Review: Women of the Anarchy by Sharon Bennett Connolly

  I'll be honest - even though I studied history right through school and then at University, I never learned about the period in Englis...

Monday 15 July 2019

Review: the Anarchy by Teresa Cole

'The sun and the day darkened about the noon-tide. Men were very much struck with wonder ... they said openly that Christ and his saints slept... There was nothing but disturbance and wickedness and robbery.' (The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle)



Henry I had a great number of children, but his only legitimate male heir was drowned when the White Ship foundered. His daughter, Matilda, her father's choice to succeed, had some problems. She was a woman, for a start, and her cousin, Stephen, was, unlike her, in England and able to act.

This new book from Teresa Cole tells the story of what has become known as The Anarchy, when twelfth-century England was torn apart by the fight for the throne and the opposing forces of the Empress Matilda and King Stephen. 

It's a complicated history, one which I only really know from having read fiction set in the period, but the author does a tremendous job of explaining the complicated family connections, the siege warfare and the politics of the time.

She has a lightness of phrase which makes the book easy to read, yet all the information is there, making this a volume full of well-researched information presented in an extremely readable way. 

Making full use of the primary sources, the author presents the history of the period in an assured and measured way, allowing the story almost to tell itself.

I found this an easy yet informative read and would recommend it to anyone wishing to learn more about this turbulent period of history which led, ultimately, to the era of the Plantagenet rulers.

Find The Anarchy on Amazon and at Amberley Books

[I was sent an advance review copy by the publishers] 

Review: Arbella Stuart by Jill Armitage

Arbella Stuart is a name I've often heard, but I've never read much about her life, so I was delighted when the publisher of my history of Mercia offered me a review copy of the paperback version of Jill Armitage's Arbella Stuart: The Uncrowned Queen.



Arbella was a cousin of both Queen Elizabeth I and James VI of Scotland, so she had blue blood to say the least. Her grandmother was another famous lady, Bess of Hardwick.

Arbella's life was not easy though - whose was in those times of intrigue and politics - and being related to royalty was no guarantee of a long and happy life.

Arbella was, seemingly, a pawn, used in discussions for marriage alliances and ultimately being imprisoned for marrying without royal permission.

Armitage's book is extremely readable, packed full of information and providing extensive end notes for those who wish to research/read further. She has a natural flair as a story-teller who has a great deal of sympathy for her subject.

A wonderful book - informative and entertaining if, inevitably, rather sad.

Purchase the paperback from Amazon or Amberley Books

Review: Owen Tudor by Terry Breverton

I was delighted to receive an advance review copy of this paperback edition of Owen Tudor by Terry Breverton.




Owen was a nobody, a commoner, but he married Henry V's widow, Catherine de Valois, and that made him a somebody. He was the founder of the Tudor dynasty, for Henry VII was his grandson.

Terry Breverton explains in careful, clear and concise detail, the Welsh ancestry of Owen Tudor. I've taken a great deal of interest over the years in Welsh history so many of the names were familiar to me, but this information is laid out in such a way that even those who are new to the subject will not struggle with the Welsh names and places. 

What follows is some background to Catherine's life, and then her marriage to Owain - his Welsh name - and then Owen's career in the Hundred Years War. Then we read about his sons' involvement in the Wars of the Roses.

This book is extremely readable, informative, and Breverton has clearly researched Owen's life in great detail. The research sits lightly on the page though, making this an easy page-turner of a book. It's packed with drama, fluctuating fortunes, and ends with his final, heroic role at the battle of Mortimer's Cross in 1461. As the book says, without Owen and his secret marriage for love, there would have been no Tudor dynasty. It's a wonderful story, well told.


Buy the paperback from Amazon and from Amberley Books

Friday 12 July 2019

Friday Featured: N & P

Welcome to Friday Featured. I'm publishing, working from A-Z, a weekly list of authors whose works I think you should check out. Maybe I've read some of their works, maybe I've worked with them on various projects, perhaps their books are on my To-Be-Read pile, or perhaps they are friends of mine who have news that needs to be shared. The only rule here is that it is totally unsolicited. The authors don't know I'm going to feature them, and in that way you'll know that this is simply my honest opinion. If I haven't read their work yet I'll be candid and say so, but at least one book by each of these authors is either on my shelves, or on my Kindle; it might be that I just haven't got to them yet 😊

This week, N&P: (clicking on the names will take you to the author website; book titles will take you to the books on Amazon)



Charlene Newcomb Charlene and I work together as part of the editorial team for EHFA (English Historical Fiction Authors) but I didn't tell her I'd bought her book, the first in a trilogy. I read Men of the Cross on Kindle having already read excerpts and short stories she'd written. I simply loved this book, with its subtle reworking of the Robin Hood legend, its tale - sometimes visceral and disturbing - of the fighting in the crusades and, at its heart, its story about two soldiers who fall in love. Charlene's prose is elegant, descriptive, and her characters are real and believable. The central love story is presented sensitively, and is of its setting. The author has clearly researched her period in depth and yet that research sits lightly on the pages. I'm really looking forward to reading the next in this captivating series.


Terri Nixon I read Penhaligon's Attic on Kindle and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's set in Cornwall in the early twentieth century and is the first in a series. The sea plays a huge part in the story, naturally enough, and the main focus in on a local family, particularly the daughter, Freya. But her family's story merges with that of a newcomer, Anna, who has a past that she's anxious to keep hidden. I was gripped by this tale and it kept me guessing until the end. Friendships and romance are kindled, and told well, and the reality of life in a fishing village is equally expertly depicted. As the nights begin to draw in again, this is a perfect book to curl up by the fire with. Although this is one of a series of three, it's also a standalone. However, I found that I wanted to read on and shall be settling down with Book Two soon I hope.

Sharon Penman Where do I start with this author? I was introduced to her books by my sister, who recommended The Sunne in Splendour, which I read and loved. But it was her Welsh Princes trilogy that I then fell in love with and although I've read some of her series about Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Welsh novels are still my favourites, and of those it's a tough choice. I'm torn between The Reckoning, which is the final part of the trilogy, and Here Be Dragons and I think I'll plump for Here Be Dragons. This is where it all begins, and where, too, my love affair with Welsh history began. Joanna, illegitimate daughter of King John, is married to Llewelyn of Gwynedd whose relationship with the English king is well, let's say 'difficult'. Romance, history, sweeping saga - it's got the lot!


KM Pohlkamp I've recently downloaded Apricots and Wolfsbane after hearing great things about this book and, having sneaked a look at the opening pages I know I'm in for a treat. The cover is stunning, too. The book has a Tudor England setting and a beautiful young woman with a penchant for poison. So we have historical fiction, but with a dark edge. Lavinia seems like a fascinating character. Will I like or loathe her? I'm looking forward to finding out. It's an intriguing premise: a woman who kills in order to observe how her poisons work and who believes that confession will absolve her. Yet it looks like things are going to take a darker turn and the stakes will get ever higher... I don't think this is like any other book I've read before, and I'm itching to get stuck in to this one! 


Perhaps you'll find your next best read or your new favourite author among this selection. Join me next time for more recommendations 😊


Tuesday 9 July 2019

New Release: No Stone Unturned by Pam Lecky

Readers of this blog will recall that Pam Lecky was one of my Friday Featured authors recently and in that post I mentioned that she had a new book out.

Pam is here today to talk about that book, No Stone Unturned 


Over to you Pam!

How would a typical Victorian lady cope with sudden adversity? Trapped in an unhappy marriage, Lucy Lawrence suddenly finds herself an independent woman. During the course of the book we go on a journey of discovery with her, as she realises just how strong she really is in the face of all the trouble I throw her way! (And trust me, there’s plenty of it.)

Life for women in the Victorian age was very restricted and depending on your class, strict rules applied. I wanted to explore how a relatively young woman, with a strong enough personality and high intelligence (but poorly educated - parents didn’t bother much if you weren’t the heir), would cope within the confines of a troubled marriage. Would she accept her lot or chafe at the bit? But in Lucy’s case, with no money and estranged from her family, she could not walk away. To do so, would be social ruin. However, when circumstances finally release her (her husband’s sudden death), she struggles to find her way. Pretty much every man in her life so far has betrayed her on some level for their own ends. As a result, Lucy finds it difficult to trust her fate to any man.

There is a pivotal point in the story when she realises she must take her destiny into her own hands and she sets out on a dangerous adventure in pursuit of the truth about her late husband and his less than legal activities. 

Another theme, which emerged as I explored Lucy’s story, was the strong reliance on female friendship. I suspect this is what sustained many Victorian women, finding themselves in similar circumstances to Lucy. As the story progresses, Lucy comes to rely more and more on her maid Mary, who also begins to shine with talents hitherto unknown, namely a penchant for spying and intrigue. And when trouble does strike, it is her friends, Judith and Sarah, who Lucy turns to.

Lucy was a joy to write and I have just finished the draft of the sequel in which she continues to explore the world and find her feet, solving a few crimes along the way. I hope you may find Lucy’s tale entertaining and enjoyable; I certainly had a lot of fun writing it.


No Stone Unturned:
A suspicious death, stolen gems and an unclaimed reward: who will be the victor in a deadly game of cat and mouse?

London October 1886: Trapped in a troubled marriage, Lucy Lawrence is ripe for an adventure. But when she meets the enigmatic Phineas Stone, over the body of her husband in the mortuary, her world begins to fall apart. 

When her late husband’s secrets spill from the grave, and her life is threatened by the leader of London’s most notorious gang, Lucy must find the strength to rise to the challenge. But who can she trust and how is she to stay out of the murderous clutches of London’s most dangerous criminal?

Buy Link: Amazon Worldwide
Book Trailer: YouTube


Pam Lecky is an Irish historical fiction author, writing crime, mystery, romance and the supernatural. Pam is represented by the Hardman & Swainson Literary Agency in London. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society and the Society of Authors and has a particular love of the late Victorian era/early 20th Century. 

Her debut novel, The Bowes Inheritance, was awarded the B.R.A.G Medallion; shortlisted for the Carousel Aware Prize 2016; and long-listed for the Historical Novel Society 2016 Indie Award. 

Her short stories are available in an anthology, entitled Past Imperfect, which was published in April 2018. 
June 2019, sees the release of the first book in the Lucy Lawrence Mystery series, No Stone Unturned, a fast-paced Victorian mystery/crime, set in London and Yorkshire. The sequel, Footprints in the Sand will be released later this year.

Links to connect with Pam:
Amazon
Facebook
Twitter
www.pamlecky.com
Instagram

Goodreads 


Friday 5 July 2019

Friday Featured: M

Welcome to Friday Featured. I'm publishing, working from A-Z, a weekly list of authors whose works I think you should check out. Maybe I've read some of their works, maybe I've worked with them on various projects, perhaps their books are on my To-Be-Read pile, or perhaps they are friends of mine who have news that needs to be shared. The only rule here is that it is totally unsolicited. The authors don't know I'm going to feature them, and in that way you'll know that this is simply my honest opinion. If I haven't read their work yet I'll be candid and say so, but at least one book by each of these authors is either on my shelves, or on my Kindle; it might be that I just haven't got to them yet 😊

This week, M: (clicking on the names will take you to the author website; book titles will take you to the books on Amazon)
There's a lot this week, so I'll rattle through them ...


Marie MacPherson  The First Blast of the Trumpet is the first in a trilogy about the famous firebrand John Knox. This book is so much more than that, though, as it not only tells Knox's story but that of his kinswoman, Elisabeth Hepburn, who wants to marry her love, but ends up as a prioress at the time of the Scottish Reformation. I loved this book. It's proper, solid, historical fiction with a cast of rounded characters, great sense of time and place, all backed up with impeccable research which sits lightly on the page, and deftly describes the machinations of the Scottish court during this period. Marie throws just enough Scottish dialect into her dialogue to make the characters come alive. I have the second volume of this trilogy and I can't wait to get stuck into it. 


Sarah Maine  I've had The House Between Tides sitting on my old tablet for a while and had forgotten all about it. I must bump this up the list. "Following the death of her last living relative, Hetty Deveraux leaves London and her strained relationship behind for Muirlan, her ancestral home in Scotland - now in ruins. As Hetty dives headfirst into the repairs, she discovers a shocking secret protected by the house for a hundred years. With only whispered rumours circulating among the local villagers and a handful of leads to guide her, Hetty finds the power of the past is still affecting her present in startling ways." This book was declared Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year 2018 and with over two hundred reviews, it must be doing something right. I can't wait to read it!


Tess Makovesky  I know Tess in real life and have done for a while but I didn't tell her that I'd bought and read Gravy Train on Kindle. It's not my usual read, being a crime 'caper' novel set in modern-day Birmingham, but it's such a good read. Peppered with all sorts of 'low-life' characters, it follows a stash of money as it passes from one hapless wannabe criminal to the next. There is genuine pathos in some scenes, some genuinely nasty and horrifying characters and then there's Sandra, whose life is all about the ever-so-nearly moments but she needs the help of her creepy 'Uncle' to help her succeed. The author adds some really comedic moments into the story but there are some dark scenes too. I found myself rooting for Sandra and her dreams for a better life...


Amy Maroney  "Renaissance-era artist Mira grows up in a Pyrenees convent believing she is an orphan. When tragedy strikes, Mira learns the devastating truth about her own origins. But will she find the strength to face those who would destroy her? 500 years later, art scholar Zari unearths traces of a mysterious woman named Mira in two 16th-century portraits. Obsessed, Zari tracks Mira through the great cities of Europe to the pilgrim’s route of Camino de Santiago—and is stunned by what she finds. But will her discovery be enough to bring Mira’s story to light?" The Girl From Oto is simply a stunning and delightful read. An original idea, part historical fiction, but with a dual timeline, it's skilfully plotted and it was a joy to read. I gave it five stars in my review.


Milana Marsenich If I were pushed to compile a top ten of books I've read this year, I'm confident that Copper Sky would occupy the top slot (although, the year is only half over, so you never know). On the face of it, this is a bleak tale about the harsh life in an early 20th-Century copper mining town in Montana. Kaly remembers her sister's death, but she also half-remembers that something terrible happened to her that day, too. Kaly wants to make a life her unborn child, while her friend Malika wants to escape the life which has been mapped out for her. Danger lurks, and not just in the daily hazards at the mine. The writing is exquisite, the setting and period feel are spot on and, though the characters' lives are bleak, there is a glimmer of hope running through this tale.


Jennie Marsland  About three or four years ago, before I really got to grips with Social Media, I took up the offer of reading a copy of Flight, the final part of a series. I thoroughly enjoyed this story about Georgie, who meets an ex-aviator from WWI. I found the history of turn-of-the-century Halifax fascinating, and the hopes and dreams of the young folk who lived through the war and dreamed of a brighter future was engaging and well written. Because this was a 'freebie' I read it as a standalone, but I'd recommend starting at the beginning and getting to know the characters. (Each book focuses on a different character, but in terms of time they run chronologically.) Jennie writes with a lightness of touch that makes this easy, yet still at times thought-provoking, reading. 


Kathleen McGurl  I read The Emerald Comb on Kindle, and here's a portion of my 5* review of this dual timeline book which involves a modern-day woman trying to solve the mysteries of the past: The 21stc sections are written in a light, contemporary style, with cultural references that will, in years to come, put them firmly in their time setting. A different voice is used for the earlier time, and this different narration style works well as a device. There's no jarring as we go from old to modern times and the difference in tone eases the switch from one to the other. I was able to read this book quickly without skipping any of it, a testament to Ms McGurl's writing skills, which she makes seem so effortless. The plot is worked out so precisely that not a single detail is wasted - everything matters & all is tied up at the end.


Jean Mead  Every so often, authors set up discounts on the price of their books and I downloaded Hannah while it was on special offer. It's sitting on my Kindle, although I have sneaked a look at the opening pages, and it promises to be a great read: From what I've gathered from the blurb, the year is 1823 when the story begins in the grand mansion, Croxton Hall in Dorset. This is where fifteen-year old Hannah, defying her father, leaves home to become a kitchen maid, and the book goes on to tell a sweeping tale of love, loss and betrayal which sees Hannah finding herself staring at the shadow of the hangman's noose. The story takes the reader from the glorious Dorset Downs to the dripping walls of a filthy prison and beyond. I'm really looking forward to settling down with this one.


Sue Moorcroft  A Summer to Remember was a joy for me to read on Kindle, since it's set in an area of Norfolk with which I'm very familiar. It's the perfect holiday read, beginning with a jilted bridegroom, his brother who had a bit of a thing going with the bride's cousin and now, after being dumped by her boyfriend in the worst way possible, that cousin has come back to the sleepy Norfolk village to lick her wounds. Unfortunately, in so doing, she opens up a lot of old wounds, too. Some of the locals embrace her, some of them hate her for reminding them of the wedding that never was, oh and there's some unfinished business on the romance front... memorable characters, wonderful scenery, and a believable tale of every day life, albeit one laced with drama. Loved it.


Toni Mount I won a paperback copy of this book and what a delight it was to read Medieval Medicine by Toni Mount, a medievalist who really knows her stuff. I'm keeping it on my research shelves because it is packed full of really useful information about medical practice in the middle ages. However, it is also a really accessible read, and Toni has a lovely way with words; some of her asides are very droll indeed. As I said in my review, "everything is here: from the diagnosis, treatments and medical knowledge to the various occupations and titles of those who practised medicine. The notes are detailed and helpful, with sources listed and page numbers given for further reading." Toni has written a number of nonfiction books and also writes a fiction series, medieval thrillers featuring Seb Foxley. 


April Munday I 'met' April on Twitter and I love her blog posts where she explains, among other things, the anatomy of a castle. Beloved Besieged is a great book which is clearly a product of meticulous research. "Limoges 1364 - After Elaine is rescued from a rioting mob by Joscelin, a handsome English pilgrim, neither expects to see the other again. Out of sight proves not to be out of mind, however, nor out of heart. Their unspoken love for one another continues to grow over the years they’re apart. When their paths cross again, Joscelin is a knight in the army laying siege to Elaine’s home. He has to get to her before anyone can harm her… or worse." I liked the way the characters sat firmly within their time period and I felt that in particular, Joscelin's inner struggles made him very much a man of his time. Beautifully researched and written.



And that's it. Gosh, what is it about the letter M that produces such amazing authors? I hope you find your next good read from this list. Join me next time for N-P 😊




Monday 1 July 2019

New Release: Passage, by Prue Batten

I know Prue Batten as an author of top class historical fiction, but she doesn't just write in this genre. She has a brand new book out, and it's called Passage. It has a stunning cover, and that's just for starters. This is a contemporary novel, one which explores loss, and it seems it's somewhat of a departure for Prue, as she explains...



Prue says:

Such a new pathway for me!

I never anticipated crossing genres again, but as the result of a challenge, I wrote Passage.

For better or worse. 

It’s easier in some ways to write contemporary fiction than historical fiction but then so much harder in others.

With contemporary fiction, the reduction in research alone is notable. Perhaps because with modern times, it is literally there at the very tips of our fingers, whereas with hist.fict, it is a long hard road filled with potholes and hard stones. 

But a problem arises if one chooses to write in a setting that is ‘home’, as I have, where every day one is walking in the thoroughly modern footsteps of one’s protagonists.


It becomes what I call the Separation Exercise. Because Annie, my protagonist, lives on the coast of Tasmania where I live, it’s been very easy to put my feelings about my surroundings into Annie’s experience, but the extension to that is to make sure that Annie remains fictional. (I can feel a blog-post coming on about just this fact!) Otherwise, readers are apt to draw many wrong conclusions.

Mind you, many contemporary fiction writers have stories to tell about readers who can’t separate the protagonist from the author. One writer tells of launching a book about the protagonist’s husband leaving her on Christmas morning. At the book launch, a reader put her arm round the author and said how sad she felt for the author at facing such intimate hurt. Never mind that the author’s husband was standing alongside her! 

And Cathy Kelly, the Number One Global Women's Fiction Bestseller who endorsed Passage, said, ‘Everyone assumes that if you write contemporary fiction, it is about yourself…’
I suspect it’s a cross one has to bear. (Though I’d rather not…)

But the thing that made Passage so enjoyable to write was the setting. I adore my home coast, and Maria Island (pronounced Mar-eye-a), my most favourite place in the world, is what I call my heart home. I hope that resonates within the novel. My mother always called the coast her healing place and given Annie’s terrible loss and her subsequent pain, I hope the ‘healing’ sings from the novel. 
To get an idea of Annie’s wonderful setting, there’s a mood board on Pinterest and of course, Annie’s watershed moment comes when she is hiking on Maria Island, a picture of which is on the cover of the book.


The Painted Cliffs in Maria Island National Park - the image
was a Wiki Picture of the Day. Attribution Link

The other most obvious challenge for me was making sure that those who pick up this book aren’t overcome by the scope of Annie’s tragedy and will give the book a go. It’s why she owns an outrageous little Jack Russell terrier, why she talks constantly to her late husband (and why he answers!) and why her French friend, Lisette, is so glaringly forthright. The narrative needed light to balance the shade.

There’s scope for Passage to have a partner in the future. But will I go there? 

I don’t know. 

I miss hist.fict much more than I thought I would. 

Thus, I’m writing a Convict Transportation collaboration with the great and prolific Simon Turney, I have two hist.ficts I want to write myself, I’ve begun a delicious fantasy which gives me a chance to world-build on a lush level, and I have a collaboration with www.bopressminiaturebooks.com  to write a short story to connect back to the fantasy. 

So, lots to do.

But never say never. Perhaps Annie Tremayne and her friends will demand it of me. And to be honest, I miss them already.
Besides, while I can, I will write and so anything’s the go…

Passage can be purchased at mybook.to/Passage and is also available in print.

To find out more about Prue, click on:
www.pruebatten.com

www.facebook.com/Prue.Batten.writer

www.pinterest.dk/pruebatten

www.instagram.com/pruebatten/