Today I’m delighted to be presenting Sheridan Brown’s recently released novel, The Viola Factor, as part of a blog tour hosted by The Coffee Pot Book Club. Book Trailer Blurb The Viola Factor takes place at a time when the country faced division and growth after the American Civil War. Viola Knapp Ruffner (1812-1903) struggled with what was just and fair, becoming a little-known confidant for a young black scholar from Virginia. But Viola was much more than a teacher; she was a mother, wife, game-changer, and friend. With her mother’s dying wish, a young woman alone, she left her New Engl ..read more

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Today I’m delighted to be sharing an excerpt from Rosemary Griggs’ newly released novel, The Dartington Bride, as part of a blog tour hosted by The Coffee Pot Book Club. Is the The Dartington Bride is the second book in Rosemary’s Daughters of Devon series telling the stories of the forgotten women of the Tudor period, living beyond the royal court. Blurb 1571, and the beautiful, headstrong daughter of a French Count marries the son of the Vice Admiral of the Fleet of the West in Queen Elizabeth’s chapel at Greenwich. It sounds like a marriage made in heaven… Roberda’s father, the Count of ..read more

The Moods of Ginger Mick by C J Dennis Jist to intrajuice me cobber, an’ ’is name is Ginger Mick— A rorty boy, a naughty boy, wiv rude impressions thick In ’is casu’l conversation, an’ the wicked sort o’ face That gives the sudden shudders to the lor-abidin’ race. Digger Smith by C J Dennis “Before the war,” she sighs. “Before the war.”     Then blinks ’er eyes, an’ tries to work a smile. Rose of Spadgers by C J Dennis I’ve crawled; I’ve eaten dirt; I’ve lied a treat; I’ve dodged the cops an’ led a double life; I’ve readied up wild tales to tell me wife, W’ich afterwards I’ve ..read more

Blurb Isaac’s only friend is a passenger pigeon named Bandy. He deludes himself in believing the bird talks to him. Bullied, he is resigned to a life of being the misunderstood bookworm by neighboring boys until a disastrous fire kills his parents and little sisters, sparing only his younger brother, Thomas. He and Thomas are taken in by their Uncle Raymond, an abolitionist, who plans to send Isaac to Virginia to buy Joy, a young slave with debilitating health, from her slave owner, Wil Jericho. Shortly after arriving in Virginia, Isaac learns the ugly truth. The butler who accompanied him on ..read more

Today I’m delighted to be shining a spotlight on Eric Schumacher just released novel Riddle of the Gods as part of a blog tour hosted by The Coffee Pot Book Club. Riddle of the Gods is the fourth book in Eric’s series Olfa’s Saga. Blurb Riddle of the Gods is the riveting fourth novel in the best-selling series chronicling the life and adventures of one of Norway’s most controversial kings, Olaf Tryggvason. It is AD 976. Olaf Tryggvason, the renegade prince of Norway, has lost his beloved wife to a tragedy that turns the lords of the land he rules against him. With his family gone and his fu ..read more

Many of the nineteenth century photographs found in library collections are of families – groups of children, couples alone, or the entire family together. Some show the resignation, and on occasions, the outright boredom felt by the younger sitters. Interesting too are the family resemblances, some children favouring one parent, others an amalgam of the two, all showing that families often do look like peas in a pod – not identical but all alike in some way. Photographer: David Elder Wood South Melbourne c1901-c1910 Courtesy State Library of Victoria This photograph is a clear case of peas i ..read more

Today I’m delighted to be sharing a snippet from Judith Arnopp’s newly released novel, A Matter of Time: Henry VIII: the Dying of the Light, as part of a blog tour hosted by The Coffee Pot Book Club. A Matter of Time is the third book in Judith’s trilogy, The Henrician Chronicle, told from Henry’s perspective. Blurb With youth now far behind him, King Henry VIII has only produced one infant son and two bastard daughters. More sons are essential to secure the Tudor line and with his third wife, Jane Seymour dead, Henry hunts for a suitable replacement. After the break from Rome, trouble is b ..read more

Today I’m delighted to be sharing an excerpt from Debra Borchert’s novel, Her Own Legacy, as part of a blog tour hosted by The Coffee Pot Book Club. Her Own Legacy is the first book in Debra’s Château de Verzat series set during the French Revolution. Blurb Her Own Legacy (Book 1) A Woman Fights for Her Legacy as the French Revolution Erupts Determined to inherit her family’s vineyard, Countess Joliette de Verzat defies society’s rules, only to learn of her illegitimate half-brother, the rightful heir. Her Own Revolution (Book 2) A Woman Forges a Treacherous Path to Save Hundreds from the ..read more

The Touch by Colleen McCullough ‘Your cousin Alexander has written for a wife’, said James Drummond, looking up from a sheet of paper. My Life as a Jew by Michael Gawenda Over the years, some of my friendships have withered and died, natural deaths caused by change and a narrowing of time, but I am thankful for those that have survived my growing old. It was difficult to find comprehensive reviews of either books to link to this month. In the case of Michael Gawenda’s memoir, the better reviews were behind paywalls. With The Touch most simply retold the story from beginning to end (I am gla ..read more