Tag: Romance

Book Review: “The Unicorn Hunters” by Katherine Arden

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Mythological creatures have been part of cultures all around the world, and none as much as unicorns. While many European countries honor the unicorn, there is a series of tapestries in France that show a virgin hunting a unicorn. Now what if you took that mythological tale of the unicorn and combined it with the story of a real historical woman, like Anne, Duchess of Brittany? Anne of Brittany is trying to avoid a marriage to the French king, which would mean her beloved Brittany would become French property, so se devices a scheme. She will have a wedding in a magical forest and disguise it as a unicorn hunt. But what happens in the magical forest does not stay in the forest. The consequences of Anne’s actions will come back to haunt her. Katherine Arden combines historical figures and fantastical elements in her novel, “The Unicorn Hunters.”

I would like to thank Del Rey and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this novel. I have been slowly getting into the subgenre of historical fantasy, so I wanted to continue my journey with a new cast of characters besides the Tudors and 16th-century Italy. I know a little bit about Anne of Brittany, so I was looking forward to seeing how she would translate in a historical fantasy novel.

Anne of Brittany is nervous that if she marries into the French royal family, her beloved Brittany, which she is protecting for her younger sister Isabeau, would fall into the clutches of the French. So, the young duchess comes up with a plan to marry Maximilien of Austria via a proxy wedding in the mystical forest of Broceliande. To distract the French, Anne decides to disguise the wedding as a unicorn hunt so she can give King Charles of France the unicorn horn. The hunt does not go as planned, as Anne receives a piece of the unicorn’s mane and a new suitor for her hand, one with mystical powers and who will not take no for an answer. Anne and Isabeau, along with Louis, Duke of Orleans, must navigate not only the political front of the Holy Roman Empire and France after Brittany, but a threat from the shadows that could destroy everything and everyone Anne loves.

Although I appreciate Arden’s attempt at telling Anne of Brittany’s story with a magical twist, it took me a while to get into this story. I also felt that the historical elements tended to become lost in the fantasy elements, which is a bit of a bummer because I enjoy reading about Anne of Brittany. Overall, I think this was a decent historical fantasy novel. If you want a historical fantasy novel that features Anne of Brittany and elements of her life, you might enjoy “The Unicorn Hunters” by Katherine Arden.

Book Review: “Teach the Torches to Burn” by Christina Dodd

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A wedding can be one of the happiest days for a couple, but the lead-up to the nuptials can be the most chaotic time not only for the couple but also for their families. You take multiple families with differing personalities to the same location as you wait for the nuptials that will blend the families. Now imagine combining the Montagues and the Capulets with a royal family when the daughter of famed star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, marries into the noble house of Leonardi; family chaos ensues with fighting and even murder. Can Rosie and her husband-to-be, Prince Cal, solve the case before they say I do, or will their marriage follow the path of how her parents’ story is often told? Christina Dodd continues the story of Rosie in the Daughter of Montague series in the latest novel, “Teach the Torches to Burn.”

I would like to thank A John Scognamiglio Book/Kensington Publishing and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I previously read the second book in this series, “Thus With a Kiss I Die,” so when I heard she had another book coming out following the adventures of Rosie and Cal, I jumped at the chance to read it.

We join Rosie and Cal with their families enjoying a night of entertainment when Princess Ursula decides to do a séance, which feels a bit unusual for 14th-century Italy. During the seance, Ursula sees three prophecies: a long marriage for Rosie and Cal, a feud ended when a lost treasure is found, and someone is going to die. Such a cheerful evening. Things run normally until Rosie’s great-uncle Magno Montague decides to invite himself to the wedding, and with him drama follows. 

Shortly after he arrives, a party of wine drinkers, including Magno and Romeo, falls victim to poisoning, which leaves a man dead. Rosie and Cal must arrange their marriage, keep the Montagues and Capulets from killing each other, and find the murderer before they can kill Great-Uncle Magno, who seems to be the target. Rosie is sharp as ever, and seeing other members of the blended Montague-Capulet family was fun. We get to see Rosie and Cal’s love blossom, which is lovely to see. However, even though I am used to this series breaking the fourth wall, the mention of Disney in one passage threw me for a loop. I also felt like the murder mystery element was lost in the other plots until the very end. 

Overall, I found this an enjoyable read that has hints of the 14th century with a whimsical take on what if Romeo and Juliet lived and had a very headstrong eldest daughter. If you want something a bit lighter in tone but you want a novel with a 14th-century murder mystery, I recommend this series, especially the third novel, “Teach the Torches to Burn” by Christina Dodd.

Book Review: “In the Company of the Courtesan” by Sarah Dunant

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The year is 1527, and Rome is being attacked by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and his army of Germans, Lutherans, and Spanish soldiers. The night the city was sacked, many fled or died at the hands of the soldiers, but there was a house who welcomes the incoming attackers, the house of the courtesan Fiammetta Bianchini and her dwarf companion Bucino. They decide to flee with their jewelry to Venice, but they soon learn that Venice is even more treacherous. Can Fiammetta and Bucino survive their new city, or will this new town destroy everything that they worked so hard to create? Sarah Dunant explores the world of a courtesan in her novel, “In the Company of the Courtesan.”

 

This is one of those books that I found at a used bookstore. I saw that it took place during the Sack of Rome, which was intriguing to me because I have not read many novels set during this time in Italian history. I also have never read any books by Sarah Dunant, but I have heard good things about her novels, so I wanted to give them a try.

 

We begin with the night that Rome was attacked. While Rome was burning and people were dying, Fiammetta Bianchini, one of the most prized courtesans in all of Rome, and her “pimp” Bucino, decided that to survive the night, they would open their home to the invading soldiers. In the aftermath, they decide to swallow their remaining jewels and leave Rome for somewhere safer, Venice. It was Fiammetta’s home before she moved away to Rome, but she soon realizes that beauty is fleeting as an illness wrecks her body. It is then that the duo meets a blind, elderly healer named La Draga. 

 

Fiammetta and Bucino must rebuild their lives in a new city, but they soon discover that a new city means new dangers. There’s a theft of a great jewel that could end their enterprise before it even begins, and a poet from the past who could spell disaster to Fiametta’s reputation. There is a book with scandalous drawings that is dangerous to own, a young lad whose puppy love could lead the Lady astray, and a Turk who has an interest in human novelties for his sultan’s court. And then, there is the case of La Draga and her true identity.

 

Dunant created a seedy underworld of Renaissance Venice that feels so believable, it is almost as if you can step into the pages. I enjoyed the characters of Bucino and Fiammetta, but towards the middle of the book, I was wondering how she was going to finish this novel. To me, the ending felt a bit rushed. Overall, I think this was a decent novel about Renaissance Italy. If you want a novel set in 16th-century Italy that has a darker tone, I would suggest you read  “In the Company of the Courtesan” by Sarah Dunant.

Book Review: “Graceless Heart” by Isabel Ibanez

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In the Italian states during the 15th century, a time of war coexisted with a period of art flourishing. But what if magic was thrown into the fray? Sculptress Ravenna Maffei desires nothing more than to create art and to protect her family while keeping her own magical powers a secret. To protect those she holds dear, Ravenna enters an art contest, hosted by the immortal family of Florence, the Luni. Ravenna is taken by the family to complete an important task, but if she fails, she will be killed by the heir of the family, Saturnino Luni. Unfortunately, the greatest danger lurks outside of Florence as the pope is waging war against magic itself. Can Ravenna uncover the secrets of the Luni family and finish their difficult task before war engulfs all of Florence? Ravenna’s story is told in Isabel Ibanez’s latest historical fantasy novel, “Graceless Heart.”

This was a spontaneous buy for me. It was really the cover that caught my eye, and then I read the description. I realized that this was a historical fantasy novel, a genre that I have not dabbled in much, but one that I have heard of before. I decided to go on a whim and give it a shot to see how well she could blend magical elements with historical figures and settings.

Ravenna has always had a gift for art, especially sculpting, but when she was younger and exploring a quarry with her aunt, she soon discovered that she has a darker talent, one that she has to keep secret from the rest of the world. We then jump to Volterra in 1478, Ravenna’s hometown, where she is on a mission to save her brother. She decides to enter a sculpting competition, where the prize is anything she asks for. Obviously, she wins the contest and can release her brother from his prison, but the Luni family, the immortal family of Florence, has decided to use Ravenna’s talent for magic for their own goals. They want her to free five mystic stones from marble, which is more difficult than it sounds. The entire family keeps an eye on her, but her biggest threat is the heir to the family, Saturnino.

While Ravenna believes Saturnino and the Luni family are her enemies, she will soon learn that her greatest threat is Pope Sixtus IV who is wanting to wage a war against the Luni family and magic itself. It was nice to see Leonardo da Vinci, Lorenzo de’ Medici, and Federico da Montefeltro the Duke of Milan featured in this novel. It was a nice touch to add depth to the story and give it a foundation in the past.

The story itself was engaging, so much so that I ended up binge reading quite a bit of it. It was a delightful blend of history and fantasy with a dash of romance. I didn’t know what to expect when it came to reading a historical fantasy, but I had so much fun and I can’t wait to see what Ibanez will write next. If you are someone who enjoys stories set in the Italian Renaissance but you want to dabble in historical fantasy, I think you will enjoy “Graceless Heart” by Isabel Ibanez.

Book Review: “Shades of Yellow” by Wendy J. Dunn

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Have you ever wondered what it might be like for a historical fiction writer during their writing process? How do they balance both their own lives and the lives of their characters? While we can read author interviews to find out what goes on in an author’s mind, why not take a fun twist of a historical fiction author writing about a historical fiction writer writing her first historical fiction novel? Meet Lucy Ellis, a new writer who is writing her first novel about the death of Amy Robsart while recovering from cancer and going through a divorce. Can Lucy finish her novel about Amy Robsart before her life and her health come crashing down? Wendy J. Dunn tells the tale of two women betrayed in her latest novel, “Shades of Yellow.”

I would like to thank Wendy J. Dunn and The Coffee Pot Book Club for sending me a copy of this novel. I am a fan of Dunn’s writing style, especially when it comes to her novels, so when I heard she was writing a new novel, I knew I wanted to read it before I knew the premise. The idea of a novel about writing a historical fiction novel was very intriguing, and to throw in the story of Amy Robsart in the mix adds to the complexity of this idea, which I love.

We begin with Lucy Ellis about to leave Australia for a research trip to England. Her mother does not want her to go because Lucy’s doctor found something concerning. Lucy is a survivor of breast cancer and is on the verge of a divorce from her husband, Ben, and she is nearing her 30th birthday. Life is hitting her hard, but along the way, she found a historical figure that she resonates with: Amy Robsart. She wants to tell the story of what really happened to Amy in her first novel, so she has to do research in England to make it more authentic.

Once in England, Lucy meets up with her aunt Jo, her cousin Max, and her grandpa, who is a blind author. We get to see her novel-writing process and bits of the novel while Lucy deals with a whole host of family drama. While the main focus of this book is Lucy’s story, sprinkled within are flashes of Amy’s life, how she felt about her husband Robert Dudley, and her rival in love, Elizabeth I. It is by studying Amy’s life that Lucy learns how to embrace life’s challenges and realize that she has people around her who love her. 

It takes a lot of skill to write not just one novel, but a novel within a novel, but Dunn nails it perfectly. I would love to read the finished novel about Amy Robsart one day. This novel takes the aspects of a dual timeline novel and flips it on its head in such an innovative way. If you want a contemporary novel about healing between two women centuries apart and their strengths to keep fighting when life throws so many obstacles their way, I highly recommend you read “Shades of Yellow” by Wendy J. Dunn. 

Blurb: 

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 Link: 

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mqPGgd  

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited. 

Author Bio: 

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.  

Author Links: 

Website: http://www.wendyjdunn.com/ 

Newsletter: https://wendyjdunn.substack.com/ 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/authorwendyjdunn 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyjdunnauthor/  

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@wendyjdunnauthor  

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/wendyjdunn.bsky.social  

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/wendy-j-dunn  

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyjdunn  

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Wendy-J.-Dunn/author/B004FRTZFA  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/197156.Wendy_J_Dunn 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-wendy-dunn-6358181a  

Guest Post: “Spotlight for ‘A Shape on the Air’ by Julia Ibbotson”

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Today, I am pleased to welcome Julia Ibbotson back to my blog to share a blurb for her novel, “A Shape on the Air.” I would like to thank The Coffee Pot Book Club and Julia Ibbotson for allowing me to participate in this blog tour. 

Blurb: 

Can echoes of the past threaten the present? They are 1500 years apart, but can they reach out to each other across the centuries? One woman faces a traumatic truth in the present day. The other is forced to marry the man she hates as the ‘dark ages’ unfold.

How can Dr Viv DuLac, medievalist and academic, unlock the secrets of the past?  

Traumatised by betrayal, she slips into 499 AD and into the body of Lady Vivianne, who is also battling treachery. Viv must uncover the mystery of the key that she unwittingly brings back with her to the present day, as echoes of the past resonate through time. But little does Viv realise just how much both their lives across the centuries will become so intertwined. And in the end, how can they help each other across the ages without changing the course of history? For fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, and Christina Courtenay. 

Buy Link:  

Universal Buy Link: https://myBook.to/ASOTA 

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited. 

Author Bio: 

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 latest novel is the first of a new series of Anglo-Saxon dual-time mysteries, Daughter of Mercia, where echoes of the past resonate across the centuries.  

Her books will appeal to fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, and Christina Courtenay. Her readers say: ‘Julia’s books captured my imagination’, ‘beautiful storytelling’, ‘evocative and well-paced storylines’, ‘brilliant and fascinating’, and ‘I just couldn’t put it down’. 

Author Links: 

Website: https://juliaibbotsonauthor.com 

Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/@juliaibbotson 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JuliaIbbotsonauthor 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julia.ibbotson 

Bluesky:  https://bsky.app/profile/juliaibbotson.bsky.social 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/juliai1 

Amazon Author Page: https://Author.to/JuliaIbbotsonauthor 

Goodreads: https://goodreads.com/juliaibbotson 

 

Book Review: “Thus with a Kiss I Die” by Christina Dodd

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We all know the story of Romeo and Juliet. Two crazy kids in love, whose families hated each other they decided to make the ultimate sacrifice and die for each other. One of the greatest tragic love stories of all time. But what if it didn’t end in tragedy? What if Romeo and Juliet had their happy ending and had a large family? In this version of Verona, Romeo and Juliet have a large family, and their eldest daughter Rosaline is the most beautiful, headstrong girl in all of Verona. Unfortunately, Rosaline (Rosie) has got herself in quite a mess with an unwanted prince fiancé, a ghost who only she can see, and a murder investigation. Can Rosie solve the case and figure out her love life before things go horribly wrong? This is the premise of the second book of the Daughter of Montague series by Christina Dodd called “Thus with a Kiss I Die.”

I would like to thank Kensington Publishing and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. While I have not read the first book in this series, I thought the idea of Romeo and Juliet surviving and having a family was such a fun concept. Sometimes you just need a book that is based on a historical work of fiction as a way to escape reality, and that’s okay.

We begin where the first book in the series, “A Daughter of Fair Verona,” left off. Rosie is waiting in a garden for her one true love, Lysander, but her plans are foiled when the Prince of Verona, Escalus, kisses Rosie. Now, she is engaged to a prince. She should be thrilled, but Rosie is trying to think of every possible way to get out of this arrangement. Meanwhile, Rosie and her family are invited to dinner with the Prince and his family, which includes his Nonna Ursula and his young sister, Princess Isabella. Escalus (known as Cal in his family) is an orphan prince. His father was killed by an unknown assassin, and his mother died in a convent while giving birth to Princess Isabella.

While exploring the palace, Rosie hears a voice and discovers that it belongs to the ghost of Prince Escalus the Elder, Cal’s father. He wants Rosie to figure out who killed him, which kicks off the mystery portion of this book. On top of all of this, Juliet is about to give birth. Rosie has her hands full while she is trying to figure out her love life and solve a murder mystery before she is murdered or married to the prince.

This was a fun read that is more modern than historical, with the dialogue. Sure, it’s set in 16th-century Verona with Romeo and Juliet as side characters, but you could place Rosie and Cal in a modern setting and it would work just as well. Overall, I found this an absolute joy and a great escape. If you want a historical fiction novel with a unique twist, a murder mystery, and a love triangle, I suggest you read “Thus with a Kiss I Die” by Christina Dodd.

Book Review: “My Lady Jane” by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

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Do you have a favorite historical figure whom you have wondered what would have happened if they survived their dark fate? Have you wondered what would happen if they had fantastical abilities, such as transforming into animals? Maybe the last piece sounds a bit too far-fetched, but it makes for an interesting concept for a novel. What if we took the story of Lady Jane Grey, the Nine-Day Queen of England, and turned the tale into a fantastical comedy full of romance and adventure? Then, you would get the premise of “My Lady Jane” by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows.

Now I know what you are all thinking: why would you pick up a book that is purposefully fanciful with historical figures sprinkled in? I have always been a fan of YA fantasy novels, and so when I first heard about this book with the announcement of the Amazon show of the same name, it kind of confused me. I mean, there is nothing comedic about the story of Lady Jane Grey and her husband, Gifford Dudley; I wanted to see how these authors approached the Tudors with fantasy elements. I wanted to see how the book was before I decided whether to watch the series or not.

This story is in an alternative version of England where the people are divided not by religious affiliations but rather by whether or not they can transform into animals or not. Those who can transform are known as Edians, and those who believe that humans should stay as humans are known as Verities. For the longest time, the Verities were firmly in control, which meant that the Edians were persecuted, but things are changing. For those of us who study the Tudor dynasty pretty regularly, it is easy to see which side represents the Catholics and which side represents Protestants.

Now that we have that all cleared up, let’s dive into the actual plot of this book. King Edward VI is dying, and to make sure that the Edians are protected, he decides to override his father’s will and declare his cousin Lady Jane Grey as Queen of England, surpassing his sister Mary, who is a Veritie, and his sister Elizabeth, who is pretty neutral on the matter. Under the guidance of Lord Dudley, Edward decides that Lady Jane Grey, an only child in this novel, must marry Dudley’s son, Gifford, known as G in this novel. Marriage between strangers is not uncommon during this time, but the wedding takes place at night because during the day, G turns into a horse. Jane the bookworm must navigate her new married life with a horse husband, learn how to become a queen quickly, and uncover what happened to her beloved cousin Edward.

If you are looking for a historically accurate novel, you need to look elsewhere. This is a novel that is fun, fanciful, and full of adventure, mischief, and romance. It is also a novel that might get young adults interested in the Tudors with a fantasy twist. I think my only real big issue with this novel is that it didn’t feel like Tudor England to me, so it was a bit difficult to be fully immersed in the story. If you want a good novel to escape reality for a while with Tudors and a bit of magic, I recommend you read “My Lady Jane” by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows.

Book Review: “The House of Echoes” by Alexandra Walsh

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A love that can get through any obstacle even when the couple is married to other people is considered very rare. However, star-crossed lovers at court were practically unheard of, especially multiple couples from the same family. Anne Brandon knows how rare these matches are as her father Charles Brandon married the sister of King Henry VIII. Now she must figure out her feelings about romance while navigating court life. In the modern day, Caroline Harvey has relationship problems while she navigates the loss of her famous writer, grandfather Dexter Blake. How are these two women from different centuries connected and can they fight for who they love or are they destined to be alone? Alexandra Walsh tells both women’s stories in her novel, “The House of Echoes.”

I want to thank Boldwood Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. The concept of this novel and the cover were what pulled me into the story. I know about the children of Charles Brandon and Mary Tudor, but when it comes to Charles’ other children, I don’t know much. I wanted to learn a bit about Anne Brandon and have a good time with the story of Caroline Harvey.

We begin with the story of Caroline Harvey as she returns home to England from America after a bad break-up with her former fiance Travis Hibbert. She is the personal assistant to her grandfather, the recluse writer Dexter Blake, the author of the Ether Heracles book series. Dexter Blake is dying and it is up to her and her family to announce it to the rest of the world while releasing the last book in the series and making movies about the books. While the world mourns Dexter’s death, Caroline is given the gift of Dexter’s home and she begins researching the history of the house, which will lead her to an old fling Gideon and his book store Ten-to-Midnight. It is through Caroline’s research that she discovers the story of Anne Brandon and the truth about her life.

Meanwhile, in Tudor England, Anne Brandon is getting used to being the step-daughter of Mary Tudor, the sister of King Henry VIII. She is not used to court life, but she has friends who will become famous like Anne Boleyn and Margaret More Roper. As a young girl, Anne falls head over heels in love with Randall Hanworth and she believes that she is destined to marry him. However, fate and her father have someone else in mind; Edward Grey 3rd Baron of Powis, which made Anne Baroness of Powis. That doesn’t mean it was a happy marriage as the couple never had any children. Anne lived throughout the reign of Henry VIII, saw two of his wives beheaded including her friend Anne Boleyn, and had a great falling out with her father Charles Brandon before he died, which meant that she was left out of his will. Anne was willing to fight for the lands that she believed rightfully belonged to her and the love of her life Randall.

This was a fun novel with so many twists and turns, including one at the end that I did not see coming. I especially love the little details that Walsh included especially coming up with blurbs for each of the Dexter Blake books as well as the inner workings of the Brandon household. As someone who reads a lot about the Tudors, it was refreshing to read about Tudors that were new to me. If you want a fresh take on the Tudor with a modern twist, I greatly recommend you read, “The House of Echoes” by Alexandra Walsh.

Guest Post: Spotlight for “The Dragon Tree” by Julia Ibbotson

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I am pleased to welcome Julia Ibbotson to my blog today to share a spotlight for her novel, “The Dragon Tree.” I want to thank Julia Ibbotson and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to be part of this blog tour. 

Blurb: 

A haunting medieval time-slip (#2 in the Dr. DuLac series, the sequel to A Shape on the Air, but can be read as a stand-alone) 

Echoes of the past resonate through time and disturb medievalist Dr Viv DuLac as she struggles with misfortune in the present. She and Rev Rory have escaped to the island of Madeira on secondment from their posts, yet they are not to find peace – until they can solve the mystery of the shard of azulejo and the ancient ammonite. Viv’s search brings her into contact with two troubled women: a noblewoman shipwrecked on the island in the 14th century and a rebellious nun at the island convent in the 16th century. As Viv reaches out across the centuries, their lives become intertwined, and she must uncover the secrets of the ominous Dragon Tree in order to locate lost artifacts that can shape the future. 

For fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, and Christina Courtenay. 

“The idea of being able to ‘feel’ what happened in the past is enticing … The sense of the island is wonderful … Julia brings it to life evocatively.”
~ Joanna Barnden 

 “Julia does an incredible job of setting up the idea of time-shift so that it’s believable and makes sense.”
~ book tour reviewer 

“… an engaging and original time-slip novel that keeps the reader turning the pages…the characters are authentic and the mystery is neatly woven between the centuries … seamless time transitions …”
~ Melissa Morgan  

Buy Links: 

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited. 

 

Universal Buy Link:  https://mybook.to/TDT 

Author Bio: 

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, specializing 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, and 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. Her books will appeal to fans of Barbara Erskine, Pamela Hartshorne, Susanna Kearsley, and Christina Courtenay. Her readers say: ‘Julia’s books captured my imagination’, ‘beautiful storytelling’, ‘evocative and well-paced storylines’, ‘brilliant and fascinating’, and ‘I just couldn’t put it down’. 

Author Links: 

Website: https://juliaibbotsonauthor.com  

Twitter:   https://x.com/JuliaIbbotson  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JuliaIbbotsonauthor  

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-julia-ibbotson-62a5401a/  

Instagram: https://instagram.com/julia.ibbotson  

Pinterest:   http://www.pinterest.co.uk/juliai1  

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/julia-ibbotson  

Amazon Author Page:  https://Author.to/JuliaIbbotsonauthor  

Goodreads:   https://www.goodreads.com/juliaibbotson