away several hours. Where had the hours gone? She had missed tea. Had she baked her own cake this morning? But that did not matter. The only important thing was to find that key.   Lighting a candle from the lamp, Emily searched under the table and then in the hall. She mounted the steps, looking near the banister. By the clock hands, she made out it was six in the afternoon. But where was the frayed violet ribbon?   Then she knew she was not alone in the parsonage. Light shone through the open crack of her bedroom door. She saw the yellow flame of the oil lamp shining on the cup of pens on her table and Charlotte standing by it with the secret poetry books in her hands.   Emily shouted fiercely, “What do you think you’re doing, you thief?”   Startled, her sister stepped back a little, grasping the table edge with one hand, saying, “You told me you burned these. I found the key on the floor outside your room.”   “Well, I lied, and you’ve no right to look at them!”   At this moment, all the vague memories of the afternoon disappeared. Emily knew only how she loathed her sister’s conflicted face. Charlotte, who always knew the best, Charlotte, who should have stayed in Brussels as that teacher’s mistress and left them to bumble on somehow here in the parsonage rooms. Ordinary, stupid Charlotte.   Her sister replied stubbornly, “Anne and I share our poetry. These are brilliant. What kind of person are you that you lock them away?”   “Don’t you understand anything? The key at once!”   “Take your wretched key and books then! God only knows why, of all the sisters in the world, I was given you!” Charlotte dropped the key and notebooks on the bed, and Emily locked away her work. Then she fled down the steps.   Charlotte followed her. They passed the clock.   Emily hissed over her shoulder, “I don’t want to talk about the poems. If you insist, I’ll burn them.”   “Be quiet—Papa may come in. He’s gone out with Anne.”   “He ought to bring the neighbors with their staves since we have a thief in our house!”   At the bottom step, Emily felt Charlotte’s hand on her shoulder and stopped. “Listen to me, you foolish girl!” Charlotte panted. “I’ve a plan. We must have a plan. Anne and I have been writing a lot of poetry. The three of us must publish our poems together. We’ll become famous; we’ll earn our fortunes. We’ll be as famous as Lord Byron. We’ll never have to worry about anything again.”   “You and your bloody plans! The answer is never.”   “Why won’t you publish with us?”   Emily hunched her shoulders. “Because,” she mumbled slowly, her fingers feeling the polished banister, “the poems are from the inside of me. What all of you see isn’t the real me; it’s a shadow. If I don’t hold on, what’s real will be taken from me. Who I really am would be thrown away.”   Charlotte took the candle. She walked through the kitchen, opened the cellar door, and descended the stone steps. Emily followed. The cellar had been the dungeon in one of their childhood games. Anne had come with a stick as a sword when they hid and shouted out as fiercely as a little girl can, “Prisoners! Are you there?” About them boxes and beer kegs were strung with abandoned spiderwebs. She heard mice behind a trunk.   Charlotte was looking over their jars of preserves on a shelf. “Blackberries half gone,” she murmured. “I don’t understand the consumption of preserves in this house. It’s months until we can put up more. No one considers, no one cares. Least of all you. Why are you here?”   Emily dropped slowly to a trunk and clasped her knees. “It’s cold,” she said, still clutching the key in her closed hand. “I want to be with you.” She rocked back and forth a little.   “You love us.”   “I do, endlessly. And no one else ever.”   “Including me?”   “Yes,” Emily replied grudgingly.   Charlotte sat down on a box, putting the candleholder on the floor between them. She had removed her spectacles, and her delicate, anxious face was a little gold in the light. “Emily, Anne and I are going to publish our poems,” she said seriously. “Yours are the best. With yours included, we would do brilliantly. Please share. We’d make our fortunes. We’d never have to be apart.”   Emily shuddered. In her mind, they were at school again where she was small. The teacher had slashed the switch across her bare legs, and she had not cried but later she had hurled herself into Charlotte, clasping her about the waist, butting her head into Charlotte’s flat chest, sticking her tiny fingers in between Charlotte’s dress buttons to get closer to flesh and bone. Between the taste of rough cotton and the strong angry beat of her sister’s heart, she knew she would be all right someday. “You will not touch my little sister!” Charlotte shouted later to the teacher. Charlotte was two years older. Such a big girl then.   After that, when they came home, they had begun to write their tiny chronicles. In them they were not little girls but captains in armies from imaginary countries. Branwell formed the battle plans. He’d lead them out, their little feet in imaginary boots trampling foreign bloody mud…safe, safe in their minds, always able to return in a word to their parsonage. Emily rose from the trunk. “I’ll think about the poems,” she said.   The storm was over as she walked through the graveyard.   Excerpt © Stephanie Cowell Praise for The Man in the Stone Cottage “A mesmerizing and heartrending novel of sisterhood, love, and loss in Victorian England.”-Heather Webb, USA Today bestselling author of Queens of London “Stephanie Cowell has written a masterpiece.”-Anne Easter Smith, author of This Son of York “With The Man in the Stone Cottage , Stephanie Cowell asks what is real and what is imagined and then masterfully guides her readers on a journey of deciding for themselves.”-Cathy Marie Buchanan, author of The Painted Girls “The Brontës come alive in this beautiful, poignant, elegant and so very readable tale. Just exquisite.” - NYT bestseller, M.J. Rose “Cowell’s ability to take readers to time and place is truly wonderful and absorbing.” - Stephanie H. (Netgalley) “Such a lovely, lovely book!”- Books by Dorothea (Netgalley) Author Stephanie Cowell Stephanie Cowell has been an opera singer, balladeer, founder of Strawberry Opera and other arts venues including a Renaissance festival in NYC. She is the author of seven novels including Marrying Mozart , Claude & Camille : a novel of Monet , The Boy in the Rain, and The Man in the Stone Cottage . Her work has been translated into several languages and adapted into an opera. Stephanie is the recipient of an American Book Award. stephaniecowell.com Connect/Following Online Facebook Instagram Amazon Author Page Goodreads Name: Stephanie Cowell Book Title: The Man in the Stone Cottage: a novel of the Brontë sisters Series: N/a Publication Date: September 16th, 2025 Publisher: Regal House Publishing Pages: 258 Genre: historical fiction Any Triggers (as provided by the tour host or author): None Thank you for visiting Books & Benches! 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Shades of Yellow by Wendy J. Dunn is for those readers who enjoy historical fiction with modern-day resonance, women's fiction, and stories that explore personal transformation with heart and depth. Scroll down to read an excerpt and note the triggers at the end of the post. Shades of Yellow by Wendy J. Dunn During her battle with illness, Lucy Ellis found solace in writing a novel about the mysterious death of Amy Robsart, the first wife of Robert Dudley, the man who came close to marrying Elizabeth I. As Lucy delves into Amy’s story, she also navigates the aftermath of her own experience that brought her close to death and the collapse of her marriage. After taking leave from her teaching job to complete her novel, Lucy falls ill again. Fearing she will die before she finishes her book, she flees to England to solve the mystery of Amy Robsart’s death. Can she find the strength to confront her past, forgive the man who broke her heart, and take control of her own destiny? Who better to write about a betrayed woman than a woman betrayed? Buy the Book Universal Buy Link At the time of this posting, this title is available to read on Kindle Unlimited. Enjoy an Excerpt from Shades of Yellow The short drive to Wytham took them through high, open country. Max parked right near All Saints’ Church. ‘I’ll stay put, if you don’t mind. These suede shoes are new. They like wet ground less than my runners. But please take your time. More than happy to phone Sarah before we head back to the motorway.’   ‘Don’t think I’ll be gone too long.’ Lucy laughed. ‘We have more than enough of close to two-hundred-year-old churches in Australia.’   Still, the church appeared just as old as the other two they had visited the day before. I shouldn’t be surprised they rebuilt All Saints by recycling parts from far more ancient buildings. The surrounding countryside also strengthened her sense of the long ago past. With notes in hand, she hurried to the church’s porch, avoiding all the puddles on the way. Halting inside, she looked at the stone entrance, trying to make sense of the weave of stone, and what belonged to two hundred years ago, what belonged to a time much older than that. She rested her hands on the stone. This entrance was once one of the four entrances to the Great Hall at Cumnor Place. During the last days of her life, Amy would have passed through this entrance to dine. How I wish the stones could speak to me.   With the door already open, she stepped inside the small church. Once more, she lit a candle and closed her eyes to pray. Dear God, let the doctor be wrong. Please don’t let it be cancer. It can’t be cancer. Not again.   Shutting down her thoughts, Lucy dashed towards the south nave, glancing at the carved heads of the corbels supporting the roof. The closest one was female. She remembered from her notes that no one could give a name to the woman, but they suspected she was a nun from her close-fitting wimple.   Folding her notes and placing them in her coat’s deep pocket, Lucy studied the other corbel on this side, almost laughing at the head’s carved hair. Unidentified too, the hatless, bearded man looked like he had used a curling wand to turn up the ends of his hair.       She walked up and down the aisle, taking photos and admiring the windows’ flowing tracery. She tried to imagine the three fourteenth-century windows in their original location. To imagine Amy at Cumnor Place, looking out of these very windows. Can they have come from her chamber? Lucy resisted drawing out her notes from her pocket. They would not tell her what she wanted to know. No one could. No one had thought to record the architectural features of Cumnor Place or the windows’ location when they pulled down the building in 1811. All she could do was to fill these vast gaps of unknowing with her imagination.    Excerpt © Wendy J. Dunn Author Wendy J. Dunn WENDY J. DUNN is a multi-award-winning Australian writer fascinated by Tudor history –so much so she was not surprised to discover a family connection to the Tudors, not long after the publication of Dear Heart, How Like You This, her first Anne Boleyn novel, which narrated the Anne Boleyn story through the eyes of Sir Thomas Wyatt, the elder. Her family tree reveals the intriguing fact that one of her ancestral families – possibly over three generations – had purchased land from both the Boleyn and Wyatt families to build up their holdings. It seems very likely Wendy’s ancestors knew the Wyatts and Boleyns personally. Wendy gained her PhD in 2014 and tutors in writing at Swinburne University of Technology, Australia. She loves walking in the footsteps of the historical people she gives voice to in her books. www.wendyjdunn.com Connect/Follow Online Newsletter Amazon Author Page Facebook Instagram Bluesky BookBub Goodreads Book Title: Shades of Yellow Author: Wendy J. Dunn Series: n/a Publication Date: September 7th, 2025 Publisher: Other Terrain Press Pages: 350 Genre: Women’s Fiction/ Literary Fiction / Dual-Timeline Any Triggers (Provided by tour host): Adult themes, with a few well-deserved F words included. Thank you for visiting Books & Benches! Please consider helping the authors who write the books by sharing this post.

With historical depth and heartfelt romance, Catherine Kullmann delivers a tale of healing, rediscovery, and love that defies convention in Lord Frederick's Return , a Regency romance novel. Lord Frederick's Return by Catherine Kullmann An older hero, an enigmatic heroine and a delightfully outspoken four-year-old. Throw scandal into the mix for a gripping and tender Regency love story August 1816. Lord Frederick Danlow  returns to England after spending 18 years in India. He plans to make a home for himself and his motherless, four-year-old daughter, Ruperta. Unsure where to start, he accepts an invitation to stay at Ponsonby Place, home of Colonel Jack Ponsonby who made his fortune in India, and his daughter  Susannah , the mistress of the household. Soon Frederick finds himself in need of a governess—and a wife? The more time he spends with Susannah, the more his admiration of her deepens. Is she the woman with whom he will share his life? He is resolved to court her, but then his younger brother Henry engulfs his family in an appalling scandal that could prevent any lady from agreeing to a connection with it. Now Frederick must support his family during this ordeal. But what of Susannah? What will she say when she hears of the scandal? Should he, dare he offer her his heart and his hand? Buy the Book Universal Buy Link Enjoy an Excerpt from Lord Frederick's Return February 1816   His daughter in his arms, Lord Frederick Danlow stood on the deck of the East Indiaman, his gaze fixed on the receding coastline. Eighteen years away, far longer than he had expected, but the prolonged war with the French had played merry hell with the Company’s shipping between India and England. Besides, he had not envisaged becoming such a family man. He would have been content to grow old in India with Jiya but she had been cruelly taken from him and India had lost its savour. With their twin sons, now young men of fifteen, suitably placed with the help of their grandfather, they had been surprised but not displeased by the last, unexpected pregnancy and charmed by the gift of a daughter. But within hours of the birth, Jiya had developed a high fever and within a day it was all over. The infant, hastily baptised Ruperta Fredericka Jiya by one of the Company’s chaplains, would have followed as quickly were it not for the quick-witted midwife who seemed to conjure from nowhere a wetnurse to complement the ayahs  who had already been engaged in anticipation of the new arrival. He had numbly played his part in the funeral rites, aware that to his British compatriots the death of an Indian bibi was scarcely worthy of notice and that the survival of a motherless girl child was equally insignificant. For the first time, he thought of returning to Britain with the child. How old should she be before he braved a six-month voyage with her? Able to walk and talk, he thought, and heed instructions at least. That gave him a couple of years to plan; no harm, he supposed, when he considered the preparations needed for a voyage of several months, not to mention the task of unravelling the fabric of his life here. Ruperta wriggled frantically. “Down, Papa.” “Only if you hold my hand, sweeting.” Frederick carefully lowered the child to the deck. “Remember, you must never come out here without me or one of the ayahs, and always be careful not to get in the way of the officers or crew.” As he spoke, someone bellowed an order and seamen ran to the heavy ropes that controlled the sails. He took a last breath of the aromatic air that was already yielding its distinctive spice to the sharper scent of salt and headed for the great roundhouse cabin that he had reserved for the voyage. The exorbitant fee had provided him merely with the bare space, which he must then equip to his liking. Now the wooden floor was spread with soft rugs. The canvas partition that divided the room at night into women’s and men’s quarters had been drawn back but the observer could readily note the two distinct parts, one furnished in the English style, with a sea couch that converted into a sofa for daytime use, a bureau-bookcase and a table and chairs. The other half was scattered with low tables, cushions, and divans that supplied the ayahs with seating during the day and were put together to provide beds at night. Ruperta slept here too, protected by the two ayahs who had cared for her since her birth. Frederick had considered getting a bed for her, but the women had pointed out that in bad weather she would be safer cocooned between them. The servants were busy unpacking the chests that held the items they would need on the voyage. The bookcase was filled with the mixture of new books and old favourites that Frederick hoped would sustain him during the tedium ahead. Ruperta ran to the chest that contained her playthings. How long would they keep her entertained, he wondered. And what of his fellow-passengers whom he would meet for dinner at the captain’s table? Would he find congenial companions among them? He had heard horror stories of such voyages and hoped they were not the type of hard-drinking rakehell who judged an evening’s success by the number of bottles of wine drained by each reveller. He preferred intelligent, witty conversation in more abstemious company. ~~~ Six months later, Frederick stood again on deck, watching through the rain for the first glimpse of England. The memory of India had faded; the weeks and months at sea forming a strange hiatus between east and west, elusive time spent in an idiosyncratic realm without physical boundaries other than the floating wooden construction which housed several hundred people in close proximity, and which knew neither before nor after, just a shifting now. It had been a dull, wet voyage but, judging by dinner-table conversation, they had been spared the worst terrors of such crossings, encountering storms but not hurricanes and never running out of supplies. Illness and accidents there had been, and he would not forget the barren simplicity of the committal of the dead to the deep. His worst fears in travelling with a young child had not been realised. In this, he was indebted to Mrs Captain Duggan, a resolute lady returning to England with her three children and her husband. In all there were thirteen English and Anglo-Indian children on board, ranging in age from three to twelve and Mrs Duggan had decreed that they should not lack education. “If we combine our resources,” she had declared that first evening, “we can keep them instructed and out of mischief for some of the time each day which will allow the ayahs attend to other matters.” “Is Ruperta not too young for school?” Frederick had asked. “Nonsense. It will do her good to sit with others and speak English. She’ll never learn if she spends all her time with the ayahs. She can practise her ABC. I have a copy of Mother Goose and perhaps others have some books suitable for children.” Two other mothers had agreed, and Mrs Duggan had then suggested that the gentlemen be responsible for four older boys who should not forget anything they ever knew while at sea. “They all are to go to school in England and should not be too far behind their classmates.” The next day, a curriculum was drawn up and students paired with teachers. Frederick found himself taking the two oldest boys in Latin, and starting them in Greek. Lessons were held in the morning. The captain dined in state with the passengers at two o’clock, and the usual post-prandial pursuits of cards, reading, and music-making occupied the time until supper at nine. On the captain’s instructions, all candles were to be snuffed by ten o’clock to cut down the risk of fire. It was a humdrum existence, he supposed, but restful, and he had got to know his daughter in a way he had never known his sons. Mindful of Mrs Duggan’s comment about the need for her to learn English, and concerned as to how she would adapt to English society after spending her life so far in the Zenana  or women’s quarters of his home, he had made a point of spending time with her each day, reading to her and telling her stories. Now he wondered had he done enough. What would his sister-in-law, the Marchioness of Rickersby, make of her? When he left England, his father had still been alive and his elder brother a newly betrothed twenty-two. Now George was the marquess, and father of two sons and two daughters. Their sister, Elizabeth, had been married out of the schoolroom to a peer twice her age while Frederick was at Oxford; as a result, he hardly knew her. There were twelve years between him and the youngest child, Henry; they had shared neither nursery nor schoolroom. Well, time enough to get to know him now, he supposed. He mentally listed his priorities for the next month: ensure that his belongings were landed safely, reacquaint himself with his brothers and sister, make his bow to his sister-in-law, and decide where to establish himself. He must purchase an estate, but had not yet decided where. Come to think of it, England was as foreign to him now as India had been eighteen years ago. © Catherine Kullmann 2025 Author Catherine Kullmann Catherine Kullmann was born and educated in Dublin. Following a three-year courtship conducted mostly by letter, she moved to Germany where she lived for twenty-five years before returning to Ireland. She has worked in the Irish and New Zealand public services and in the private sector. Widowed, she has three adult sons and two grandchildren. She has always been interested in the extended Regency period, a time when the foundations of our modern world were laid. She loves writing and is particularly interested in what happens after the first happy end—how life goes on for the protagonists and sometimes catches up with them. Her books are set against a background of the offstage, Napoleonic wars and consider in particular the situation of women trapped in a patriarchal society. She is the author of The Murmur of Masks , Perception & Illusion , A Suggestion of Scandal , The Duke’s Regret , The Potential for Love  , A Comfortable Alliance  ,   Lady Loring’s Dilemma  , and The Husband Criteria . She also blogs about historical facts and trivia related to this era. You can find out more about Catherine’s books and read the blog (My Scrap Album) at her website , where you can also subscribe to her newsletter. www.catherinekullmann.com Connect/Follow Online Amazon Author Page Facebook Twitter/X BookBub Goodreads Name: Catherine Kullmann Book Title: Lord Frederick’s Return Series: n/a Publication Date: 22nd July 2025 Publisher: Willow Books Pages: 269 Genre: Regency Romance Thank you for visiting Books & Benches! Please consider helping the authors who write the books by sharing this post.

Daughter of Mercia by Julia Ibbotson is for readers who enjoy tales woven with history, romance, and the spirit of strong women standing against the odds. This is a journey worth taking. Daughter of Mercia by Julia Ibbotson Echoes of the past resonate across the centuries as Dr Anna Petersen, a medievalist and runologist, is struggling with past trauma and allowing herself to trust again. When archaeologist (and Anna's old adversary) Professor Matt Beacham unearths a 6th century seax with a mysterious runic inscription, and reluctantly approaches Anna for help, a chain of events brings the past firmly back into her present. And why does the burial site also contain two sets of bones, one 6th century and the other modern? As the past and present intermingle alarmingly, Anna and Matt need to work together to solve the mystery of the seax runes and the seemingly impossible burial, and to discover the truth about the past. Tensions rise and sparks fly between Anna and Matt. But how is 6th century Lady Mildryth of Mercia connected to Anna? Can they both be the Daughter of Mercia? Buy the Book Kindle Paperback At the time of this posting, this title is in Kindle Unlimited. Author Julia Ibbotson Julia Ibbotson is fascinated by the medieval world and the concept of time. She is the author of historical mysteries with a frisson of romance. Her books are evocative of time and place, well-researched and uplifting page-turners. Her current series focuses on early medieval time-slip/dual-time mysteries. Julia read English at Keele University, England, specialising in medieval language/ literature/ history, and has a PhD in socio-linguistics. After a turbulent time in Ghana, West Africa, she became a school teacher, then a university academic and researcher. Her break as an author came soon after she joined the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme in 2015, with a three-book deal from Lume Books for a trilogy (Drumbeats) set in Ghana in the 1960s. She has published five other books, including A Shape on the Air , an Anglo-Saxon timeslip mystery, and its two sequels The Dragon Tree and The Rune Stone . Her work in progress is a new series of Anglo-Saxon mystery romances, beginning with Daughter of Mercia , where echoes of the past resonate across the centuries. Julia’s novels will appeal to fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, and Christina Courtenay. Her readers say: ‘Julia’s books captured my imagination’, ‘beautiful story-telling’, ‘evocative and well-paced storylines’, ‘brilliant and fascinating’ and ‘I just couldn’t put it down’. www.juliaibbotsonauthor.com Connect/Follow Online Amazon Author Page Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Goodreads BlueSky Name: Julia Ibbotson Book Title: Daughter of Mercia Series: Dr Anna Petersen Mysteries, book 1 Publication Date: June 6th, 2025 Publisher: Archbury Books Pages: 301 ebk, 392pbk Genre: medieval dual-time mystery romance Thank you for visiting Books & Benches! Please consider helping the authors who write the books by sharing this post.

The Herb Knot  by Jane Loftus is a gripping medieval historical fiction novel that weaves a powerful tale of betrayal, conspiracy, and survival. About The Herb Knot A Medieval Historical Fiction Novel by Jane Loftus The Hundred Years’ War comes to life in this spellbinding tale of love, betrayal and conspiracy…   A quest born on the battlefield will change a young boy’s destiny…   Rafi Dubois is five years old when his mother is murdered after the Battle of Crecy in 1346. Alone and lost, Rafi is given a token by the dying Englishman who tried to save his mother’s life: a half-broken family seal which he urges Rafi to return one day to Winchester.   Years later, when Rafi saves a wealthy merchant’s wife from a brutal robbery, he is rewarded with the chance to travel to England, taking the seal with him.   But when he reaches Winchester, Rafi finds himself in a turbulent world full of long-held allegiances, secrets and treachery. His path is fraught with danger and with powerful enemies working against him, Rafi falls in love with Edith, a market apothecary. But in doing so, Rafi unleashes a deadly chain of events which threatens to overwhelm them both…   The Herb Knot  is a sweeping and passionate novel set in one of the most tumultuous times in English history, from a powerful new voice. Buy the Book Kindle Paperback Barnes & Noble Apple Books Google Play Read an Excerpt from The Herb Knot The branches folded over them, crackling like a dog biting on chicken bones. Raphael and his mother wriggled beneath low shrubs and coils of fern. Even in moonlight they would be difficult to see, but it was not the place of safety his mother would have chosen. It was his mistake that had forced them to stop here.   His first mistake.   ‘When did you last see Christophe?’ His mother pulled him close.   ‘By the big oak.’   ‘Tch!’   ‘I’m sorry, Maman.’   The big oak was where they’d entered the forest. It was where enemy soldiers roamed, blood-soaked after a day of battle. There would be looting too, and worse. It was why a woman and two children had left a cottage that was no longer safe. And now one of the children was missing.   ‘He told me not to wait. He said he’d catch up.’ Raphael’s tears could be heard in his voice. He’d ruined everything. He should never have let go of Christophe’s hand. Now, they had been forced to stop where Christophe might still find them. They should be further towards the heart of the forest, not here.   It was all his fault.   ‘Don’t cry, mon petit . He’ll know where we are.’ Raphael’s mother, Marianne, reached for his hand. ‘I should have paid more heed.’   She’d been calling gently as they walked, to make sure the children were still following. Raphael had answered. But he’d spoken only for himself. Christophe had fallen behind long before she’d become aware of it. They were supposed to hold hands, but Christophe had kept stumbling, dragging Raphael down with him. In the end he’d told Raphael to go ahead, that he’d catch up.   I should have waited.   Christophe would surely find his way here. He had Raphael’s precious St Joseph scapular with him. Raphael wore it always, but Christophe had been afraid so Raphael had given it to him. It would guide him here; it had to.   Raphael and his mother lay for a while on their stomachs, the leaves above them gently shedding raindrops from the earlier storm. The damp earth smelled rich and strong and caught the back of Raphael’s throat. His ribs began to hurt and he tried to move, but there were footsteps now. Marianne pressed her fingers to his lips.   The footsteps came faster and louder. A man entered the clearing, his outline bulky as if he were wearing armour. There was a shadow of something in his hand, something that glinted for a brief moment as a dull beam of moonlight caught the edge of it. Raphael felt his mother’s hand tighten on his again.   Who was this man? A mercenary? Genoese? There was more moonlight now but it still wasn’t enough to see for sure.   ‘ Anglais ,’ Marianne whispered.   When Christophe crashed into the clearing like a hunted deer, the mercenary had already begun to walk away. Had Christophe arrived but one minute later, his and Raphael’s lives would have taken different paths. But at the sight of the child, soiled and trembling, the mercenary turned on his heel. He had his arm wrapped around Christophe’s neck in an instant, pulling tight until his feet barely reached the ground. Christophe’s hands pulled at the mercenary’s arm but to no avail. Raphael wanted to cry. End of Excerpt. © Jane Loftus Meet the Author Jane Loftus gained a degree in 16th Century European and British history from Surrey before taking a postgraduate degree in modern political history. As a lone parent, she worked in Winchester Waterstones before returning to IT once her son was older. Hugely passionate about the Middle Ages, she drew inspiration for this novel from the medieval layout of Winchester which has been painstakingly documented. Jane is originally from London but has lived in Winchester for over twenty years. When not writing, she is usually out walking or watching costume dramas on Netflix - the more medieval the better. She also plays far too many rpgs. Visit Jane at janeloftus.com . Connect with the author online: Facebook Bluesky Instagram Amazon Author Page Goodreads Book Title: The Herb Knot Author: Jane Loftus Publication Date: May 8th, 2025 Publisher: HQ Digital Print length: ‎349 pages Genre: Medieval Historical Fiction Any Triggers: Domestic abuse/violence (not much, but two short depictions), implied sexual assault, attempted murder, actual murder. Thank you for visiting Books & Benches! Please consider helping the authors who write the books by sharing this post.

A Reader's Opinion: The Herb Knot  by Jane Loftus is a medieval historical novel set in 14th-century Winchester, following Rafi Dubois, a young Frenchman shaped by the trauma of the Battle of Crécy, and quite a terrifying and heartbreaking incident. Charged with returning a broken family seal to England, Rafi’s quest intertwines with themes of identity, forbidden love, and political intrigue. Reality is stretched a little considering Rafi's age when the original traumatic experience occurred, and how he managed to end up where he needed to at the right time, but it works overall. Loftus does a wonderful job of immersing the reader into the period and setting, though I did have trouble in places keeping track of the multitude of characters. This was likely my issue and not that of the story. Rafi's growing bond with Edith, a gifted apothecary, is sweet and adds a little more emotional depth to a story already rich with historical detail. Loftus’s prose and research bring medieval England vividly to life, making this a compelling debut for fans of character-driven historical fiction. The Herb Knot  marks Jane Loftus as a fresh voice in medieval historical fiction. Content Rating: PG-13 About the Book The Herb Knot by Jane Loftus (Retailer Description) The Hundred Years’ War comes to life in this spellbinding tale of love, betrayal and conspiracy…   A quest born on the battlefield will change a young boy’s destiny…   Rafi Dubois is five years old when his mother is murdered after the Battle of Crecy in 1346. Alone and lost, Rafi is given a token by the dying Englishman who tried to save his mother’s life: a half-broken family seal which he urges Rafi to return one day to Winchester.   Years later, when Rafi saves a wealthy merchant’s wife from a brutal robbery, he is rewarded with the chance to travel to England, taking the seal with him.   But when he reaches Winchester, Rafi finds himself in a turbulent world full of long-held allegiances, secrets and treachery. His path is fraught with danger and with powerful enemies working against him, Rafi falls in love with Edith, a market apothecary. But in doing so, Rafi unleashes a deadly chain of events which threatens to overwhelm them both…   The Herb Knot  is a sweeping and passionate novel set in one of the most tumultuous times in English history, from a powerful new voice. Buy the Book Kindle Paperback Barnes & Noble Apple Books Google Play Book Title: The Herb Knot Author: Jane Loftus Publication Date: May 8th, 2025 Publisher: HQ Digital Print length: ‎349 pages Genre: Medieval Historical Fiction Language: ‎English    Read by: Lizzie Review Copy Source: Purchased by Reviewer Reviewer's Content Rating and Notes: PG-13+ (some violence, murder, and implied sexual assault; none of it is disturbingly graphic) Disclaimers: The copy reviewed was purchased by the reviewer. This review is the opinion of the reviewer and does not necessarily represent the opinions of all other reviewers (past, present, future) who review for Books and Benches. Because we do not have a professional editor volunteer, this post was edited by the Books and Benches team with help from ProWritingAid, Grammarly, or Wix. The review, and all opinions/thoughts within, are the reader's. Affiliate links are in use on this post. If you click on an Amazon or Bookshop link, and make a purchase, this site will earn a small commission. It costs you nothing and helps us to maintain this website and pay for books to share.

A Reader's Opinion: I'll happily admit when a cover is the reason I took a chance on the book, which was the case for this one. Lucky for me, the cover contained a lovely and heartwarming historical story. The Gentlewoman Companion  by Emily Opal is a tender and emotionally rich book in her Gentlewoman series. (Disclaimer: I have not read the other books.). The story follows the lives of strong, independent women who have each found their voice and purpose in a restrictive historical world. In this installment, secrets from the past emerge, testing the strength of the relationship. Opal weaves a clean, character-driven romance with careful attention to emotional growth and historical detail. The writing is warm, thoughtful, and quietly powerful, with a blend of feminine resilience, soft wit, and gentle intimacy. The Gentlewoman Companion  offers a satisfying, heartfelt read with an emotionally satisfying finale that honors the characters. I can't say if not reading the other series books first made a difference; I didn't have any issue following along. About the Book The Gentlewoman Companion by Emily Opal (Retailer Description) United by love, two hearts must confront the secrets that threaten to unravel their bond. Louisa Thorpe is determined to leave her past mistakes behind and forge a new path as an independent woman free from her family, who is eager to see her wed. To this end, she obtains employment as a lady’s companion. Despite her aversion to marriage and her firm resolve not to fall in love, she cannot deny the magnetic connection she develops with her employer's son, James Halverson. James recently inherited his father’s title and is focused on fulfilling his duties in the House of Lords, leaving no time for romance. However, he can't help but be captivated—and delightfully unsettled—by Louisa's unconventional manners. When shocking revelations about his father's past challenge his perception of trust and duty, James finds himself questioning everything, including Louisa's loyalty. In this heartfelt tale of love, betrayal, and the fight for independence, will Louisa and James's love withstand the storm of secrets that may destroy them?      Buy the Book Kindle Paperback Title: The Gentlewoman Companion Author: Emily Opal Series: The Gentlewoman Series, book 4 Publication date: ‎‎July 22, 2025 Language: ‎ English Print length: ‎422 pages Genres: Historical Romance Content: Clean Read Language: ‎English    Read by: Lizzie Review Copy Source: NetGalley Disclaimers: The copy reviewed was provided by the author or publisher via NetGalley. This review is the opinion of the reviewer and does not necessarily represent the opinions of all other reviewers (past, present, future) who review for Books and Benches. Because we do not have a professional editor volunteer, this post was edited by the Books and Benches team with help from ProWritingAid, Grammarly, or Wix. The review, and all opinions/thoughts within, are the reader's. Affiliate links are in use on this post. If you click on an Amazon or Bookshop link, and make a purchase, this site will earn a small commission. It costs you nothing and helps us to maintain this website and pay for books to share.

History often remembers queens as pawns in the power games of men—but Judith Arnopp’s Marguerite: Hell Hath No Fury!  shatters that mold with a fiery retelling of one of the most formidable women of the Wars of the Roses. If you’re ready to witness history from the eyes of a woman scorned and strengthened, check out Marguerite: Hell Hath No Fury! by Judith Arnopp! Scroll down for an excerpt. About Marguerite: Hell Hath No Fury! by Judith Arnopp Marguerite: Queen of England From the moment Henry VI's new queen, Marguerite of Anjou, sets foot on English soil she is despised by the English as a foreigner, and blamed for the failures of the hundred years war in France. Her enemies impede her role as the king’s consort and when Henry sinks into apparent madness, her bid to become regent is rejected. Marguerite must fight, not only for her own position but to maintain Henry’s possession of the crown. The ambitious Duke, Richard of York, seizes control of the country, thrusting Marguerite aside and inflating the mutual hatred between the houses of York and Lancaster. But the queen refuses to relinquish power and fights determinedly for the rights of her son, Edward of Lancaster. The long and bitter civil conflict, that has come to be known as the War of the Roses, commences. Buy the Book Kindle Paperback As of this posting, this title is available in Kindle Unlimited. Enjoy an Excerpt from Marguerite: Hell Hath No Fury! Marguerite is in exile and has reluctantly agreed to an alliance with her old enemy the Earl of Warwick against Edward of March, who is now wearing her husband’s stolen crown.   July 1470   I know what is required of me. I must welcome the Earl of Warwick and forgive the numerous injuries he has inflicted on me and mine. To gain my heart’s desires I must embrace him as a friend and ally. It sounds a simple cure. Just one small spoonful of vile medicine to relieve years of discomfort but, by God, the pain of the remedy almost supersedes any other I have felt. I am not sure I can swallow it.   I try to refuse, find another way, but all my advisers urge me to conceal my pride and look beyond this moment and concentrate on the image of my son, his handsome face topped with the crown of England.   My glory.   Reluctantly, I agree to try. Jasper and Exeter wait with me for the earl to arrive. My stomach is full of snakes that writhe and burn. I want to run. I want to vomit up this idea of a union between my son and the earl’s daughter. Oh, how I wish we had impaled Warwick’s head alongside York’s on the Micklegate Bar when we had the chance.   We can only do what we can do.   The world outside the chamber stirs, I hear footsteps, confident and masculine – determined. My determination quails as the doors are thrown open and I hear the sound of heels on marble. I raise my head and open my eyes, steeled for the sight of Satan as he comes slithering into my presence.   And there he is.   He swirls his cloak behind him, his hand on his sword hilt as he makes an overly extravagant bow. Does he mock me?  I do not move. I keep my eyes fixed on the far wall. Long moments pass before the arrogant swine realises he should be on his knees. As I hear him lower himself to the ground, I cannot resist looking as he bows his disgusting head in fealty to me. It is something I never thought to see.   “Your Grace. I am honoured and gratified that you agreed to discuss this matter.”   He is indeed a prince of falsehoods. For all my faults, I have never been less than honest. I would trust him more were he to admit his detestation for me. I can work to the same ends with a man who hates me. I see no need for lies.   Unable to bring my lips to form amiable words, I merely stare at the back of his lowered head.   If I had a sword, I would use it.   Edward stirs beside me, nudges me to respond, but it is as if I am trapped in this moment. I should speak, I should bid him rise, allow him to kiss my fingers, and let the negotiations begin, but I cannot.   The faces of all those I have lost, those Warwick killed, rise like smoke before my eyes. Somerset, and his son Harry, are at the head. This man before me has stolen not just my friends but my peace of mind too. Because of him, I will never now be the woman I could have been, should have been.   Jasper clears his throat. I glance up and discover Exeter is also urging me to speak. I turn back to the toad of Warwick and hope his knees are aching.   I wait. They wait, in awkward silence while the all-powerful scourge of England kneels in supplication to me, his queen. I want to kill him. I want to watch him suffer agonies, but I need him. I am in a cleft stick and since I cannot have his head, I will use him to my own ends.   This time, Warwick will be the puppet and I will work his strings.   Less than two weeks later, at the Chateau d’Amboise, my son pledges to marry Anne Neville, but the union is not to be sealed until Warwick has performed his part and restored my husband to the English throne.   End of Excerpt. © Judith Arnopp. About Judith Arnopp A lifelong history enthusiast and avid reader, Judith holds a BA in English / Creative Writing and a Masters in Medieval Studies. She lives on the coast of West Wales where she writes both fiction and non-fiction. She is best known for her novels set in the Medieval and Tudor period, focusing on the perspective of historical women but recently she has written a trilogy from the perspective of Henry VIII himself.   Judith is also a founder member of a re-enactment group called The Fyne Companye of Cambria which is when and why she began to experiment with sewing historical garments. She now makes clothes and accessories both for the group and others. She is not a professionally trained sewer but through trial, error and determination has learned how to make authentic looking, if not strictly historically accurate clothing. A non-fiction book about Tudor clothing, How to Dress like a Tudor , was published in 2023 by Pen and Sword.   She runs a small seaside holiday let in Aberporth and when she has time for fun, likes to garden and restore antique doll’s houses. You can find her on most social media platforms.   Her novels include: A Song of Sixpence: the story of Elizabeth of York The Beaufort Chronicle: the life of Lady Margaret Beaufort (three book series) The Henrician Chronicle: comprising of: A Matter of Conscience: Henry VIII, the Aragon Years ( Book One of The Henrician Chronicle ) A Matter of Faith: Henry VIII, the Days of the Phoenix ( Book Two of The Henrician Chronicle ) A Matter of Time: Henry VIII, the Dying of the Light ( Book Three of The Henrician Chronicle ) The Kiss of the Concubine: a story of Anne Boleyn The Winchester Goose: at the court of Henry VIII Intractable Heart: the story of Katheryn Parr Sisters of Arden: on the Pilgrimage of Grace The Heretic Wind: the life of Mary Tudor, Queen of England Peaceweaver The Forest Dwellers The Song of Heledd The Book of Thornhold A Daughter of Warwick: the story of Anne Neville, Queen of Richard III Marguerite: Hell Hath no Fury! Website: www.judithmarnopp.com and Blog Connect/Follow Online Twitter / X Facebook Instagram Pinterest Book Bub Amazon Author Page Goodreads Name: Judith Arnopp Book Title: Marguerite: Hell Hath No Fury! Series: n/a Publication Date: June 21st, 2025 Publisher: Independently Published Pages: 342 Genre: Historical Fiction / Biographical Fiction Thank you for visiting Books & Benches! Please consider helping the authors who write the books by sharing this post.

A Reader's Opinion: Set in Oxford in 1901, The Bookbinder’s Secret  introduces Lilian (“Lily”) Delaney, an apprentice bookbinder stifled by the rigid expectations placed on women in the profession, and with a few quirks that make her an interesting character. The author does a beautiful job with the bookbinding details, drawing you in until you feel like you're there in the bookshop with the leather bindings and dusty shelves. The descriptions of bookbinding were quite interesting, though some may find the focus a bit weighty at times. Lily is a convincing heroine, filled with determination and spirit. After a start, the pacing picked up with twists and intrigue that combined the mystery with a somewhat contemporary feel, which could appeal to modern readers. The romance definitely took a back seat to the mystery and bookbinding, and it would have been nice to have a little more something there, but for a historical mystery, it kept me engaged. This is definitely one of those books where the reader should go in filled with curiosity and not expectations for how they think the book should turn out. Just allow yourself to become immersed. The Bookbinder’s Secret  is a nicely written debut: atmospheric, intelligent, and driven by a heroine who refuses to stay bound by convention. For historical mystery fans—especially those with a love of old books (as so many of us book lovers do)—it’s an enjoyable read. About the Book The Bookbinder's Secret by A.D. Bell (Retailer Description)   Every book tells a story. This one tells a secret. A young bookbinder begins a hunt for the truth when a confession hidden beneath the binding of a burned book reveals a story of forbidden love, lost fortune, and murder. Lilian ("Lily") Delaney, apprentice to a master bookbinder in Oxford in 1901, chafes at the confines of her life. She is trapped between the oppressiveness of her father’s failing bookshop and still being an apprentice in a man’s profession. But when she’s given a burned book during a visit to a collector, she finds, hidden beneath the binding, a fifty-year-old letter speaking of love, fortune, and murder. Lily is pulled into the mystery of the young lovers, a story of forbidden love, and discovers there are more books and more hidden pages telling their story. Lilian becomes obsessed with the story but she is not the only one looking for the remaining books and what began as a diverting intrigue quickly becomes a very dangerous pursuit. Lily's search leads her from the eccentric booksellers of London to the private libraries of unscrupulous collectors and the dusty archives of society papers, deep into the heart of the mystery. But with sinister forces closing in, willing to do anything for the books, Lilian’s world begins to fall apart and she must decide if uncovering the truth is worth the risk to her own life.    Buy the Book Bookshop E-book Bookshop Hardcover Kindle Hardcover Audiobook Title: The Bookbinder's Secret Author: A.D. Bell Publication date: ‎‎January 13, 2026 Language: ‎ English Print length: ‎400 pages Publisher: St. Martin's Press Genres: Historical Fiction / Historical Mystery Language: ‎English    Read by: Lizzie Review Copy Source: NetGalley Disclaimers: The copy reviewed was provided by the author or publisher via NetGalley. This review is the opinion of the reviewer and does not necessarily represent the opinions of all other reviewers (past, present, future) who review for Books and Benches. Because we do not have a professional editor volunteer, this post was edited by the Books and Benches team with help from ProWritingAid, Grammarly, or Wix. The review, and all opinions/thoughts within, are the reader's. Affiliate links are in use on this post. If you click on an Amazon or Bookshop link, and make a purchase, this site will earn a small commission. It costs you nothing and helps us to maintain this website and pay for books to share.