✧ Book Review ✧ Wolf of the Nordic Seas (Valiant Vikings Book 2) by Jennifer Ivy Walker

Wolf of the Nordic Seas
 (Valiant Vikings Book 2) 
By Jennifer Ivy Walker

Publisher: Green Mermaid Publications

Print Length: 357 Pages

Genre: Historical Romance / Norse Mythology / Fantasy

Named after the Norse God of the Sea, Njörd grew up sailing, swimming, and fishing the fjords of Norway. Endowed with extraordinary senses, speed, and strength, he became known as Wolf of the Nordic Seas, leading lucrative Viking raids from the Baltic shores to the Black and Caspian Seas. When a Viking völva foretells his future through a seidr vision, Njörd learns that his fate and his mate—the siren with the sea goddess eyes—lie on the alabaster coast of Normandy in the distant Land of the White Chalk Cliffs.

Elfi Thorfinnsdóttir is a skilled shieldmaiden who seeks vengeance against the ruthless Frankish count who killed her brother and abducted her father in an attempt to seize her clifftop castle. But rather that submit to the count’s relentless demand for her hand in marriage, Elfi allies with Richard the Fearless—the Viking Duke of Normandy— and the Danish Jarl of Ribe known as the Wolf of the Nordic Seas.

As Elfi and Njörd discover startling secrets about their respective pasts, they find that the three Norns have entwined the threads of their fates not just as political allies, but as mates destined to fulfill a divine prophecy.

Wolf of the Nordic Seas— book 2 of the Valiant Vikings series set in tenth century Normandy— is a sizzling, scintillating blend of historical fiction, Norse mythology, paranormal fantasy, and steamy Viking romance!

 ✧ Praise ✧

“This thrilling tale promises to sweep readers off their feet and take them on an unforgettable journey into the heart of Viking lore.” Five Stars

Yarde Book Promotions

“…Walker's textured history and atmosphere, whether it is a sacred grove or ethereal caves, create a world that feels both mystical and real, pulling readers into another unforgettable journey. Very highly recommended.”

Readers’ Favorite

 ✧ Review ✧

Njörd Ívarrsson, the Danish jarl of Ribe—better known as the Wolf of the Nordic Seas—is exactly the kind of figure you’d expect to dominate a story like this. He’s a successful raider and trader, feared across the seas, and everything about him feels larger than life. If anyone could take on an enemy and win, it would be him. And yet the book is careful not to let his reputation tell the whole story. His legend hides as much as it reveals, which makes him far more interesting than a straightforward warrior hero.

Elfi, Lady of Étretat, brings a different kind of strength to the story. Her determination to train, fight, and defend what belongs to her is constantly challenged by those who want to control her future. That push and pull gives her storyline real weight and makes her choices feel personal rather than symbolic.

As this is a fantasy romance, Njörd and Elfi connect almost immediately, with passion washing over them both. What stands out is that Njörd never tries to restrain or reshape Elfi. Instead, he supports her drive to become who she wants to be, which gives their relationship a sense of balance rather than dominance.

The fantasy side of the story really opens up with the elves. The conflict between the Ljósálfar and the Dökkálfar adds a darker edge and raises the stakes beyond human politics. These aren’t background creatures or passing references; they have their own agendas, and the human world is very much caught in the middle of their long-running war.

Wolf of the Nordic Seas is bold, romantic, and fully committed to its fantasy elements. It mixes Viking history, mythology, and passion into a story that feels immersive without being overwhelming. If you enjoy fantasy romance with real stakes, layered mythology, and characters who push back against destiny, this one is well worth the read.

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Jennifer Ivy Walker

Jennifer Ivy Walker is an award-winning author of medieval Celtic, Nordic, and paranormal romance, as well as contemporary romance, historical fantasy, and WWII romantic suspense.

A former high school teacher and college professor of French with an MA in French literature, her novels encompass a love for French language, literature, history, and culture, including Celtic myths and legends, Norse mythology, Viking sagas, and Nordic lore.

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✧ Book Spotlight ✧ Quillan Creek and the Little War:Time Stones Book I by Ian Hunter

Jessie Mason lives with her nose in the pages of history. But she is about to discover that the past is a dangerous place where she doesn't belong, and knowledge alone is not going to save her.

In Jessie’s troubled life her aunt is the only constant and comfort she has. But when she inexplicably disappears, and Jessie uncovers her mother's Time Stone, that unhappy life turns unreal and terrifying.

She is summoned to a world in crisis, 250 years in her past, to three unlikely companions, and the aged Onondaga shaman, Nishkamich, who promises an education in the powers of the stones which they each possess.

Over one glorious summer, Jessie reluctantly settles to village life and the developing bond with her prickly friends, until they are forced to accept that their stones are being hunted through history.

But in the depths of winter, their friendship, their wits, and the very limits of their endurance, will be tested by an unforgiving Nature as war finally erupts around them.

✧ Praise ✧ 

"...the kind of book that one would forgo sleep to finish." 

The Coffee Pot Book Club

"...fantastical and riveting." 

booklife 

"...an exciting adventure for readers with unforgettable companions." 

The Book Commentary 

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Ian Hunter

Books have been an important part of my life as long as I can remember, and at 54 years old, that’s a lot of books. My earliest memories of reading are CS Lewis’, “The Horse and His Boy” – by far the best of the Narnia books, the Adventures series by Willard Price, and “Goalkeepers are Different” by sports journalist Brian Glanville. An eclectic mix. My first English teacher was surprised to hear that I was reading, Le Carré, Ken Follett, Nevil Shute and “All the Presidents’ Men” by Woodward and Bernstein at the age of 12. I was simply picking up the books my father had finished.

School syllabus threw up the usual suspects – Shakespeare, Chaucer, Dickens, Hardy, “To Kill a Mockingbird” – which I have reread often, and others I don’t immediately recall. By “A” level study, my then English teachers were pulling their hair out at my “perverse waste of talent” – I still have the report card! But I did manage a pass.

During a 35 year career, briefly in Banking and then in IT, I managed to find time, with unfailing family support, to study another lifelong passion, graduating with an Open University Bachelors’ degree in History in 2002. This fascination with all things historical inspired me to begin the Time Stones series. There is so much to our human past, and so many differing views on what is the greatest, and often the saddest, most tragic story. I decided I wanted to write about it; to shine a small light on those, sometimes pivotal stories, which are less frequently mentioned.

In 1995, my wife, Michelle, and I moved from England to southern Germany, where we still live, with our two children, one cat, and, when she pays us a visit, one chocolate labrador. I have been fortunate that I could satisfy another wish, to travel as widely as possible and see as much of our world as I can. Destinations usually include places of historic and archaeological interest, mixed with a large helping of sun, sea and sand for my wife’s peace of mind.

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✧ Book Spotlight ✧ A Theory in Vienna by Heidi Gallacher

A Theory in Vienna

By Heidi Gallacher

Publication Date: October 28th, 2025

Publisher: The Book Guild

Pages: 305

Genre: Historical Fiction

‘I bring to light a truth, which was unknown for many centuries with direful results for the human race.’ – Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis. 

 

Imagine you’d discovered something. Something that could save hundreds of thousands of lives. But they wouldn’t let you tell anyone. Wouldn’t it drive you mad?

 

Young Hungarian doctor Ignaz Semmelweis uncovers the real reason thousands of young women are dying after childbirth. Yet, in mid-19th century Europe, his simple methods are ridiculed. Semmelweis faces the battle of his life to convince others that the cause is simple…

 

Based on the true story of a forgotten hero, A Theory in Vienna brings the remarkable story of this man to life.

Praise for A Theory in Vienna:

'A booked based on truth, and this novel didn't disappoint.'

~ Andrew, 5* Amazon Review

✧  Buy Link✧ 

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Heidi Gallacher

Heidi was born in London in the Sixties. She grew up in South Wales, UK and moved to Paris as a young adult where she taught English for two years. She currently lives in Switzerland and recently completed an MA in Creative Writing.

    Her first short story was published in Prima magazine (UK) in 2018. Heidi now writes historical fiction. Her first novel, Rebecca’s Choice, is set in Tredelerch - an old house in Wales that belonged to her family generations ago. This novel won an award from the Coffee Pot Book Club in 2020, Debut Novel Bronze Medal.

Her second novel, A Theory in Vienna, is set in 19th century Vienna and Budapest. It tells the incredible story of unsung hero Ignaz Semmelweis, whose life-saving discovery was ridiculed at the time.

Heidi enjoys travelling (the further North the better!), singing and writing songs, and spending time reading and writing at her Swiss chalet where the views are amazing.

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✧ Book Review ✧ The Relic Keeper by Heidi Eljarbo

  

The Relic Keeper

By Heidi Eljarbo

Publication Date: 18th November 2025

Publisher:  Independently Published

Genre: Historical Fiction

Page Length: 162

Italy, 1620.

Angelo is an orphan, lonely and forgotten. Having been passed on from one family to the next, he ends up as a common thief, subject to and under the thumb of a ruthless robber called Tozzo.

Angelo knows no other life and has lost hope that any chance of providence will ever replace his lonely, misfortunate existence. When he loses his master, his livelihood is shaken. Tozzo’s plunder is hidden in a safe place, but what will happen if someone comes after Angelo to get their hands on the stolen relics? More than that, he feels threatened by words he’s heard too many times; that he’ll always remain unforgiven and doomed.

One day, a priest invites Angelo to help with chores around the church and rectory and, in exchange, offers him room and board. Padre Benedetto’s kindness and respect are unfamiliar and confusing, but Angelo’s safety is still a grave concern. Two older robbers have heard rumors about the hidden treasures and will stop at nothing to attain them.

With literary depictions and imagery, Angelo’s story is a gripping and emotional journey of faint hope and truth in seventeenth-century Italy—an artistic and audacious tale that crosses paths with art collector Vincenzo Giustiniani and the powerful Medici family.

 ✧ Praise ✧

“The Relic Keeper” ultimately stands as a radiant celebration of hope, kindness, and the beauty that emerges when wounded souls dare to reach towards the light. It is a story to savour, reflect upon, and carry with you — an unforgettable addition to Eljarbo’s heartfelt repertoire of novels that bring history to life.

Yarde Book Promotion

✧ Review ✧ 

Some stories make their mark through spectacle; The Relic Keeper succeeds by paying close attention to the quiet moments where lives begin to shift. Rather than relying on grand gestures or constant drama, Heidi Eljarbo tells a deeply human story about survival, influence, and the power of choice.

At its heart is Angelo, an orphan shaped by hardship and necessity rather than cruelty. Living under the control of Tozzo — a manipulative and unsettling figure who thrives on fear and control — Angelo survives by stealing relics, constantly aware that one wrong move could cost him everything. Tozzo is a chilling presence, not because he is loud or theatrical, but because his power over Angelo feels frighteningly real.

The story takes a meaningful turn with the arrival of Padre Benedetto. Where Tozzo rules through threat and exploitation, Benedetto offers patience, consistency, and belief. He doesn’t try to change Angelo overnight; instead, he shows him what trust looks like. Their relationship forms the emotional backbone of the novel, and it’s impossible not to feel invested in Angelo’s slow, uncertain steps towards a different life.

A journey to Rome expands the story beautifully, opening Angelo’s eyes to a world beyond survival. His encounter with Gerrit van Honthorst’s Adoration of the Christ Child is a powerful moment — raw, emotional, and quietly transformative. I even found myself looking up the painting, wanting to see what had moved Angelo so deeply.

Eljarbo’s writing is measured and thoughtful, allowing tension and tenderness to exist side by side. The Relic Keeper doesn’t rush its message, and that restraint makes its themes of hope, kindness, and redemption all the more impactful.

This is a compelling, emotionally rich read that proves how one act of compassion can change everything. A strong five-star recommendation.

Buy Link:

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Heidi Eljarbo

HEIDI ELJARBO grew up in a home full of books, artwork, and happy creativity. She is the author of historical novels filled with courage, hope, mystery, adventure, and sweet romance during challenging times. She’s been named a master of dual timelines and often writes about strong-willed women of past centuries.

After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She lives with her husband on a charming island and enjoys walking in any kind of weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history. Her family’s chosen retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summer and ski the vast white terrain during winter.

Heidi’s favorites are her family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.

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✧ Book Review ✧ The Unquiet Spirit (Spirited Encounters Book 1) by Penny Hampson

She wasn’t home alone...

With her love life in tatters, Kate Wilson needs a fresh start, and where could be better than the old Cornish house that had belonged to her godmother?

There’s just one problem – it comes with a ghost as a sitting tenant.

Her grumpy new neighbour, the broodingly handsome Tom Carbis, is another fly in the ointment – he seems to turn up wherever Kate goes. His dog might be friendly, but he’s definitely not.

Then the discovery of a hidden diary points Kate to a romantic mystery with links to both Tom’s family and her house’s past – a mystery that might explain the reason for her spectral lodger.

The downside? Kate needs Tom’s help to solve it and has to convince him that she is not his foe.

But working with Tom to unravel long-buried secrets has unexpected consequences, and Kate discovers far more than she bargained for.

The Unquiet Spirit is a spooky, suspense-filled, enemies-to-lovers romance.

✧ Praise ✧

“The Unquiet Spirit” by Penny Hampson is an enthralling paranormal romance that weaves together elements of mystery and the supernatural. In this captivating tale, readers are drawn into a world where love transcends the boundaries of life and death, unveiling a profound connection between the living and the restless spirits that linger in the shadows.

Yarde Book Promotion

✧ Review ✧

From the moment I started The Unquiet Spirit, I had the feeling this was going to be one of those books that quietly settles in and stays with you. It isn’t loud or over-dramatic; instead, it draws you in gently, building atmosphere and emotion in a way that feels completely natural. The supernatural elements are handled with a light touch, creating an eerie mood without ever overwhelming the story.

Kate Wilson is at a crossroads in her life when she inherits The Beeches, an old house near the Cornish coast. Hoping for a fresh start, she finds herself instead surrounded by unanswered questions, unexplained happenings, and a house that clearly has a past. As Kate explores its hidden corners, uncovering old letters and long-buried secrets, the mystery deepens in a way that keeps you fully engaged.

What really stood out to me was how well the emotional side of the story is handled. Kate feels believable and easy to sympathise with, and her reactions to both the strange events and her personal situation feel authentic. The paranormal storyline is beautifully balanced with themes of healing, loss, and new beginnings, making the book feel warm as well as intriguing.

The slow-burn relationship between Kate and her neighbour Tom develops at a pleasing, unforced pace. Their interactions are understated and realistic, built on small moments rather than grand gestures, which makes their growing connection all the more enjoyable to read.

The setting plays a strong role throughout the book. Cornwall is brought to life through its coastal atmosphere, quiet isolation, and sense of history, all of which add depth to the story and enhance its gentle haunting quality.

The Unquiet Spirit is a thoughtful, atmospheric read that blends mystery, romance, and the paranormal with ease. It’s the sort of book that encourages you to slow down and savour the story, and one that lingers in the mind long after you’ve finished reading.

A well-deserved five-star read.

✧ Buy Links ✧
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Penny Hampson

Penny Hampson writes mysteries, and because she has a passion for history, you’ll find her stories also reflect that. A Gentleman’s Promise, a traditional Regency romance, was Penny’s debut novel and the first of her Gentlemen Series. There are now four novels in the series, with the latest, An Adventurer’s Contract, released in November 2024. Penny also enjoys writing contemporary mysteries with a hint of the paranormal, because where do ghosts come from but the past? The Unquiet Spirit, a spooky mystery/romance set in Cornwall, is the first in the Spirited Encounters Series. Look out for A Plethora of Phantoms coming soon.

Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time).

If you’ve enjoyed any of Penny’s books please leave a review on Amazon, Bookbub, or Goodreads, and let other readers know!

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✧ Book in the Spotlight ✧ Rough Diamond - Rough Justice by Avien Gray #RoughDiamondRoughJustice #thriller #suspense #blogtour #YardeBookPromotions @aviengrayauthor @maryanneyarde

Rough Diamond - Rough Justice 

By Avien Gray

Publisher: Avien Gray

Page Length: 446

Genre: Political Thrillers & Suspense / Historical Fiction

After a first kill, MI5 Agent and erstwhile photographer Cain becomes an undercover, extra-judicial killer for a secret Bureau.

Recovering from injuries sustained protecting the Royal Family, Cain embracesa new life and romance in sun-drenched Australia, leaving his past life behind.

But when tragedy strikes, he is on the move again. This time to a new career in the world of diamond dealings in Florida.

Curiosity takes Cain to the diamond world in South Africa, where his past finally catches up with him, the criminal world allies against him and he becomes a killer again.

In Cain's action-packed escapades, a spectacular betrayal takes him into the rigours of a Chinese prison where the truth about his past begins to unravel.

Aided by a loyal band of friends from the shadowy world of intelligence, he delivers his own particular brand of rough justice.

However, with enemies closing in on all sides, will Cain prevail?

Triggers: Trigger warnings: violence, murder

 ✧ Praise ✧ 

“Rough Diamond, Rough Justice” by Avien Gray is a riveting spy thriller that seamlessly blends electrifying elements of espionage, adrenaline-charged action, and daring escapades.

 

Yarde Book Promotions

“A gripping high-stakes thriller, “Rough Diamond - Rough Justice” by Avien Gray is driven by the urgent question of whether one can ever truly escape a dark and violent past.”

The Coffee Pot Book Club

“Avien Gray’s Rough Diamond, Rough Justice is a gritty and cinematic thriller that follows Cain, a former professional photographer turned MI5 surveillance agent, as he navigates a world of espionage, betrayal, and violence.”

Literary Titan

✧ Purchase Link ✧

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✧ Avien Gray ✧ 

Avien Gray, the English author behind Rough Diamond – Rough Justice, brings a wealth of experience to his gripping debut novel. Born in the UK, Gray has led a dynamic, bachelor’s life marked by an impressive array of skills and global adventures. He has a driver’s license, motorbike license, and pilot’s license. His physical discipline extends to martial arts, where he earned a karate black belt, complemented by a lifelong passion for photography that captures the world through his discerning lens.

Gray’s rumoured travels paint the picture of a man unbound by borders. He is said to have spent many months in Saudi Arabia, Australia, the USA, South Africa, Europe and China. This rich tapestry of experiences infuses his writing with authenticity, lending a vivid, worldly edge to the thrilling narrative of his complex protagonist: a man called Cain.

Avien and his best friend shared a flat and went out with various female friends together. They had a great time. As it says in the book when Cain is talking with his best friend: a Royal Protection Officer.

 ‘We will have to write that book when we retire,’ Cain said.

 They looked at each other with knowing smiles – for a long few seconds.

 ‘All those secrets,’ said Jerry. ‘Perhaps we will.’

 And time moved on.

But in real life, his best friend tragically died – leaving Avien to write their book alone.

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✧ Book Review ✧ Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young

 BOOK REVIEW

Spells for Forgetting: A Novel 

By Adrienne Young

Emery Blackwood’s life changed forever the night her best friend was found dead and the love of her life, August Salt, was accused of murdering her. Years later, she is doing what her teenage self swore she never would: living a quiet existence on the misty, remote shores of Saoirse Island and running the family’s business, Blackwood’s Tea Shoppe Herbal Tonics & Tea Leaf Readings. But when the island, rooted in folklore and magic, begins to show signs of strange happenings, Emery knows that something is coming. The morning she wakes to find that every single tree on Saoirse has turned color in a single night, August returns for the first time in fourteen years and unearths the past that the town has tried desperately to forget.

August knows he is not welcome on Saiorse, not after the night everything changed. As a fire raged on at the Salt family orchard, Lily Morgan was found dead in the dark woods, shaking the bedrock of their tight-knit community and branding August a murderer. When he returns to bury his mother’s ashes, he must confront the people who turned their backs on him and face the one wound from his past that has never healed—Emery. But the town has more than one reason to want August gone, and the emergence of deep betrayals and hidden promises spanning generations threaten to reveal the truth behind Lily’s mysterious death once and for all.

REVIEW

FIVE STARS 

I genuinely didn’t want this book to end.

From the very first chapter, Spells for Forgetting completely drew me in. Adrienne Young’s writing is atmospheric, lyrical, and deeply emotive — the kind of storytelling that makes you slow down and savour every word. Saoirse Island feels vividly real: the sea mist rolling in, the quiet weight of old legends, and the sense that the past is never quite done with you.

What stayed with me most were the characters. They are beautifully flawed and feel entirely human, which made their struggles and growth all the more affecting. Emery and August’s story is shaped by grief, memory, and unfinished love, and their connection feels raw, tender, and painfully authentic. I found myself fully invested in their journey, turning pages late into the night because I simply had to know how it would unfold.

The magic in this novel is subtle and understated, woven seamlessly into the setting and the emotional core of the story rather than dominating it. It enhances the themes of loss, forgiveness, and family legacy in a way that feels natural and deeply moving.

This is one of those books that lingers long after you’ve finished reading. If you enjoy character-driven novels with a strong sense of place and a gentle touch of magic, Spells for Forgetting is an absolute must-read. I couldn’t recommend it more.

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Adrienne Young 

Adrienne Young is the New York Times, USA Today, and Indie list bestselling author of the Fable duology and the Sky in the Deep duology. She is a foodie with a deep love of history and travel and a shameless addiction to coffee. When she’s not writing, you can find her on her yoga mat, sipping wine over long dinners or disappearing into her favorite art museums. She lives with her documentary filmmaker husband and their four little wildlings in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.