Wednesday, 15 January 2025

✧ Book Excerpt ✧ THE USURPER KING by Mercedes Rochelle

 




THE USURPER KING by Mercedes Rochelle
Book 4 of The Plantagenet Legacy

Publication Date: 
The Usurper King: 4/5/21    The Accursed King: 4/18/22
Publisher: Sergeant Press
Pages: The Usurper King : 305 pages    The Accursed King: 301 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction / Medieval Historical Fiction

From Outlaw to Usurper, Henry Bolingbroke fought one rebellion after another.

First, he led his own uprising. Then he captured a forsaken king. Henry had no intention of taking the crown for himself; it was given to him by popular acclaim. Alas, it didn't take long to realize that that having the kingship was much less rewarding than striving for it. Only three months after his coronation, Henry IV had to face a rebellion led by Richard's disgruntled favorites. Repressive measures led to more discontent. His own supporters turned against him, demanding more than he could give. The haughty Percies precipitated the Battle of Shrewsbury which nearly cost him the throne—and his life.

To make matters worse, even after Richard II's funeral, the deposed monarch was rumored to be in Scotland, planning his return. The king just wouldn't stay down and malcontents wanted him back.


THE ACCURSED KING by Mercedes Rochelle
Book 5 of The Plantagenet Legacy

What happens when a king loses his prowess?

The day Henry IV could finally declare he had vanquished his enemies, he threw it all away with an infamous deed. No English king had executed an archbishop before. And divine judgment was quick to follow. Many thought he was struck with leprosy—God's greatest punishment for sinners. From that point on, Henry's health was cursed and he fought doggedly on as his body continued to betray him—reducing this once great warrior to an invalid.

Fortunately for England, his heir was ready and eager to take over. But Henry wasn't willing to relinquish what he had worked so hard to preserve. No one was going to take away his royal prerogative—not even Prince Hal. But Henry didn't count on Hal's dauntless nature, which threatened to tear the royal family apart.


Excerpt

EXCERPT FROM THE USURPER KING
EDWARD OF YORK DECIDES TO BETRAY HIS CO-CONSPIRATORS DURING THE EPIPHANY RISING

For once Edward of Rutland was glad his retainers rode behind him, leaving him to his own thoughts. His route led him in either of two directions: the appointed meeting place at Kingston, or his father's manor in Burnham, close to Windsor. It was time to decide. Musing, he watched as a courier rode toward them from the opposite direction. He recognized the man, a confidential servant of John Holland. 
"My lord," the messenger said, leaning over with a letter. He didn't even need to dismount. 
Taking the dispatch, Rutland dismissed him. "I thank you for your trouble. I will send my own man with a response." 
Looking confused, the other nodded and turned back. It was not his place to question an earl.
Waiting until the courier was safely on his way, Rutland opened the letter. To Edward, Earl of Rutland. We are surprised and distressed that you are not here at the appointed hour. We remind you of your bond and your oath. Whatever the reason, make sure you meet us at Colnbrook in time for our projected enterprise.
Their concern was well placed. During the last few weeks, Rutland had vacillated in his intentions. He hadn't asked to be part of this rebellion; the others had just assumed he would join them. For many years he was one of them—one of Richard's closest advisors and even a friend, on a good day. As one of the Counter-Appellants, he had shared their disgrace. 
But there was more. He kept thinking of that last day in the Tower, when Richard had called him a villain and a traitor and kicked his hat across the floor. Richard nursed his resentments for years; the man may never forgive him, even if rescued. The other conspirators knew nothing of this disturbing moment. The only witnesses were his father and King Henry. Was it worth the risk to rescue a king who might prove his own undoing?
Rutland frowned. Loyalty to the others would only go so far. They wouldn't save him if he was arrested. On the other hand, his father had guaranteed his good behavior. If he betrayed that trust and joined the rebellion he could be disinherited.
He hated to admit it to himself, but his unsavory reputation wasn't entirely unjustified. He didn't necessarily mean to shift loyalties; it's just that situations arose when he had to make unfortunate choices to protect himself. Nonetheless, people didn't trust him. Look at the fiasco during the last Parliament! The floor was littered with gages. If he betrayed the Counter-Appellants this time, his notoriety would cling to him the rest of his life.
On the other hand, if he exposed the conspiracy, the king would be eternally grateful. So what was the difficulty?
Reaching the crossroads, he turned the horse toward his father's manor. 
As usual, the Duke of York could be found in his solar sunk deep in a chair with lots of pillows to support his arthritic back. He was dictating a letter to his secretary and raised his cane in welcome as Rutland came in. 
"How do you feel today, father?"
"No better nor worse than usual," he grunted. "That will be all for now," he waved to his secretary. "Throw another log on the fire before you leave, would you?"
His secretary obliged while his son helped himself to some wine. 
"There's something I need to tell you," Rutland said, sitting down.
"What has happened?"
"A conspiracy, father."
York stiffened in his chair, letting out a grunt of pain. "Against the king?"
"I'm afraid so. They tried to involve me. I went along at first, um, so I could learn what they were planning. Here." He pulled out the deed with all six seals and handed it to his father. 
Smoothing his scraggly beard, the duke read the document. "Restore King Richard or die in the attempt?" His mouth fell open. "Whose seals are these? I recognize both Hollands and yours..."
"And Salisbury, Despenser, and Maudeleyn. There are many more involved, of course."
"What madness is this? When is this supposed to happen?"
"The attack will be on the Epiphany. We must get to the king."
"We? What are you planning?"
"They, father. We are going to stop them." 
Disbelieving, York waved him on. 
"They are sending confederates hiding in wagons along with the harnesses and trappings for the tournament," Rutland continued. "At their signal, the men will kill the guards and open the gates to let the rebels in."
"And kill the king?"
"They have many supporters," Rutland said defensively.
"I don't care. Help me up." His son supported his shoulders as York pushed himself out of the chair with his cane. Straightening, the duke pursed his lips. "Why did you wait so long?"
Rutland hesitated. "King Richard—"
"King Richard my ass. You don't give a fig for King Richard. You couldn't decide who to support. What? Did you conclude that this venture will fail?"
For once, Rutland was stung. "I'm trying to do the right thing."
"For a change. You have a lot of explaining to do. I see why you need my help. Come, we can't afford to tarry."
In the shortest time possible, York, Rutland, and a small escort were thundering to Windsor. They gained immediate entry to the king, who was privately dining with his four sons.
"What is this, uncle?" Henry said, lifting his hand in greeting. "I am always happy to see you, but I thought it would be tomorrow."
The duke knelt before the king, kissing his hand. "We bring grave news, sire."
"Get up, get up. What has happened?"
York gestured for his son to move forward. Rutland knelt beside him.
"This is most unusual," Henry said. "Get up, both of you."
Standing quickly, Rutland gave the deed to the king. Henry scanned it and looked up with a frown. "My Counter-Appellants? They seek to restore King Richard to the throne? How?"
"In all the confusion surrounding the tournament, they plan to kill your guards and yourself—your family."
Henry paled. "Then their accomplices could be in the castle already!"
"Yes. That's why I am here."
There was no time to think—or ask the same questions York did. Henry was a man of action; talk would come later. "Come. We must leave this place at once."

Mercedes Rochelle


Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history, and has channeled this interest into fiction writing. She believes that good Historical Fiction, or Faction as it's coming to be known, is an excellent way to introduce the subject to curious readers.

Her first four books cover eleventh-century Britain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Her new project is called “The Plantagenet Legacy” taking us through the reigns of the last true Plantagenet King, Richard II and his successors, Henry IV, Henry V and Henry VI. She also writes a blog: HistoricalBritainBlog.com to explore the history behind the story. 

Born in St. Louis, MO, she received by BA in Literature at the University of Missouri St.Louis in 1979 then moved to New York in 1982 while in her mid-20s to "see the world". The search hasn't ended!

Today she lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.


Author Links:








Monday, 13 January 2025

✧ Book Excerpt ✧ Diomedes in Kyprios by Gregory Michael Nixon




Diomedes in Kyprios
By Gregory Michael Nixon
Audiobook Narrator: Simon de Denet

Publication Date: November 19th, 2024
Publisher: Historium Press
Pages: 243
Genre: Mythico-Historical Fiction

This is a historically-based novel with authentic, mythic, and fictional characters interacting across the extraordinary panorama after the Fall of Troy and the Hittite Empire during the Bronze Age Collapse. Diomedes leads his Akhaians (Achaeans) to the Isle of Kyprios (now Cyprus) to meet his lost love, Lieia, the ex-queen of the Hittites. Kyprios is where the Peoples of the Sea have gathered before their final assaults on Canaan and Aigyptos (Egypt).

But Diomedes unexpectedly meets the avatar of the Goddess Aphrodite at her Temple in Paphos, the city of her birth. Will she take him from Lieia? Will his wanderings end, or will he head back to sea to seek redemption from the past in the further unknown? Aphrodite must also deal with the beautiful, impetuous youth, Adonis, who swears he would die for her. 

The Bronze Age Collapse was a time of such chaos that empires fell, royalty was overthrown, palaces and temples were destroyed, and the hierarchy of the gods was doubted, yet people's self-reliance emerged like never before, and the ancient Great Goddess of the Cycles of Time, who had been suppressed, began to regain her former dominance.


Excerpt

“I know wolves,” Saba said. “I was but a lad tending a small flock of sheep when the wolves arrived. My brave shepherd dog put up a brief, noisy resistance but the wolves tore her asunder quickly. I ran into the forest until I found a tree to climb, but I do not think I was pursued. I was close enough to hear the slaughter, terrible sounds of bleating overcome by ferocious growling and tearing. The growling continued after enough sheep were killed as the wild beasts fought amongst themselves for top spot in the hierarchy.”

“Yes, they are vicious creatures as a hunting pack, but it may be that it was the wolf who first taught us to be human,” Diomede intoned thoughtfully.

“How is that possible?” Saba asked.

“Perhaps there was a time before sea travel, before horses, and before villages when we naked humans were weak and defenceless animals. Look at us next to a wolf, a bear, or a lion. What would an elephant have to fear from such a small creature alone?”

“Why, nothing of course.” Saba stared at the man without comprehension.

“Which one would you choose to face with your short spear alone?”

“These are all frightening beasts, but I’d rather fight a single wolf.”

“Of course, and that’s what the wolves taught us, to learn to hunt as a pack. As a cooperating pack, men have learned to unleash their savagery, and now any of the beasts just listed can be brought down. That is how the wolf taught us to be human. After that we went beyond the wolves, for such cooperation led us to village life and our hands allowed us to make always better weapons and farming tools.”

“I have never thought this way,” Saba peered upward at the stars coming out, as though any kind of thought were new to him. “But you said you became a wolf?”

“I was 15 suns, perhaps your age, when my father sent me along with other sons of the nobility into the mountain heights of the wild land we call Arkadia to take part in the kóryos, the ritual of becoming wolves. Most others were 16.”

“What are these names, My Lord?”

“The meaning of kóryos is too ancient to be known. Arkadia is the land of Arkos, the bear, though bears were no longer common when I dwelt there. One more name is all you need. We noble youths from the palaces of several cities were led to Mount Lykaion atop which was the sacred altar to Zeus Lykaios. Zeus is the thunderer, like your Tarhunta, a powerful god. Lykaios is the wolf. Mount Lykaion is also home to our wild goat god, Pan. Neither wolves nor Pan comes near to civilization; they dwell in the wild and avoid all villages or towns.”

“I would not want to be a wolf…” Saba thought aloud and shuddered.

“We did. Everyone of us wanted to prove our mettle by transforming into wolves for a full sun-cycle or two. One was all that was required, but many who had been wolves wished to stay a second year as bears, who directed the new wolves. Those who succeeded in surviving could then return to their city kingdoms as beginning warriors. They had learned to be savages and kill, but when it was over, they had to learn to be civilized warriors, take orders, and follow the social order laid down by the gods. Eventually, they could marry.”

“You killed?”

Gregory Michael Nixon

Gregory M. Nixon is a retired university professor who, after spending his professional years publishing academic papers, was pleased to discover he still had an active imagination. He moved alone to a nice cottage overlooking magnificent Okanagan Lake in western Canada to create his mythico-historical novels set after the Trojan War and the fall of the Hittite Empire during the Bronze Age Collapse. Nigel, an outdoor cat, also sometimes lives with him.

Author Links:
LinkTree ✧ Website ✧ Twitter ✧ Facebook ✧ Instagram ✧ BookBub ✧ Amazon Author Page ✧ Goodreads 








Wednesday, 8 January 2025

✧ Book Excerpt ✧ No Good Deeds by E.J. McKenna

 


No Good Deeds
By E.J. McKenna

Publication Date: November 5th, 2024
Publisher: Historium Press
Pages: 330
Genre: Historical Fiction / Western Fiction


Annie Schaeffer is no stranger to violence. Born of an outlaw father, she was sold to a traveling show at the age of six, now finally escaping as an adult.

On the run and wounded, she finds an unlikely ally In Nathan Healey - a member of the Needham Boys gang.

As she earns her place among the outlaws, Annie’s survival hinges on her lethal skills and growing bond with Nathan.

Nate's moral compass shifts with his circumstances, especially when those he loves are involved. Upon meeting Annie, he finds himself drawn to a woman determined to live differently to the expectations others place upon her; to live freely and fairly. The way he has always wanted.

Annie's quest for independence takes a dark turn as the gang begins to collapse. Betrayal runs deep, and the cost of trust is high.

No Good Deeds is a gripping tale of resilience and retribution in the untamed West, where loyalty is fleeting and justice is won at the barrel of a gun. Annie Schaeffer's story is one of fierce determination, as she battles her past and the outlaws who seek to control her fate.

Excerpt

“I want you to work for us, Miss Schaeffer. Say yes and I can guarantee that my boys won’t harm you. You’ll move freely in these lands, and have the right to end any man who touches you.”

Annie sighed and looked down at her feet, “I can already end any man without you, thanks.”


E.J. McKenna



E.J. McKenna is a freelance writer in the UK with a great interest in American History, and a degree in English and American Literature with Creative Writing from the University of Kent. 

At the end of 2023, she co-created a creative writing app for people of all ages to improve their writing skills in a fun, relaxed environment.

Born and raised in the UK, but a lover of traveling, she has a fascination with all social history across different countries and cultures. One of her favourite historical periods is the Victorian era, especially with United States history. 

"The juxtaposition between the established countries of Europe, and the new world of America is fascinating to me. So many people trying to survive harsh frontier life, while trying to continue the uptight decorum of Victorian society."

A huge advocate for feminism and human equity, her writing centres around determined female protagonists in traditionally male roles, tackling the perceptions of women in history. Her strong female protagonists go out of their way to change their society's expectations for the fairer.


Author Links:

Website ✧ Twitter ✧ Facebook ✧ LinkedIn ✧ Instagram  Threads ✧ Amazon Author Page ✧ Goodreads







Monday, 16 September 2024

✧ Book in the Spotlight ✧ Ships of War — Murky Waters by Bradley John

 


Ships of War — Murky Waters 
By Bradley John

Publication Date: 3rd September 2024
Publisher: Historium Press
Page Length: 460
Genre: Naval Adventure Fiction 


1791 — England's cannon remain ever silent as her shipping is ruthlessly preyed upon, a detestable state of affairs, though soon to be remedied...

England is ill prepared, Europe is in turmoil and the French Revolution is readying to sweep across the continent. A tedious uneasy peace poises on a knife's edge. Brittana rules the waves, yet as more and more ships mysteriously vanish, it is rightly thought an act of war. However, England needs more time, or all could be lost.

With war looming, Lieutenant Hayden Reginald Cooper, Royal Navy, awaits in Portsmouth braving a bitter cold winter with half pay, beached in a constant state of penury. With little prospects, little "interest" and no chance of promotion or advancement, he is the perfect choice for the Admiralty: unknown, unimportant and wholly dispensable.

As so it begins, a turbulent action-packed naval adventure within the murky waters preceding war, the French piracy soon to discover the grit of a lowly Lieutenant, one who has very little to lose…

Excerpt

Stormy seas awaited Agamemnon at Ushant, murky waters spawned within a darkened sky. It was no less a chilling reminder of what was yet to come. The sun had risen. But still there remained a bleak silhouette ever gracing the eastern horizon, a dull dome serving to surround the last remnants of the Channel. With Brittany looming, the Iroise Sea now beckoned and with Ushant behind them, there was definitely no turning back. It was with some gratification that Cooper accepted the conditions. The Iroise Sea was well known for her violence, all told beholding a temperament more befitting a maddened wild beast. In the offing, high seas threatened, a cold outlook promised. Nonetheless did Eagle manage to maintain an unrestricted view to the horizon, the regular call of "all's well" constantly reassuring the ship. Upon rounding Ushant the great ship spread her wings, sailing large, the wind swirling about her back til she bore directly south.

'Captain, it seems the seas have built even more since we rounded Ushant,' Blane nervously vexed. 'Could they become any more monstrous?'

'I assure you Doctor, with some degree of exactness, these seas can form even monstrously bigger, given leave to do so.'

'Egad. But is not the ship already shuddering somewhat horribly at the stern? Is there no cause for concern? The quarterdeck is as calm as Brading Tavern on Sunday, almost as if I had prescribed them a tincture of my finest laudanum?'

'But it is just Agamemnon pooping, Doctor,' reassured Cooper.

'Pooping? Well, yes that makes sense, but I very much rather it is I who is in danger of pooping, such is my distress.'

'What? Oh? Indeed, ha, ha!'

'I could be wrong of course, just a simple doctor, but is not the ship shuddering perhaps to the point she soon might break up?'

'It grieves me to inform you, sir, that you are indeed wrong, on both counts.'

'Both counts?'

'Aye, come now sir. Firstly, you are no simple doctor and I think you know this. And secondly, that shudder you discern is merely the resultant shock from the prosecution of high and heavy seas, the hull scudding and trembling as the ship is belted somewhat upon its quarter. It is most common for her to scud before the wind within such a tempest. And good sir, it is called pooping.'

'Oh? Well, yes of course, that pooping.'
 

Bradley John


Bradley John Tatnell (aka "Bradley John") is an Australian novelist whose ancestry can be traced back to the Norman Conquest in England. His forbears lived mostly in Kent, Hertfordshire and the Isle of Thanet. Some were mariners and some were even of the aristocracy. His direct ancestors arrived in Australia soon after its colonisation in the late 1700's, most of which were proud country folk. James Squire, a notable character in history, who arrived on the first fleet in 1788, was his (sixth) great grandfather.

Bradley John graduated from the Church of England Grammar School at age 16 and the Queensland University of Technology at age 19. His early life was spent mainly in the arena of law.

Bradley John has a love of all things ancient and historical, including golf, to which he plays with ye old hickory shafted clubs including the original heads from pre-1935. He also studies the ancient art of Korean sword, having attained master level. His love of language, in all its forms, now extends to the pursuit of conquering Hangul, the language of the Korean people.

Bradley John has been privately writing novels since 2003. "Ships of War — Murky Waters", his first publication, births a series of naval adventure fiction intended to span the length of the French Revolutionary Wars. This of course is the much loved genre which includes the thundering Hornblower series by C.S. Forester, the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian and the popular "Master and Commander" blockbuster by Peter Weir. Owing to Bradley John's English heritage, no guesses are needed to determine which side the book's heroes will sail upon…

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Monday, 12 August 2024

✧ Book in the Spotlight ✧ Downriver by Jennifer M. Lane

 



Downriver
By Jennifer M. Lane

Publication Date: May 28, 2024 
Publisher: Pen & Key Publishing
Pages: 344
Genre: Historical 


A sulfur sky poisoned her family and her heart. Now revenge tastes sweeter than justice.

It’s 1900. In a Pennsylvania coal town tainted by corruption and pollution, Charlotte's world collapses when her parents meet a tragic end. Sent to a foster family in a Maryland fishing village, she’s fueled by grief and embarks on a relentless quest for justice against the ruthless coal boss, Nels Pritchard.

But Charlotte is no ordinary girl. She shares the fiery spirit of her father, whose powerful speeches inspired worker riots. With a burning desire for vengeance, she sets out to uncover the truth behind Pritchard's crimes, unearthing a shocking connection between the town's toxic air and the lifeless fish washing up on the shore of her Chesapeake Bay foster town.

To expose the truth, Charlotte builds a network of unexpected allies. There are gutsy suffragists, a literary society of teenage girls willing to print the truth… and Weylan. The captivating young man lost his own family to Pritchard’s poison. He offers support, but Charlotte questions his true motives when he lures her to break the law. Could she be falling into a dangerous trap, leading her to a fate worse than poison?

With her unwavering spirit and determination, Charlotte must forge alliances and navigate a web of treachery before Pritchard seeks his own ruthless revenge.

The newest book by award-winning author Jennifer M. Lane is perfect for fans of Jeannette Walls’ Hang the Moon and the fiery protagonist in The Hunger Games. Join Charlotte in this small town, coming-of-age dystopian historical saga as she finds resilience, courage, and triumph in her search for identity, independence, and her true home.


Jennifer M. Lane


A Maryland native and Pennsylvanian at heart, Jennifer M. Lane holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Barton College and a master’s in liberal arts with a focus on museum studies from the University of Delaware, where she wrote her thesis on the material culture of roadside memorials.

Jennifer is a member of the Authors Guild and the Historical Novel Society. Her first book, Of Metal and Earth, won the 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Award for First Novel and was a Finalist in the 2018 IAN Book of the Year Awards in the category of Literary / General Fiction. She is also the author of Stick Figures from Rockport, and the six book series, The Collected Stories of Ramsbolt.

Social Media Links:
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Monday, 15 July 2024

✧ Book in the Spotlight ✧ The Agincourt King By Mercedes Rochelle



 The Agincourt King
By Mercedes Rochelle


Publication Date: 
April 8, 2024
Publisher: Sergeant Press
Pages: 260 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the day he was crowned, Henry V was determined to prove the legitimacy of his house. His father's usurpation weighed heavily on his mind. Only a grand gesture would capture the respect of his own countrymen and the rest of Europe. He would follow in his great-grandfather Edward III's footsteps, and recover lost territory in France.

Better yet, why not go for the crown? Poor, deranged Charles VI couldn't manage his own barons. The civil war between the Burgundians and Armagnacs was more of a threat to his country than the English, even after Henry laid siege to Harfleur. But once Harfleur had fallen, the French came to their senses and determined to block his path to Calais and destroy him.

By the time the English reached Agincourt, they were starving, exhausted, and easy pickings. Or so the French thought. Little did they reckon on Henry's leadership and the stout-hearted English archers who proved, once again, that numbers didn't matter when God was on their side.

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited. 

Mercedes Rochelle


Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history, and has channeled this interest into fiction writing. Her first four books cover eleventh-century Britain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. The next series is called “The Plantagenet Legacy” and begins with the reign of Richard II. 

She also writes a blog: www.HistoricalBritainBlog.com to explore the history behind the story. Born in St. Louis, MO, she received by BA in Literature at the Univ. of Missouri St.Louis in 1979 then moved to New York in 1982 while in her mid-20s to "see the world". The search hasn't ended!

Today she lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.

Connect with Mercedes:
Website ✧ Blog ✧ Twitter / X ✧ Facebook ✧ BookBub ✧ Amazon Author Page ✧ Goodreads 







Thursday, 9 May 2024

✧ Book in the Spotlight ✧ A Rose In The Blitz by Ann Bennett




A Rose In The Blitz
By Ann Bennett

Publication Date: 29th March 2024
Publisher: Andaman Press
Page Length: 270 
Genre: Historical Fiction / Historical Romance

Escape into the dramatic world of London during the Blitz in this sweeping family saga of love, war and betrayal.

Northamptonshire: 1980: Wealthy landowner, Hadan Rose, is dying. His daughter, May, rushes to his country estate, Rose Park, with her daughter, Rachel, to nurse him through his final days.

In the afternoons, while Hadan sleeps, May tells Rachel about her wartime experiences.

In 1940, Three of the four Rose sisters leave Rose Park to serve the war effort. May, the youngest is left behind. But she soon runs away from home to join an ambulance crew in London. She experiences the horrors of the Blitz first-hand but what happens to her there has remained secret her whole life.

In 1980, at Rose Park, Rachel wanders through the old house, looking at old photographs and papers, uncovering explosive family secrets from ninety years before. Secrets that her grandfather wanted to take to his grave.

At the local pub, Rachel meets Daniel Walters, a local journalist and musician who takes an interest in her. But can she trust him, or does he have an ulterior motive for seeking her company?

As the secrets of the past gradually reveal themselves, both Rachel and May realise that their worlds are forever changed.

Fans of Lucinda Riley, Dinah Jeffries and Victoria Hislop will love this escapist wartime saga, Book 1 in the Rose Park Chronicles.

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited. 

Ann Bennett 

Ann Bennett is a British author of historical fiction. Her first book, Bamboo Heart: A Daughter's Quest, was inspired by researching her father's experience as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway and by her own travels in South-East Asia. Since then, that initial inspiration has led her to write more books about the second world war in SE Asia. Bamboo Island: The Planter's Wife, A Daughter's Promise, Bamboo Road: The Homecoming, The Tea Planter's Club, The Amulet and her latest release The Fortune Teller of Kathmandu are also about WWII in South East Asia. All seven make up the Echoes of Empire Collection.

Ann is also the author of The Lake Pavilion, The Lake Palace, both set in British India during the 1930s and WWII, and The Lake Pagoda and The Lake Villa, both set in French Indochina. The Runaway Sisters, bestselling The Orphan House, The Child Without a Home and The Forgotten Children are set in Europe during the same era and are published by Bookouture.

Ann is married with three grown up sons and a granddaughter and lives in Surrey, UK.

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✧ Book Excerpt ✧ THE USURPER KING by Mercedes Rochelle

  THE USURPER KING by Mercedes Rochelle Book 4 of The Plantagenet Legacy Publication Date:  The Usurper King: 4/5/21    The Accursed King: 4...